With colleges and universities across the country feeling the pinch, this guide argues that trustees can no longer continue to reflexively increase tuition and ask for more funding, but must rather find ways to cut costs. It outlines ten areas that trustees should look into to reduce expenses and provides examples of creative ideas that have been successfully implemented at different colleges and universities.
With recent research from the Institute for Higher Education Policy showing that college is unaffordable for as many as 70% of working- and middle-class students, concerns about college costs are mounting. The cost of operating an institution of higher education, with very few exceptions, is reflected in the price of attendance that students, their families, […]
Governance for a New Era, a blueprint for higher education governance, is the product of a summit facilitated by ACTA and chaired by Benno Schmidt, past president of Yale University and former board chairman of the City University of New York. Signatories to the statement, a diverse group of 22 distinguished national leaders, include college […]
This guide, updated in 2019, outlines some of the key questions trustees should ask regarding the academic and financial operations of their institutions. Institutions vary significantly in terms of size, audience, and purpose. But by asking questions and following up, trustees can play a pivotal role in ensuring that the next generation receives a quality […]
An industry group representing trustees and alumni has published a pocket guide that may rub some college administrators the wrong way. It asserts that colleges should not lean on tuition increases to bail them out of tough times, but instead should find innovative ways to cut costs. The booklet, “Cutting Costs: A Trustee’s Guide to […]
College governing boards should do their part to cut costs on campuses, according to the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, which has published a 20-page guide to help trustees find money-saving opportunities. “If you think times are tough for your university’s budget, consider how difficult economic times are for your students and their families,” […]
Dive Brief: The American Council of Trustees and Alumni on Thursday released a new guidebook encouraging boards to “be proactive in their role” to promote “a fiscally sustainable model for maintaining [their college or university’s] academic standards while offering an affordable college education.” The guide highlights best practices from around higher ed, like the University System of Maryland’s […]
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