Two governance briefs from AGB and university leaders pressed trustees to shore up policies on free expression, shared governance and fiduciary duty as institutions face intensifying political pressure. The guidance urges boards to train on First Amendment principles, distinguish academic freedom from free expression, and adopt pre‑agreed protocols for crisis decision‑making. The materials cite the University of California’s new National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement and AGB essays on the Compact and institutional autonomy as sources of practical governance steps. Authors recommend trustees demand regular education about legal protections, build transparent speech policies, and involve faculty and students proactively when shaping expression‑related rules. The guidance arrives amid wider battles over trustee independence and federal and state encroachments on campus operations — topics already prompting legislative proposals in several states. Boards that follow AGB’s playbook are advised to codify shared‑governance mechanisms and preserve disciplinary expertise while preparing for high‑stakes public controversies.