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WASHINGTON, DC (August 10, 2026)
Higher education governing boards are already confronting many of the issues raised in the Secretary of Education’s call to action, not because the federal government has instructed them to do so, but because doing so is fundamental to responsible governance.
Countless boards are actively strengthening their institutions, asking difficult questions, demanding evidence, and holding leaders accountable for results. This does not mean every board governs equally well. Governance effectiveness varies, as it does in every sector. That is why robust board orientation, continuing trustee education, assessment, workshops, scenario planning, and adherence to proven governance practices matters. Substituting political judgment for fiduciary judgment is NOT the answer.
There is also an important distinction between accountability and political compliance. Institutions must comply with the law, responsibly steward public resources, and be accountable for their performance. But the absence of a federally prescribed declaration should not be mistaken for the absence of action. And federal funding should not become leverage for compelling institutions to adopt, document, or publicly affirm the policy preferences of a particular administration.
The fundamental question is not whether higher education should improve. It is who decides what improvement requires, and that responsibility rests solely with governing boards and institutional leaders exercising independent judgment in the long-term interests of their institutions, students, and the public.
Ross A. Mugler
President and CEO of AGB