Colleges and universities do many things to distinguish themselves with excellence, from chasing rankings to highlighting Fulbright research to touting their alumni. But one rarely used tool is to distinguish a university by its teaching excellence. Teaching excellence is a factor that the public deeply values when it comes to what makes the “best university”—more so even than research, job placement, student satisfaction, and sports teams (Campbell, 2024). In fact, teaching excellence may be a key factor to bolstering public trust in higher education.
How Leaders Shape, Signal, and Build Cultures: A Discussion Guide for Academic Leaders and Their Teams
Among the many desired traits most prized in academic leadership, the ability to shape (or reshape) institutional culture is sometimes overlooked in favor of fiscal acumen, the ability to drive
Lisa Jasinski
May 4, 2026
