THE FUTURE
IS THE RISK. PRESIDENTS & BOARDS
MUST LEAD
THE RESPONSE.

Presidents are being asked to transform their business model—but are boards still governing in a different era?

Core ABX helps presidents and boards align, decide, and lead transformation—together.

REQUEST MEMBERSHIP

Your membership is funded by a grant from the Core Foundation System.

ABX is a membership community helping college presidents and governing boards lead transformation — together.

University president and board members in strategic discussion

A NEW GOVERNANCE PLAYBOOK IS NEEDED

Higher education is facing structural change in real time.

Consumer confidence at an all-time low
Financial pressure is accelerating
Enrollment is unpredictable
Acceleration of college closures
Operating models that no longer work
AI and market forces are reshaping expectations

And governance needs to catch up.

MANY BOARDS ARE STILL:

Focused on oversight rather than strategic governance
Lacking a full understanding of their financial challenges
Comfortable with incremental change
Missing a sense of urgency
Unclear on how to effectively support the president

SO TRANSFORMATION STALLS. OR NEVER STARTS.

Institutional failure is rarely about lack of opportunity. It is a governance failure to act while options still exist.

WHAT'S REQUIRED NOW:

Ambition that matches the moment
Innovation, technology, and market alignment
A shift from protecting the past to building the future
Clear alignment with the president
Governance that moves at the speed of the market

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, STANDING STILL
IS THE BIGGEST RISK.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

ABX INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND COST

Membership is open to all nonprofit higher education institutions. For the first 100 institutions with fewer than 7,500 students, the annual membership cost of $10,000 is paid via a grant from the Core Foundation System. ABX organizational costs are offset by charitable contributions made to Core Foundation System, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

ABX MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Two passes to attend the ABX Annual Governance Conference
Access to the ABX knowledge bank, including resources on financial resiliency, governance effectiveness, and supporting the president
Insights on artificial intelligence (AI) and what it means to become an AI-enabled institution
Resources for presidents on managing board responsibilities and engaging effectively with board members and committees
Board plenary sessions (two one-hour sessions)
Quarterly updates on governance best practices

ADDITIONAL ABX OFFERINGS

ABX Financial

Workshops designed to help boards understand their institution’s quality of earnings, explore alternative paths to prosperity, assess capital strategy requirements, evaluate AI readiness, and adopt new financial metrics to address structural deficits.

ABX Studio

A fast-paced governance lab and evolving institute of knowledge for trustees, presidents, provosts, and other key stakeholders. Focus areas include governance readiness, strategic pathways for prosperity, and capital strategies. This includes the ABX Governance Playbook, with education on structural deficits, AI-enabled institutions, and how boards can effectively support executive leadership while operating at the pace of the market.

ABX 360°

A comprehensive review of governance effectiveness, including board and executive coaching, confidential presidential advisory support, executive compensation reviews, optimized committee structures, identification of fiduciary blind spots, and assessment of board readiness.