The Catalyst July 2018

The Cooper Union: The Art & Science of Good Governance

“We face some immediate challenges ….and we must act to put our institution on the path to a sustainable future.”  (TCU President, 2011, in an open letter to the college community)

Founded by industrialist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union has always offered exceptionally talented men and women a tuition-free education through three rigorous programs – in fine art, in architecture and in engineering – without regard to race or religion. A private college with a storied history, TCU's Great Hall was the site of Abraham Lincoln’s famed 1860 “Cooper Union Address.” From its earliest days, TCU has graduated distinguished alumni who went on to pursue successful and distinguished careers in many fields of endeavor.    The Cooper Union was a financially self-sufficient institution for more than a century and a half. However, the Trustees of the college were forced, in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007/2008, to begin charging tuition in 2011. Vigorous student, faculty and community opposition was resolved through a court- ordered consent decree in 2015. Early in this process and as part of their diligence, the Trustees retained The Whelan Group to work with them to strengthen their strategic and fiduciary oversight of this great institution.

Confidence Earned through Concrete Action

The Whelan Group worked with the Board’s Governance Assessment Working Group to address a range of issues. This review resulted in a series of board development recommendations: Clarify membership requirements and expectations Enhance and diversify board composition Adhere to specific board and committee membership terms Improve board culture as institutional stewards Revise and update board committee roles and responsibilities  Define and clarify board roles in fundraising and resource development Tighten board communications – internally and externally Strengthen board orientation and engagement processes, and Establish annual board evaluation process Before the assessment was complete, the Trustees enacted significant recommendations – a trustee orientation process, a board retreat program, and an enhance board communication program, to name a few early steps. And in March of this year, the Trustees announced that, within a decade, The Cooper Union would once again be a tuition-free institution.

To learn more, please go here to review highlights of our governance assessment for The Cooper Union

To learn more about our creative Board Development services and our other capabilities, you can reach us by phone at 212-727-7332 or by email at: info@whelangroup.com .

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