The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) announced a new national governance framework designed to strengthen higher-education board effectiveness, accountability, and public trust. AGB’s Higher Education Governance Integrity Initiative is positioned as a legislative and training-oriented package aimed at clarifying trustee roles and stabilizing public higher-ed leadership. AGB cited evidence that governance challenges are widening, including that many trustees lack confidence about fiduciary duties and governance boundaries, and that unclear governance-management lines can contribute to presidential instability and eroded public trust. The framework centers on five recommendations—starting with trustee selection and modernized training—aimed at reinforcing “nonpartisan” governance practices and institutional independence as external political pressure rises.