College presidents are under scrutiny for their handling of campus protests in 2024, but practically no information exists on how well (or poorly) they have performed as institutional leaders. This report ranks more than 400 current and former college presidents who served between 2000–01 and 2022–23 on how well they improved access, affordability, and student success over the course of their presidency. The rankings reveal that some presidents were superstars at improving access, affordability and student success. These presidents cut tuition costs, expanded access to low-income and racially underrepresented student groups, and increased graduation rates. But some presidents performed poorly in these areas. A handful of presidents oversaw steep declines in graduation rates, affordability, and access. The wide spread across the rankings suggests that higher education boards should begin using performance metrics to hold college presidents accountable for the changes in the outcomes of their students.
Authors
- Pages
- 32
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary 2
- A Crisis in Leadership 3
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 4
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 4
- Why Rank College Presidents 4
- Which College Presidents to Rank 4
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 5
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 5
- Measures for Ranking College Presidents 5
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 6
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 6
- Method for Ranking College Presidents 6
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 7
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 7
- How Does the Average College President Perform 7
- Results Which College Presidents Perform Best 7
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 8
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 8
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 9
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 9
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 10
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 10
- Limitations of the Rankings 10
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 11
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 11
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 12
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 12
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 13
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 13
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 14
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 14
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 15
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 15
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 16
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 16
- Implications for Higher Education Governance and Policy 16
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 17
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 17
- About the Author 17
- Appendix A. Details on Measures 18
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 19
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 19
- Appendix B. Constructing the Aggregate Performance Score 20
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 21
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 21
- Appendix C. Top and Bottom 10 Rankings of Presidents Using Additional Measures 22
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 23
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 23
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 24
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 24
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 25
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 25
- Appendix D. Correlation Between Pell Grant Share and Federal Grant Aid Share 26
- Appendix E. List of College Presidents with Missing Data 27
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 28
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 28
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 29
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 29
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 30
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 30
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 31
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 31
- A CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP 32
- CODY L. CHRISTENSEN 32
