Trustee Motivation and Board Effectiveness

Abstract

This article describes the relationship between governing boards' effective ness in private colleges and the specie factors that motivate trustees to join and serve on boards. Far more often among members of effective rather than ineffective boards, trustees' motives are institution-specific and institution-centered, springing from deep affection and a sense of connection to the college. Research results are analyzed in terms of three motivational frameworks, none of which is capable of reflecting the differ ences in motivation that distinguish members of effective boards. We offer a rudimentary new framework for differentiating boards on the basis of the extent of trustees' identification with the institution.