University Trustee Board Member Diversity in America Today

Abstract

This paper analyzes the current status of the composition of the Trustee Boards of American colleges and universities with respect to the diversity of their membership.  Questions considered are: (1) why university trustee boards should or should not have diversified memberships?  (2)  What are the costs of diversifying university trustee boards?  (3)  How can university trustee boards be led to foster full participation by the diverse members who have been chosen as members?

Currently, student bodies are increasingly diverse in terms of gender, national origin, and race, while many boards of trustees may be becoming less diverse.  We question the message sent to various stake holders when a platform party of aging white males stands before a graduating class of mixed-race students, sixty percent women, marching across the stage to receive their diplomas.  This leads to a second generation student retention issue:  In the future, will those very graduates want to send their children to their alma mater?