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.
Expertise, Credentials, and the Value of the University
It seems we can’t trust our own credentials or those that we provide to our students. Or perhaps it would be better to say that we have so much confidence
Constance C. Relihan
May 18, 2026
