Since working with trustees is an essential aspect of the president’s responsibilities, the Presidents Institute frequently features sessions that offer helpful strategies and best practices. This year, Richard B. Artman, president of Siena Heights University (MI) and Laura Skandera Trombley, president of Pitzer College (CA), led “Effective Practices in Working with Trustees.” The session was chaired by Thomas F. Flynn, president of Alvernia College (PA), who for two years facilitated the series of CIC President-Trustee Dialogues. The speakers shared strategies for improving the function and communication of boards.

Artman said effective practices working with his board at Siena Heights included communication strategies and special meetings. Siena Heights prepares a pocket directory containing trustee profiles and publishes an informal trustee newsletter to keep board members apprised of campus highlights and personal news about fellow trustees between board meetings. Artman recommends the periodic use of overnight board retreats which permit board members to explore more deeply campus issues or special topics, and let members become better acquainted. In addition, one meeting a year in an alternate location and special trustee tours that tie in to the campus’ heritage and mission also serve to boost trustee participation and interaction.

Trombley presented a highly structured evaluation process utilized by Pitzer’s board. It includes an evaluation of board processes, involvement of individual trustees, personal goals set by each trustee in line with the board’s overall goals and objectives, and a self-evaluation by each trustee based on the individual goals set earlier. Every trustee also receives an end-of-the-year report card on meeting attendance, giving, and other activities that support the college. These are reviewed by the board nominations committee and help determine which trustees will be invited for subsequent three-year terms.

Questions and comments from session attendees provided for a lively discussion. A number of recommendations surfaced regarding trustee giving and participation, such as: 1) encourage trustee giving to the college as one of their top three philanthropic priorities, 2) encourage every trustee to be a donor of record, and 3) utilize a “give or get” approach, with a target dollar amount to be raised assigned to each trustee.

View presentation slides and a supplemental paper from this session.