COVID-19 Should Not Undermine The Benefits of Long-Term Leadership

COVID-19 is fast-forwarding various trends. One that I find concerning is that a trend to shorter college presidencies may accelerate due to the virus. It would be unfortunate if that prevents college boards from prioritizing consistent, future-oriented leadership.?

I have observed a wide variety of college administrative environments during a 14-year presidency, as well as interim presidencies, consulting engagements and accreditation team chair assignments in the United States and abroad.?

Those experiences have convinced me that colleges with a pattern of short presidencies tend to lack long-term strategic consistency in areas from planning and assessment to stewardship and major gift cultivation. Effective presidencies, whatever their length, build community support, alumni loyalty and other metrics of institutional success. Board leadership is needed to provide presidents the time and resources necessary to secure these vital signs. Without such board planning and support, promising initiatives may never reach maturity.?

Franklin & Marshall College is an example of how board-supported, strategically aligned presidencies brought thirty-fold endowment growth, five-fold campus growth, and a near-doubling of enrollment. A long-range strategic plan centered on enhancing “bespoke” elements of students’ programs multiplied academic enrichments, service learning, independent study, campus learning/living spaces and rich off-campus study. Steady, consistent leadership enabled notable gains in admission/retention/graduation and student satisfaction. These outcomes required the focus and patience for which board support was essential.?

At Rockford, a thirty-year pattern of brief presidencies and shifting strategies ended 15 years ago and was replaced by settled presidencies and years of stronger enrollments, campus improvement, balanced budgets and fund-raising success capped by a recently closed successful campaign. As at F&M, Rockford University’s?trustees?fostered productive, stable leadership even through turbulent times.?

RAS Board Governance and Leadership practice presidents, including myself, can help your institution foster a productive and progressive governance and leadership relationship. Contact us for more information.

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