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Your First 90 Days
Dec 20, 2023
Are you just starting a position as a chief business officer in higher ed? Or, perhaps you’ve been promoted to a leadership role? What do you need to do in your first 90 days?
Read Important Foundational Documents
Articles of Incorporation
By-Laws
Policies & Procedures
Employee Handbook
Faculty Handbook
Strategic Plan
Master Plan
Board Governance Manual (if any)
Read Important Financial Documents
Debt/Bank covenants
Current year budget
Prior year’s budget-to-actual report
Five-year financial plan (if none, plan to create)
Capital budget (if any)
Investment policy (if none, plan to create)
Read Audit & Risk Analysis Documents
Past two years of 990s, 990-Ts, and audit reports
Past two years of financial aid audits
Past five years of management comment letters
Review the most recent risk assessment and risk management documents (if none, plan to create)
Read Accreditation Documents
Read the most recent accreditation reviews and recommendations.
Get Up to Speed on Legal Issues
Read significant third-party contracts
Inquire about current or pending litigation
Begin Building Relationships with Key Personnel
Meet in person with key personnel across the campus (individually—go to them)
Cabinet members
Faculty leadership
Department heads
Student leadership
Your own staff
Board committee chairs (with approval of your president; ask your president to make these introductions)
Walk the campus with Director of Physical Plant (every building)
Attend a faculty meeting (introduce yourself, talk about your philosophies and plans, seek their guidance and input)
Attend departmental meetings across campus
Schedule Introductory/Exploratory Meetings with Key Outsiders
Auditors
Bankers
Investment managers
Insurance brokers
Legal counsel
Prioritize
Knowing your first year (or more) will be overwhelming, be intentional about your work/life balance
Be intentional about your ongoing professional development
Be intentional about building your professional peer network
Campus dining services are only helpful if students participate in them! Here are some questions to ask when addressing the lack of student meal plan buy-in.
By Cheryl Hyatt, Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search•13 Feb, 2024
It is human nature to form connections…and to lose touch. The good news is that you can build a stronger relationship by just investing 10 minutes each week.
Our future depends on innovation, and our ability to innovate depends on our people. Investing in our people is investing in the well-being of the institution.