Becoming a Trustee: A Social Capital Perspective of Board Member Socialization in Public Higher Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding Leaders' Decision Making: Politics, Policy, and Performance

Abstract

The author qualitatively examines the preparation of board members of three multicampus systems in the U.S. to capture understandings of the onboarding process from the perspective of board members and board staff. The aim of this paper was to study the orientation and socialization processes of trustees of public multicampus systems from the broader perspective of social capital theory. Via in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis with board members, the author illuminates how individual trustees learned about, accessed, and integrated into the social networks that made up the collective board. The quality of relationships new members formed with others on the board was the major driver of socialization outcomes. Implications for higher education governance are offered.

Author

• Raquel M. Rall, University of California - Riverside