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?”
Such laments are typically accompanied by an indictment of this or that president’s missteps and shortcomings. But what if the problems run deeper? Has the job of president grown too big and too multifaceted for one person to carry out successfully? Are there too many disparate constituencies to satisfy? Are boards doing their part, or are they too often ineffectual and negligent? Do presidents have too much or too little authority? Do they have the right skills and experiences and temperaments?
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.
—The Editors
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