I’ve heard it said that Peter Drucker once identified the university presidency as one of the four most difficult jobs in the world, right alongside the U.S. President, a hospital CEO, and the pastor of a large church. If that is even half-true, it certainly explains why, the moment a person accepts the call to lead a campus, they are inundated with invitations to “new president” conferences. We all recognize we are going to need a little help getting started. 

The Harvard School of Graduate Education offers a well-known, expensive (over $10,000) summer seminar, that can lead to a certificate for the new president (which feels a bit like extra credit since all the participants already have the job). EAB, a top higher education vendor, also hosts a conference in July that is free, though vendor conferences are never fully free. The Council of Independent Colleges hosts an excellent new president workshop in sunny places such as Florida or California in early January, which means a new president has a few months of initial experience to bring to the gathering and can enjoy a warm setting in midwinter.  

Each of these programs has similar sessions on governance, board relations, finances, fundraising, crisis management, leadership teams, government relations, enrollment, strategic planning, and university mission. All of these topics are important, but the breadth of institutions represented tends to make the discussions a bit generic. The CCCU’s New President Institute is uniquely valuable because the participants share a common Christian commitment, which orients every discussion.  

CCCU has offered its NPI on an annual or bi-annual basis for at least 30 years. My wife Carey and I couldn’t find someone to watch our four young children when we were newly hired at John Brown University 23 years ago, so we didn’t go, which was a loss for us. I made up for that loss by meeting with experienced presidents at conferences or in their offices during my first couple of years. They were all so generous with their time that I committed to pay it forward when the opportunity arose.  

So, Carey and I were quick to say yes when we were asked to be a mentor president and spouse for the CCCU NPI in 2010, and we have served in that capacity multiple times since. Those institutes have brought us great joy and gratitude as we have met the varied, talented, and faithful people that God has called to serve.  

The CCCU’s NPI covers most of the same topics in a welcoming retreat setting, but the conversations are different because they are infused with the Christian missions and cultures of each CCCU institution. It is one thing to raise money by inviting people to a skybox at a football game and quite another thing to ask a donor to invest in the intellectual, emotional and spiritual discipleship of the next generation of the church. Making a change in your leadership team or instituting a reduction-in-force looks different when you recognize that all people are made in the image of God. Engaging governmental officials about deeply held religious beliefs is different than asking them to increase Pell grants. These missional conversations are essential, thoughtful, rich and beneficial for both the new presidents and spouses.  

The CCCU NPI has always encouraged spouses to attend, and whether a president is married or single, all presidents need to sustain important family relationships, spiritual vitality, and life-giving friendships in these roles. We share practical tips (consider entertaining university guests at lunch so that you can reserve evenings for family or personal commitments) and common struggles (how do you worship in church when people want to engage you about the university). People often nod or laugh in recognition during these sessions as they realize they are not alone in these challenges. 

Indeed, as is true at almost any CCCU gathering, it is the relationships, even budding friendships, that are the sweetest outcome from NPI. A university president is without peer in his or her organization, so it is deeply encouraging to develop peer relationships with other presidents and presidential couples that share a faith in Christ and desire to serve faculty, staff and students. It is encouraging even for those of us who have been doing this work for many years. I had one new president tell me that she was surprised and heartened that I still seemed to have the “joy of the Lord” after being a university president for 23 years. I was grateful for her compliment and recognized that it was true, in no small part, because of the deep friendships that Carey and I have developed through the work of the CCCU.  

If you have the opportunity to join a CCCU commission, attend a Leadership Development Institute, or even attend a future NPI, I encourage you to say yes. The experience will enrich your life and better your work through the CCCU colleagues you meet, learn from, and befriend.  

Dr. Chip Pollard has served as president of John Brown University since July 2004. During his tenure, JBU has been blessed to receive over $385 million in gifts and grants, to grow its endowment to over $200 million, and to grow to over 2,000 students. JBU has been recognized as an outstanding university by outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Time, Chronicle of Higher Education, and others. Dr. Pollard has served on many nonprofit boards, including the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and Wheaton College. Chip, and his wife, Carey, love working with college students, including through hosting a class in their home, regularly attending chapel, musical performances, art openings, and sporting events, and informally mentoring students over lunch or a cup of coffee.

College President Quick Facts

• The average college presidency has shrunk from 8.5 years (2006) to 5.9 years (2022).
• 55% of presidents plan to step down within five years and most are not retiring.
• 36 of roughly 150 CCCU schools changed presidents between 2020 and 2024.
• 39 long-serving CCCU presidents (7+ years) are approaching the typical transition window.

 Data courtesy of CarterBaldwin Executive Search, a trusted partner of the CCCU.