Synopses & Reviews
In their highly regarded 1991 book, The Effective Board of Trustees, the authors identified six skill sets or competencies that differentiate strong governing boards from weak ones. Now they have taken their research to the next level by conducting an in-depth study of how the boards of colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations can raise their level of competence. In this new book, the authors detail the findings of this study and address the topics of effective trusteeship, board development, board cohesion, trustee education, and the improvement of board processes. They also discuss effective ways of responding to the resistance some trustees and institutional leaders exhibit toward board development efforts. All of the recommendations offered in the book have been field tested. The text is enhanced with charts and exhibits, and revealing quotes from board members who participated in the study appear throughout.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [153]-155) and index.
About the Author
RICHARD P. CHAIT is professor of higher education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts.THOMAS P. HOLLAND is professor and director of the center for Social Service Research and Development, University of Georgia, Athens.BARBARA E. TAYLOR is senior associate at the Academic Search Consultation Service, Washington, DC.
Table of Contents
Exhibits vii
Preface ix
CHAPTER 1. Swimming against the Tide 1
CHAPTER 2. Initiating and Sustaining Board Development 18
CHAPTER 3. Transforming Trustees into a Board 57
CHAPTER 4. Getting Smart: The Key to Governing Smart 84
CHAPTER 5. Doing Business Better As a Board 111
CHAPTER 6. Understanding and Responding to Resistance 135
References 153
Index 157
Exhibits
EXHIBIT 1.1.The Competencies of Effective Governing Boards 7EXHIBIT 2.1.Meeting Evaluation Form I 30EXHIBIT 2.2.Meeting Evaluation Form II 31EXHIBIT 2.3.Sample Board Retreat Agenda 41EXHIBIT 2.4.Guidelines for Conveners and Reporters 44EXHIBIT 2.5.Excerpts from a Post-retreat Action Plan 45EXHIBIT 2.6.Board Self-Assessment Questionnaire 48EXHIBIT 3.1.A Goal-Setting Process for Individual Trustees 67EXHIBIT 3.2.Qualifications for Board Membership 70EXHIBIT 3.3.Board of Visitors Charter, College of Business Administration 72EXHIBIT 3.4.A Trustee Installation Ceremony 75EXHIBIT 3.5.The Mentor System for New Trustees 76EXHIBIT 4.1.Top Ten Institutional Performance Indicators for Colleges and Universities 104EXHIBIT 4.2.Select Gauges from the Dashboard of Midwest University 105EXHIBIT 5.1.A College's Board and Committee Goals for 1994-95 114EXHIBIT 5.2.Interview with Malcolm Warford, Former President, Bangor Theological Seminary 117EXHIBIT 6.1.Types of Boards 142