Governance

University boards have the primary responsibility for ensuring fidelity to the institution’s mission, managing university finances, and setting personnel policies. The following articles expose poor governance practices and identify policies that keep boards accountable to the taxpayers, students, parents, alumni, and donors whom they serve.

Jul 21, 2023 · Jack Salmon

A New Kansas Law Protects Donor Intent

Earlier this year, in a landmark action, the Kansas legislature passed the Donor Intent Protection Act, which helps ensure that donors’ wishes are respected when they make a charitable gift…

Jul 20, 2023 · Maggie Szura

Athletic Conference Realignment Continues Apace

The college sports world is bracing for impact, as several teams may be looking to switch conferences in the coming seasons. A FanNation report on possible departures from the Atlantic…

Jul 19, 2023 · Louis K. Bonham

DEI Laws Are Meaningless Without Enforcement

At long last, some state legislatures have begun reacting to the “wokeness” epidemic that has consumed both K-12 and higher education. Unfortunately, many of these bills are likely doomed to…

Jul 17, 2023 · Ashlynn Warta

How Extensive Is DEI “Training” in the UNC System?

This session, the North Carolina legislature has taken aim at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings on UNC-System campuses. On March 14th, Senate Majority Staff Director Derrick Welch sent a…

Jul 14, 2023 · James E. Moore, II

Why I’ll Never Be Allowed to Teach at USC Again

After 36 years as a full-time faculty member, I retired as a tenured professor from the University of Southern California on May 15, 2022. Retiring faculty members typically retain as…

Jul 10, 2023 · Jenna A. Robinson

Chapel Hill’s DEI Obsession Was Mandated at the Top

In the past several years, the Martin Center has exposed and reported on numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since late 2021, we have uncovered DEI plans…

Jul 6, 2023 · Jenna A. Robinson

NCInnovation Raises Serious Transparency Concerns

Earlier this month, the usually frugal North Carolina Senate surprised pundits by including $1.425 billion for NCInnovation in its budget proposal, considerably more than the $50 million allocated earlier this…

Jul 5, 2023 · Chris Corrigan

How to Cut Costs on Campus

In my last article for the Martin Center, I outlined how increasing tuition discounts are indicative of a looming financial crisis for many colleges and universities. Tuition discounting and a…

Jul 3, 2023 · Wenyuan Wu

The Court Got Campus Affirmative-Action Right

The latest Pew Research Center polling suggests that a mere one-third of Americans favor considering race and ethnicity in college admissions. Over 9.65 million California voters rejected a proposal to…

Jun 29, 2023 · Grace Hall

Let’s Choose College Presidents on the Merits

Leaders of higher-ed institutions have extremely important roles, shaping not only their colleges but also the workforce of tomorrow. The position of college president requires an incredible work ethic and…