1. 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLIC UNIVERSITY BOARDS
DANA G. HOYT, PRESIDENT
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY JUNE 2017

2. DIFFERENCES IN TYPES OF PUBLIC BOARDS1
APPOINTED ELECTED
INDEPENDENT SYSTEM
DIFFERENCES IN TYPES OF PUBLIC BOARDS
Know the demographics of your board (educational background, business affiliation)
Appointed – most common – usually politically astute & connected business people
Elected – politicians (media coverage)
Independent (more work on campus, closer connection, strategic/fiduciary vs. management focus)
System (consistency across component institution)

3. 2 CHANGING CONTEXT ACCOUNTABILITY FIDUCIARY PRINCIPLES
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION
CHANGING CONTEXT
Increasing interest in areas of accountability regarding higher education, especially for public university boards
Accountability – focus on this area requires transparency, trust & independence
Fiduciary – cost of attendance, tuition & fees, student debt are all topics in the media that Boards feel need input &/or control
Knowledge – academic quality, shared governance, tenure, efficiencies in administration
Program measures (not all make money – auto example)
Delve into administrative comfort level

4. 3 STRATEGIC FACTORS INCLUSIVENESS AWARENESS BOARD ENGAGEMENT
Constructive engagement vs. micro-management
Understand strategic focus – initiatives – how to move these forward – specific members with interest or conflict
Prepare members vs. discussion with all members
Curiosity & imagination – what are the board members interests (ELITE-HSC)?

5. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES4
BOARD CHAIR IMPORTANCE
COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
How to understand & influence dynamics of board relationships
Board chair – excellent professional relationship, drives board on issues, effectively manages – public board escalation (i.e. tenure denial & appeal, open comment)
Need to establish appropriate decision-making at committee level (consent agenda, public discussion)

6. CULTURE & RELATIONSHIPS5
FORMAL VS. INFORMAL
PRESIDENTIAL EVALUATIONS
SHARED GOVERNANCE
CULTURE & RELATIONSHIPS
Importance of getting to know your board members informally as well as in the formal meeting – but remember “boss”
Differences in independent vs. system settings (ask how handled & any input influence board vs. system head
How to handle the situations & questions related to business people – decisiveness vs. building consensus