Resource Library

Board Evaluations by AGB

From Building Boards for Religious Organizations


Boards should define a set of indicators in each of ten critical areas for strategic decision making.

Table 10.1 lists these decision areas and the strategic issues that fall within them.



Table 10.1.Strategic Decision-Making Framework of the Association of GoverningBoards of Universities and Colleges.


I. Financial Affairs

A. FinancialPerformance

1. Assurance of soundfinancial management

2. Positive financialperformance

3. Balanced sources ofrevenue

4. Balanced expenditures

B. Financial Condition

5. Increase of institutional assets

6. Prudent use of debt as leverage for needed assets

7. Maintenance of strong financial condition

C. Endowment Management

8. Increasing total return on endowment

9. Allocating return on endowment between current and futureneeds


II. Enrollment
A.Enrollment Planning

10. Choosing the optimum size of enrollment

11. Influencing the selectivity of the institution

B. Tuition Pricing

12. Setting the right price for tuition

C. Student FinancialAid

13. Maximum leverage of financial aid to achieve targetedstudent mix anddesired selectivity

III. InstitutionalAdvancement
A. Development and FundraisingPrograms

14. Sustaining thefundraising effort

15. Managing developmentactivities

16. Launching a capitalcampaign

17. Ensuring thedevelopment program supports the long-term needs of theinstitution'sfinancial plan
B. Institutional Image andAdvancement

18. Maintaining thesupport of constituents


IV. Human Resources

  1. Faculty and Staff
    19. Providing adequate support for faculty and staff
    20. Hiring and maintaining the right faculty and staff
    21. Maintaining equitable personnel policies and procedures
  2. Governance, Management, and Morale
    22. Participating in decision making
    23. Efficiency and effectiveness of management practices
  3. Affirmative Action
    24. Maintaining a healthy mix of faculty, staff, and students

V. Academic Activities

A. Instruction

25. A viable mix of academic pro

26. Assurance of high-quality inst

27. Approval of new programs

28. Discontinuance of existing pro

B. Research

29. Appropriate balance between

C. Public Service

30. Appropriate public service

D. Academic Support Services

31. Adequacy of learning resource

VI. Student Affairs

A. Student Services

32. Quality of student life

B. Student Activities

33. Responsible expenditures of


VII. IntercollegiateAthletics

A. Funding and Quality of Athletic

34. Self-sufficiency of athletics

35. Enhancement of institutional in


VIII. Physical Plant andEquipment

A. Physical Plant
36. Adequate and timely maintenance
37. Allocation of space

38. Controlling physical plant costs

B. Equipment

39. Effective management of


IX. AuxiliaryActivities

A. Auxiliary Services

40. Adequacy of administrative support

B. Auxiliary Enterprises

41. Utilization of auxiliary enterprise


X. Institutional Mission

A. Mission

42.Responsiveness of the mission to environment


Source: C.Frances, G. Huxel, J. Meyerson, at Making: Key Questions and Indicators of...