Caltech’s Approach to Stronger Private Board Governance

Caltech’s board once had nearly 80 members; too many for focused discussion or quick decisions.

In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Cathy Light, Caltech’s Secretary of the Board, about how the institution streamlined governance, strengthened committees, and made trustee reorientation mandatory.

Light, who has held senior roles at Carnegie Mellon University and the Semester at Sea program, outlines how Caltech conducts trustee assessments, structures its executive committee, and uses an ongoing governance review to keep the board working at its best.

Topics Covered:

• Governance changes prompted by the pandemic

• Defining trustee responsibilities in 2025

• Using the executive committee for responsive decision-making

• The role of the governance and nominating committee

• Trustee assessments and renewal decisions

• Making orientation and reorientation standard practice

• Maintaining strategic oversight without micromanaging

• Involving alumni and students without adding voting seats

Real-World Examples:

• Reducing the board from 80 members to a manageable size

• Giving young alumni trustees full voting rights

• Using retreats and campus visits to connect trustees with faculty research

Three Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Keep governance review continuous and adaptive.

2. Use orientation and reorientation to maintain alignment.

3. Structure boards for informed, timely decisions without overstepping into operations.

For presidents, trustees, board chairs, board secretaries, and governance committees aiming to improve board effectiveness.

Read the transcript:  https://changinghighered.com/caltech-private-higher-education-board-governance-model/

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