A new Association of Governing Boards report details how trustees at four public institutions are advancing student success through strategic board engagement—making student outcomes central to governance, planning and budgeting. The study highlights concrete practices boards used to boost retention and completion for underserved students. Governance experts also caution that relationships between institutions and their affiliated foundations must be clearly defined; foundation leaders and trustees should align on ownership, donor intent and stewardship to avoid governance friction and protect endowed assets. Both reports push boards to be proactive stewards of mission and resources.