University governance is back in focus as institutions confront political, financial and operational shocks. Governance advisers offer quick diagnostics for boards—attendance metrics, information flows, committee engagement—to assess whether trustees are well‑informed and able to support presidents. Trusteeship practices are being positioned as an early warning system for institutional risk. At the same time, faculty senates and shared‑governance structures face renewed pressure: opinion and analysis pieces portray many governing bodies as strained by politicized campus debates and budget cuts. Higher‑education leaders say strong trustee‑president alignment and robust faculty deliberation are essential to weather the current policy and financial headwinds.