Governing boards in higher education must identify and follow best practices to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Not having a compliance committee in place can expose institutions to legal risks, financial penalties, and reputational damage. Designating a compliance manager to lead the committee can ensure the implementation of best practices and drive long-term sustainability for higher education institutions.
Read on to learn how board management software helps higher education institutions streamline compliance by centralizing policies, regulations, and documentation in a secure, easily accessible platform.
Understanding Compliance in Higher Education
In higher education, institutions must follow legal and regulatory standards to maintain their integrity and protect stakeholders.
For instance, universities must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure accessibility for students with disabilities. Abiding by these regulations is vital for upholding trust, safeguarding students’ rights, and providing equal opportunities for students and faculty.
Higher education must also navigate legal mandates while demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and complying with privacy laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),
Meeting software strengthens compliance in higher education by providing secure, traceable interactions for board members and teams. Features like real-time monitoring and collaboration, and customizable accessibility options help institutions meet privacy, inclusion, and reporting requirements.
The comprehensive blueprint for selecting a results-driven board management vendor.
Higher Education Compliance Best Practices
Bringing a compliance officer on board can help colleges and universities meet legal requirements, protect student interests, and uphold ethical standards. This individual ultimately ensures the institution understands the board of directors’ role in compliance.
Follow these best practices to maintain compliance at your higher education institution.
1. Strengthen Governance and Oversight
By reinforcing governance and oversight, higher education institutions create a robust system for monitoring compliance. This is achieved by implementing clear policies, regular audits, and ongoing training for leadership and staff.
Additionally, creating open lines of communication helps to quickly identify compliance gaps and allows boards to remain proactive. AGB OnBoard’s software integrates exclusive content from the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), providing a comprehensive solution for preparing and managing essential meetings.
2. Develop Clear Compliance Policies and Procedures
The policies should be simple, actionable, and regularly updated and monitored by your compliance manager. Establishing clear compliance policies and procedures is a fundamental practice for higher education institutions, as they’re held to high standards within federal, state, and institutional regulations.
3. Foster a Culture of Compliance and Ethics
This is accomplished by encouraging leaders to lead by example, empowering individuals to speak up, and offering necessary resources like training materials and human resource contacts.
4. Disability Accommodation Compliance
Compliance with disability accommodation in higher education requires proactive communication with students and staff to identify and implement necessary adjustments. The board of directors plays a crucial role in compliance efforts by ensuring that policies align with legal requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Regulations
Being compliant with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means adopting policies and practices that prevent discrimination and promote meaningful representation, fairness, and equal access for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, disability, or background.
It helps institutions attract diverse perspectives, ultimately enriching the learning process, promoting creativity, and preparing students to solve global complex problems.
Achieving Your Compliance Goals with AGB OnBoard
By implementing strong compliance practices, universities not only meet legal requirements but also enhance transparency, protect stakeholders, and support long-term institutional success.
Cutting-edge meeting software, such as AGB OnBoard, helps higher education boards stay compliant by automating document management, notifications, and voting, ensuring all actions align with governance protocol.
Key AGB OnBoard features include:
- End-to-end encryption for sensitive data
- Role-based access controls
- Audit trails and compliance tracking
- Secure messaging for confidential discussions
- Integrated AGB content
- Policy and document management
- Board evaluation and self-assessment tools
- Voting and e-signature capabilities
Ready to improve compliance? Get in touch today for a free trial and discover how AGB OnBoard can elevate board meetings.
Efficiently track and document board decisions with our Meeting Minutes Template
About The Author
- Josh Palmer serves as OnBoard's Head of Content. An experienced content creator, his previous roles have spanned numerous industries including B2C and B2B home improvement, healthcare, and software-as-a-service (SaaS). An Indianapolis native and graduate of Indiana University, Palmer currently resides in Fishers, Ind.
Latest entries
Board Management SoftwareMarch 7, 2025Higher Education Compliance Training: 3 Best Programs
Board Management SoftwareMarch 5, 2025AML Compliance Certification: 5 Best Programs
Board Management SoftwareFebruary 14, 2025Cybersecurity Risk Management in Higher Education: 5 Major Risks
Board Management SoftwareFebruary 12, 20255 Higher Education Compliance Best Practices
