US higher education institutions are currently facing a crisis of trust and unprecedented external attacks on shared governance. These attacks include large and volatile funding cuts from federal and state governments and in some cases infringements on academic freedoms in research and teaching. Academic leaders are right to defend their institutions against such attacks, but they should also disarm the attacks by diligently exercising their responsibilities, under shared governance, to uphold federal laws, their academic missions and standards, and fiduciary duties.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
