Too often, the divide between faculty and administrators is misdiagnosed. “The divide is not between mission and margin,” says Howard Teibel. “It is between different interpretations of stewardship and different habits of managing commitments.”

Howard, the founder and president of Teibel Education, which works with campuses to navigate change and support leadership, says that it’s those institutional and academic commitments that can be the building blocks for a new relationship between professors and presidents, among others. Without a stronger relationship, colleges face a tough road given the financial, political, and enrollment challenges ahead.

At this year’s Chronicle Festival, we’ll explore how institutions are working to rebuild trust during a time of significant change with students, among faculty and leadership, and with the broader public. On Day 2 of the festival, I’ll interview Howard about his ideas for building a network of shared commitments across campus. We’ll also be joined by my Chronicle colleague Lee Gardner, author of the in-depth report “Building Trust: How administrators and faculty can work together productively.”