The article discusses how Bard College’s recent crisis highlights mechanisms allowing university presidents to evade oversight. It attributes this to factors like long tenure, strong fundraising abilities, and alignment with the board of trustees. This creates an authority structure that is difficult for others in higher education to challenge.
Key Points
- Long tenure enables presidents to consolidate power and avoid scrutiny.
- Fundraising prowess strengthens their position and board support.
- Board alignment creates barriers to interrupting presidential authority.
Implications for Educational Freedom
This governance issue in higher education could indirectly relate to concerns about institutional overreach, potentially limiting transparency and accountability that affect educational freedom. However, it has no direct implications for K-12 school choice, ESAs, vouchers, or parental rights.
Source: Bard’s Crisis Reveals How Presidents Can Escape Oversight