Encouraging Board Members to Be Active, but Not Activist

By SARA HEBEL

Center urges public-college trustees to set aside personal agendas; critics see defense of status quo

The continuing evolution of two distinct schools of thought on college trusteeship became sharply evident last week, as a mainstream governing-board group announced a new center for trustees of public colleges that was immediately attacked by critics as too soft on leadership issues.

Officials of the new center -- which is sponsored by the Association of Governing Boards of