With 50 years of marriage and almost two decades of service on Palomar College’s governing board under his belt, Mark Evilsizer is nothing if not committed.
But 19 years as a trustee was not how Mark planned to spend his retirement: It was instead something he fell into while working at the college as a retiree.
As a part-time faculty member in 1996, he valued his contributions as an educator: “I saw what opportunities I was provided because I had a higher education,” he said. However, “I saw how part-timers were considered less than our full-time faculty and really weren’t paid at similar hourly rates. [It’s] almost like they were second-tier or second-status faculty.”
Not long after, Mark formed Palomar College’s first faculty union. Seeing his investment in the community, the union encouraged him to run for the board.
“I really didn’t know what that position was about, or what responsibilities it encompassed or entailed. And a lot of people didn’t think I could win with a name like Evilsizer,” he says. “ I’m still amazed that I’ve been able to be re-elected five times now.”
Even after 19 years of service, he’s still learning more each day about the responsibilities of a trustee. As elected officials, trustees carry the responsibilities of making sure financials are in-check and long-term goals are accomplished. They also help their college get through inevitable crises.
A trustee’s influence shouldn’t be undervalued — they have the power to set the tone for the whole campus.
Mark joins us to explain the ins and outs of being a college trustee — from responsibilities to elections — and the best ways for board members to deal with school crises on this episode of Higher Education Coffee & Conversation.
What Exactly Is a Trustee?
“It’s taken me 18 years to fully recognize the role of a trustee: legally, and as defined by a number of ed[ucation] codes,” Mark says.
Trustees are elected officials, not staff or faculty of the institution. It’s important to draw the line and understand where the roles begin and end.
For some board members, it takes a long time to fully appreciate what exactly being an elected official means.
Mark remembers being an excited and ambitious new member of the board after his first election and coming to campus to meet with faculty. That was a mistake: “I did not give the courtesy or professional notice to the president of the college that I was coming,” he recalls.
Remember the boundaries of the job — it’s the CEO’s role to direct faculty, not a trustee’s, and interacting with faculty without advance notice or discussion could undercut the CEO’s authority. Always remember, the board’s most important relationship is with the CEO.
“It took me a while to learn that. And now, 18 years later, I appreciate the reasons for that.”
A trustee board is collaborative
Trustees are responsible for some of the most important aspects of an institution: they’re able to provide fiscal oversight; hire or terminate high authority positions like chancellors, presidents, and superintendents; and can lay out goals and policy plans for the CEO to implement.
But trustees can’t do anything alone, and for good reason — they’re making important decisions that will impact current students, staff, and faculty, as well as the institution’s future.
That’s why healthy cooperation and collaboration are so important.
Trustees are role models
They help set the tone for what leadership looks like at their institutions. Trustees should set an example by demonstrating good conduct and civil discourse. Respect, mindfulness in their actions, and even the language that they use is critical.
“When I’ve seen trustees lose their cool or attack a colleague, or verbally abuse a speaker or a faculty or staff member, it really reflects badly — not only on the individual but on the entire governing board,” Mark says.
A strong partnership between boards and CEOs is crucial to carrying out a college’s mission. Together, they are the team that helps lead the overall direction of the college.
Boards that are hostile and argumentative will not only change the tone of the board but the entire campus. And the media loves a story about a chaotic college board.
These challenges are unavoidable. But if you manage them properly, things usually work out in the board’s favor with a lesson learned.
The Board’s Role in a Crisis
Crises are inevitable.
Whether it’s a crisis of confidence in your institution or a natural disaster impossible to prevent, you’re likely to experience a crisis if you ever decide to serve as a trustee.
For Mark, it was the 2014 wildfires. During the emergency, the campus was used as overflow housing for people in need: the gymnasium housed families, kennels were set up for household pets, and equestrian facilities were made available for those with horses and livestock.
In times like these, getting proper communication out to the community was crucial. This messaging is usually provided by the university President, who typically consults the communications department, and the board first.
“You have to be very wise and knowledgeable about what type of message you’re trying to convey,” Mark says, and “best communicate that without raising misinformation or false alarms or legal challenges.”
When making decisions with your fellow trustees, work closely with the communications team. The board controls the message, but the communications team will make sure that message reaches students and staff efficiently and effectively.
So You Want To Run for Board
When it comes down to it, a college board position is a local government position. It’s not the same as applying for an administrative job, meaning you don’t have to be a lifelong community member or donor to run for board. Mark hadn’t been a member of the faculty for long before he decided to run.
But you do need to have a strong campaign and be prepared for the massive undertaking of running for public office.
If you’re going to focus on one thing, make sure it’s your campaign statement.
For a local campaign like the college board, creating a strong statement is vital. “Because that really gives you an opportunity to tell each voter what your platform is, what you stand for, [and] what you hope to accomplish.”
Having a good support system helps, too. For Mark, that was the entire faculty union, which meant he didn’t have to worry about the cost of running a campaign.
The union helped coordinate campaigns and distribute responsibility for things like running ads, hanging campaign signs, and knocking on doors across a large district.
“It taught me a lot about what it takes to run for public office,” he said.
Your Guide to a Campus Crisis Management Plan
This article is based on an episode of Higher Education Coffee & Conversation, a podcast featuring higher education experts to discuss trends in marketing, communications, advancement and student success. Subscribe via Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don’t miss future episodes!
