Building Trust After Difficult Decisions

Budget cuts, program closures, leadership transitions, and rapid strategic shifts can leave faculty members feeling unheard or blindsided. Even when difficult decisions are necessary, the process can create long-lasting rifts if not handled with care.

How can leaders repair the damage, re-engage faculty partners, and restore confidence after major disruptions?

Building Trust, a report from The Chronicle, offers clear, practical guidance for addressing strained relationships and rebuilding credibility on campus.

Drawing on the experiences of presidents, provosts, governance experts, and faculty leaders, the report explains how institutions can move forward collaboratively and productively in challenging times.

Order this report to learn how to:

• Communicate transparently about constraints, trade-offs, and timelines.

• Re-engage faculty through meaningful collaboration, not performative consultation.

• Identify the governance practices that strengthen trust after a period of strain.