Improving Board Oversight of

Educational QualityAssociation of Governing Board Project

Drake University (IA)Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)

Morgan State University (MD)Salem State University (MA)

St. Olaf College (MN)Rhodes College (TN)

Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)Valparaiso University (IN)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA)

Strategic DirectionAddress the troubling gap

between public perceptions of what constitutes academic quality and the complex realities facing institutions and their governing boards

Boards have an opportunity to develop more than a superficial understanding of the nature of teaching and learning

PurposeEngaging the board in informed

appreciation of the work of the institution

Putting learning first

Being responsible - not micromanagement

Strengthening board-faculty interaction

Role of the BoardThe curriculum is the faculty’s

responsibility; the board’s role is one of collective responsibility but not to question or dictate

Stay focused on “mission-critical” issues

Expect a culture of evidence regarding academic quality

Make reviewing evidence of academic quality and improvement a regular and expected board-level activity

Defining the Territory How good are our graduates? o Student learning upon graduationo Value added

How good are we at developing our students?o Student retention and graduation

Are our students satisfied?o Periodic stakeholder perceptions and

opinions Do we have the right “mix” of courses?o Determining if we are offering the right

things at the right levels in light of the needs Do we make the grade?o Institutional accreditation

Project CornerstonesEvidence regarding student learning and educational quality

Institutional processes for educational quality and student learning

Effective strategies for productive faculty and board relations

Timeline of the Project November, 2012

Project team reviews examples of evidence• Engage with campus constituencies on

project/purpose and connection to the strategic plan January, 2013

Engage the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board• Key questions the Board should explore• Sample models and evidence• Administer pre-survey instrument to communicate

project info and gauge level of Board involvement April, 2013

Board plenary on assessment of educational quality

June, 2013Review outcomes of the April discussion and provide recommendations for benchmarks and structure for ongoing review

Project TeamDeneese L. Jones, ProvostKevin Saunders, Director, Institutional Research and AssessmentCraig Owens, Associate Professor, Academic Affairs Faculty FellowBill Smith, Drake Board Member, Academic Affairs Committee