The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents and UH President Wendy Hensel have joined more than 110 colleges and universities and more than 180 higher education leaders across the country in signing a national letter urging the protection of institutional governance of institutes of higher education from political interference.
The letter by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) affirms that the strength and global reputation of higher education in the U.S. rest on the independent authority of boards to govern in the best interests of their institutions, free from external political or ideological pressures.
“The Board of Regents (BOR) takes seriously its fiduciary responsibility to govern in the best interest of our students and communities,” said BOR Chair Gabe Lee. “Maintaining independence from political interference ensures we can fulfill that duty with integrity and focus on long-term institutional success.”
The statement draws on the landmark Dartmouth College v. Woodward Supreme Court case, which established foundational protections for institutional autonomy. The letter warns that those protections are being challenged by efforts to tie public funding to ideological conformity or override decisions traditionally made by governing boards, such as whom to hire, whom to admit, or what curriculum to offer.
By signing the letter, UH joins a growing coalition of board chairs, presidents, foundation leaders and accreditors committed to preserving the independence and integrity of higher education governance.
The full letter is below and the list of signatories are available at AGB website.
Community Letter Reaffirming the Independence of Higher Education Governance: A Call to Action
In the landmark case of Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819), the Supreme Court affirmed the sanctity of educational charters and the autonomy of private institutions from political interference. Though initially limited to private colleges, the decision came to embody a broader presumption of institutional independence that extended to public institutions. This principle has since safeguarded the ability of higher education to serve society impartially, fostering discovery, innovation, and civic leadership free from transient political pressures.
Today, the independence of governing boards—the foundation of institutional autonomy—faces renewed and expanding challenges. These include not only efforts to condition public funding on political compliance or ideological conformity, but also attempts to control fundamental institutional decisions that are the rightful purview of boards, such as determining whom to admit, whom to hire, and how to fulfill an institution’s mission in service to its students and communities.
We, the undersigned, affirm:
- That governing boards must retain independent authority to fulfill their fiduciary duties without political interference.
- That higher education’s strength lies in its diversity of thought, freedom of inquiry, and insulation from political orthodoxy.
- That preserving institutional autonomy is essential for the vitality of American democracy, economic innovation, and global leadership.
Indeed, it is this very independence of governance and mission that has made U.S. higher education the model for the world. The freedom to govern without political interference has enabled American colleges and universities to lead in research, produce top talent, drive prosperity, and serve as beacons for scholars across the globe.
To preserve the integrity and global standing of American higher education, we call on leaders, advocates, and stakeholders to stand together in the following commitments:
- Defend the independence of college and university governing boards as a cornerstone of constitutional freedoms.
- Reject political interference that undermines academic excellence and fiduciary stewardship.
- Reaffirm the principles of charter sanctity and institutional autonomy articulated in Dartmouth College v. Woodward as vital protections for our nation’s future.
The future of higher education and the democracy it serves depends on our collective vigilance, an unwavering commitment to these principles, and unified action.
