ARTICLE
New ACCU Report on the Future of Catholic Higher Education Sponsorship Download Report Here Washington, DC—The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) recently published a new report, Relationship Reconsidered: Catholic Universities and Their Changing Governance Structures, in partnership with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). The report is based on research conducted by ACCU and describes how a growing number of religious sponsoring organizations have acknowledged their shrinking populations and are consequently modifying the governance structures and policies they use to sponsor Catholic higher education institutions. The report is available to download here. The Report The report is based on a recent survey conducted by ACCU, and updates a similar study AGB and ACCU published in 2000. ACCU President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, CM, wrote the report alongside Nadine Jalandoni, ACCU director of research. “In the past two decades, we have seen enormous changes in both the Catholic Church and higher education,” said Rev. Holtschneider. “My hope is that this data helps sponsors and higher education leaders find sustainable arrangements that benefit our students and society.” Present Sponsors’ Influence Will Continue to Decrease In response to survey questions, about a third of the respondents stated that their governance arrangements had changed in the past five years in response to the sponsors’ inability to maintain their traditional governance roles. Another 15 percent said their sponsors had already informed them that changes were to be expected for the same reason. Forty-seven percent of responding presidents indicated that their sponsors will likely have less than 20 years before they can no longer exercise sponsorship in a meaningful way. Changes in Governance Structures As the number of individuals in the Catholic priesthood and religious orders continue to diminish and age, many sponsoring organizations are responding by adjusting the institutional governance structures that have historically allowed them to influence and guide Catholic higher education. Traditionally, sponsors have reserved a percentage or number of seats on the governing board. While 80 percent of Catholic universities have this structure, some are reducing the number of representative seats, while others are eliminating age and term limits. At 11 percent of sponsored institutions, sponsors are asserting the right to appoint lay designees to fill their reserved seats. In some instances, sponsoring organizations are focusing their influence on the board’s executive committee. In 2023, 41 percent of Catholic colleges have reserved seats on the board’s executive committee. No governing boards at Catholic institutions had this arrangement in 2000. In a number of cases, religious congregations are fully stepping away, and replacement bodies composed mostly of lay professionals are being established to connect them with the Church. Changes in Reserved Powers The reserved powers afforded to sponsors has shifted dramatically due to demographic changes in their membership: Only 9 percent of institutions must seek approval from the sponsor to go above a particular debt amount, down from 45 percent in 2000. Only 39 percent of responding institutions must seek approval for a change in mission, down from 53 percent in 2000. Sixty-three percent of responding institutions now must seek approval from the sponsor to dissolve the institution. In 2000, that number was 55 percent. In somewhat of a reversal, 25 percent of responding institutions currently must provide periodic reporting to the sponsor based on a set of standards around quality, mission, or other criteria. In 2000, no institutions reported that requirement. “Sponsors and Catholic institutions are grappling with twin trends in the Church and in higher education,” said David Rowe, senior vice president and managing principal of AGB Consulting. “The decrease in religious vocations for sponsoring communities and the sector-wide disruption of higher education put many Catholic institutions in a double bind. Providing continuity with the past while meeting demands for the future is a responsibility that rests squarely with presidents and governing boards. It is incumbent on lay presidents and boards with dwindling representation of religious community members to find ways to institutionalize the mission and charism of the sponsor while sustaining its Catholic identity with the official support of another religious order or diocese. These questions are more complex and nuanced than the typical governance challenges faced by other colleges and universities, and boards would benefit from third-party facilitation through these fraught processes.” Governance alone, however, is never enough to keep an institution’s charism vibrant. Sustaining and growing the Catholic tradition and mission of Catholic campuses into the future will require the involvement of the entire university community beyond the board and the president. Key university leaders, such as mission officers, and faculty all have a role and responsibility to nurture the culture and tradition started by their religious founders. This is the latest collaborative resource between ACCU and AGB. On August 30, AGB will host a complimentary webinar for Catholic higher education leaders who are guiding their colleges and universities through this transition. ACCU member institutions are encouraged to register to attend. Download Report Here The ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of U.S. Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, the Association strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church. Press Release: Downloadable PDF
New ACCU Report on the
Future of Catholic Higher Education Sponsorship
Download Report Here
Washington, DC—The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) recently published a new report, Relationship Reconsidered: Catholic Universities and Their Changing Governance Structures, in partnership with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). The report is based on research conducted by ACCU and describes how a growing number of religious sponsoring organizations have acknowledged their shrinking populations and are consequently modifying the governance structures and policies they use to sponsor Catholic higher education institutions. The report is available to download here.
The Report
The report is based on a recent survey conducted by ACCU, and updates a similar study AGB and ACCU published in 2000. ACCU President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, CM, wrote the report alongside Nadine Jalandoni, ACCU director of research.
“In the past two decades, we have seen enormous changes in both the Catholic Church and higher education,” said Rev. Holtschneider. “My hope is that this data helps sponsors and higher education leaders find sustainable arrangements that benefit our students and society.”
Present Sponsors’ Influence Will Continue to Decrease
In response to survey questions, about a third of the respondents stated that their governance arrangements had changed in the past five years in response to the sponsors’ inability to maintain their traditional governance roles. Another 15 percent said their sponsors had already informed them that changes were to be expected for the same reason.
Forty-seven percent of responding presidents indicated that their sponsors will likely have less than 20 years before they can no longer exercise sponsorship in a meaningful way.
Changes in Governance Structures
As the number of individuals in the Catholic priesthood and religious orders continue to diminish and age, many sponsoring organizations are responding by adjusting the institutional governance structures that have historically allowed them to influence and guide Catholic higher education.
Traditionally, sponsors have reserved a percentage or number of seats on the governing board. While 80 percent of Catholic universities have this structure, some are reducing the number of representative seats, while others are eliminating age and term limits. At 11 percent of sponsored institutions, sponsors are asserting the right to appoint lay designees to fill their reserved seats.
In some instances, sponsoring organizations are focusing their influence on the board’s executive committee. In 2023, 41 percent of Catholic colleges have reserved seats on the board’s executive committee. No governing boards at Catholic institutions had this arrangement in 2000.
In a number of cases, religious congregations are fully stepping away, and replacement bodies composed mostly of lay professionals are being established to connect them with the Church.
Changes in Reserved Powers
The reserved powers afforded to sponsors has shifted dramatically due to demographic changes in their membership:
“Sponsors and Catholic institutions are grappling with twin trends in the Church and in higher education,” said David Rowe, senior vice president and managing principal of AGB Consulting. “The decrease in religious vocations for sponsoring communities and the sector-wide disruption of higher education put many Catholic institutions in a double bind. Providing continuity with the past while meeting demands for the future is a responsibility that rests squarely with presidents and governing boards. It is incumbent on lay presidents and boards with dwindling representation of religious community members to find ways to institutionalize the mission and charism of the sponsor while sustaining its Catholic identity with the official support of another religious order or diocese. These questions are more complex and nuanced than the typical governance challenges faced by other colleges and universities, and boards would benefit from third-party facilitation through these fraught processes.”
Governance alone, however, is never enough to keep an institution’s charism vibrant. Sustaining and growing the Catholic tradition and mission of Catholic campuses into the future will require the involvement of the entire university community beyond the board and the president. Key university leaders, such as mission officers, and faculty all have a role and responsibility to nurture the culture and tradition started by their religious founders.
This is the latest collaborative resource between ACCU and AGB. On August 30, AGB will host a complimentary webinar for Catholic higher education leaders who are guiding their colleges and universities through this transition. ACCU member institutions are encouraged to register to attend.
The ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of U.S. Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, the Association strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church.
Press Release: Downloadable PDF