The Roles, Duties, and Ethical Responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer
By Lawrence R. Ladd 

Released in conjunction with the Sustaining an Ethical Culture on Campus webcast, the latest publication in the Perspectives series examines the complexities of the role of the chief financial officer. This complimentary white paper, authored by Larry Ladd, focuses on how the financial leader of an institution must balance technical knowledge along with stellar communication and leadership skills in order to fulfill the many institutional expectations required for the job.

New Realities in the Bond Market
By Jeremy Bass, June Matte, Michael K. Townsley

Most institutions of higher education rely upon debt to generate strategic and current financial resources. Net income and cash flows from operations or from restricted gifts usually don’t provide enough funds to build, expand, and renovate the plant, equipment, or property needed to support an institution’s mission. This paper describes how the recent credit crunch dramatically changed the structure of debt financing for higher education.

College Tuition and Fees at Independent Institutions: The Real Facts
By James L. Doti

Traditional measures that compare rising college costs with the rate of inflation not only misrepresent the facts but also perpetuate the belief that all postsecondary institutions generally, and independent colleges and universities specifically, are actively engaged in pricing strategies that make higher education increasingly unaffordable. This report advocates for a more careful analysis of pricing trends that takes into account the rapidly rising amounts of institutional grants awarded by independent colleges and universities.

Critical Path Issues on the Way to Carbon Neutrality
By Wendell C. Brase

This essay provides an overview of the tools, resources, and public policies that colleges and universities need to implement in order to markedly reduce or neutralize their carbon emissions. Business officers do not need another impassioned admonishment that “it doesn’t really cost anything,” if they would just make a commitment and get moving. To make progress, a climate action plan needs to be embedded in sound business logic and a policy environment that removes obstacles that raise risk and thwart success.

Harnessing Value from Changing Workplace Demographics
by Bobbie Dillon

Examines how to bind the different values, needs, perceptions, and work styles in a multi-generational workforce into a cohesive, productive organization that can thrive in today’s challenging economic environment. These ideas were originally shared by presenters and participants at the NACUBO Thought Leaders Program: Changing Demographics, Changing Workplace, offered February 8-10, 2009, in Scottsdale, Arizona.