Why do decisions in universities take so long and involve so many people? Why isn’t growth a priority for colleges? Why can’t faculty be managed like any other employees? How can alumni work more effectively with campus leaders? As leaders in higher education with years of experience working with business executives, governing boards, faculty, consultants, and alumni, James W. Dean Jr. and Deborah Y. Clarke have noticed that these questions often arise, revealing that many business-based partners have a limited understanding of academic institutions. This book offers practical guidance for those who seek to invest in and help enhance higher education.

Dean and Clarke advocate for the distinctive missions and structures that make universities unique among American enterprises. And while they acknowledge the challenges often faced when working with academic institutions, they argue that understanding institutional mission is essential to improving the effectiveness of business leaders who engage in higher education. Presenting numerous real-world insights and drawing from interviews with a range of stakeholders, Dean and Clarke chart a path for building and sustaining relationships that work to strengthen higher education.