This applied dissertation was designed to discover (a) what candidates for trustee positions at small liberal arts colleges want and need so that they can make educated decisions as to whether or not to accept these positions, and (b) what new trustees want and need so that they can begin their tenure as effective and confident board members.

The findings are a result of an extensive literary review, observations at a number of board meetings, attendance at and participation in workshops of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, and interviews with 51 trustees and presidents of small liberal arts colleges. Of the 51 interviewees, 27 represented different colleges. The other 24 were members of the board of a small liberal arts college in New England. From the results, the researcher designed two outlines: one for use in setting up a preeducation program for candidates, and one for use in setting up an orientation program for new trustees. In addition, special comments and suggestions were offered for the small liberal arts college in New England. This serves as an example of how the generic outlines can be tailored to fit a specific institution.

Results showed that candidates who accept trustee positions oftentimes have little idea upon what they are embarking. However, they were easily able to indicate what they would have liked to have known prior to accepting board positions. Additionally, trustees recounting their initial period of trusteeship indicated that they were ill prepared to participate at their first meetings. They, too, were easily able to enumerate what information they would have liked to have had.

It can be concluded that, through the utilization of preeducation and orientation programs based on the outlines designed from this research, (a) trustee candidates will be better able to make educated decisions as to whether or not to serve on these boards, (b) trustees will be more valuable much earlier on, and (c) boards will have both willing and able trustees.