Lessons Learned

William G. Bowen is president emeritus of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Princeton University. His many books include the acclaimed bestseller The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions and Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities (both Princeton).

CHAPTER ONE: Preamble and Context 1 CHAPTER TWO: Governing 7 The Trustees and the Resident Campus Community 8 Consultation and Decision-making on Campus 16 The ROTC Debate as an Illustrative Case of Shared Governance 21 CHAPTER THREE: Administering 24 Building an Effective Administrative Team 24 Structuring Interactions 30 Compensation--for Administrators and for the President 32 CHAPTER FOUR: The University in Society: "At a Slight Angle to the Universe" 35 Basic Principles 35 The Proposed Boycott of J. P. Stevens 42 Divestment and South Africa 44 Freedom to Speak--and to Hear 46 Handling Dissent and Invoking Discipline 53 CHAPTER FIVE: Setting Academic Priorities: Annual Budgeting 59 Process 59 Principles 61 CHAPTER SIX: Setting Academic Priorities: Strategic Decisions 66 Coeducation 67 Investing in the Life Sciences 73 Graduate Education and Professional Schools 76 Strategic Decision-making in General 81 CHAPTER SEVEN: Building the Faculty 84 Recruiting and Retaining Faculty 84 Reviewing Tenure Recommendations and Salary Proposals 91 Faculty Diversity 95 CHAPTER EIGHT: Undergraduates: Admissions, Financial Aid, and Inclusiveness 98 Diversity and Financial Aid 99 Affi rmative Action and Race 101 Socioeconomic Status 106 Athletic Recruitment 109 Religious Divides: Jewish Students 112 Residential Life 115 CHAPTER NINE: Fund-Raising and Alumni Relations 119 Knowing Your Needs--and Your Donors 120 The Robertson Foundation Saga 124 Alumni Relations in General 127 Contending with Hostile Groups 129 CHAPTER TEN: Life in a President's Offi ce--and When to Leave 133 Partners, Colleagues, and Friends 133 Deciding What Not to Do as Well as What to Do 136 On Leaving 140 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Epilogue: Why Colleges and Universities Matter So Much 144 Acknowledgments 149 References 155 Index 161