Presidential Opinion
October 09, 2024

The College Presidency Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.

This has been an annus horribilis for college presidents. Budget shortfalls, enrollment declines, protest encampments, congressional interrogations, high-profile resignations. Every malady isn’t evident on every campus, of course, but the confluence of crises and criticisms has created what Brian Rosenberg, the former president of Macalester College, has described as an “intolerably toxic environment for college presidents.” NPR recently asked, “Why would anyone want to be a college president?”

To dig into those thorny questions, we asked a group of presidents and ex-presidents to reflect on the state of the presidency. Their responses spin out in a variety of directions, reflecting the many challenges facing presidents. And the many opportunities for improvement.

Susan Herbst | Audrey Bilger | Thomas Ehrlich | Raynard S. Kington | Brian Rosenberg | Leon Botstein | Michael Rao | Marjorie Hass | Eduardo M. Peñalver | Catharine Bond Hill | David K. Wilson | F. King Alexander | Morton Schapiro


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