Institutional health involves more than fiscal stability. As important as enrollment, endowments, and earnings are, other factors contribute to a school’s well-being and directly influence the bottom line. Among them are:

• Leadership’s commitment to strategic planning
• The reputation of the institution’s academic program
• The facilities—bricks, mortar, library holdings, technology
• Faculty scholarship and publication
• Ministries of graduates

Robust health is an elusive goal, and one that board members must never take for granted and must always pursue. It requires leaders to monitor indicators and make swift and decisive adjustments as needed. A periodic checkup with a skilled In Trust Governance Mentor using the In Trust Institutional Health Checklist (IHC) can provide a board with powerful diagnostic information about the institution and suggest a preventive or corrective regimen.

The process
In Trust distributes the Institutional Health Checklist via an online survey to the seminary’s board, administrators, and faculty. The survey results are tabulated and a customized, detailed report is created that articulates findings and makes recommendations for improvement. During a meeting of the board, an In Trust Governance Mentor facilitates a discussion with board members exploring the data and comparing the school’s practices with the “best practices” identified by the Association of Theological Schools’ Standards for Accreditation. Based on the discussion, the board begins to formulate an action plan.

Expectations
The Institutional Health Checklist assists boards in:

• Identifying informational blind spots.
• Taking action to improve performance.
• Developing strategic indicators for tracking progress toward mission fulfillment.

Getting started: For more information, contact us at 302-654-7770 or mentorservices@intrust.org.