WEEK #1 DISCUSSION
Change theories help higher education administrators understand and develop applications of change processes. Explain why identification of change theories is important and then present three change theories; describe how the different change theories influence the different ways key questions or strategies needed for change are analyzed. Provide an example of how you used change theories when confronted with a crisis leadership situation at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Illustrate your conclusions; identify the type of change it represents.
WEEK #2 DISCUSSION
As background for understanding how and why institutional change succeeds, assess why institutional context plays an important role in the success of institutional change, such as diversity, equity and inclusion implementation and policy. Play devil's advocate to offer ideas to support why dissension regarding institutional context can be helpful to change. Provide additional evidence for your conclusions by demonstrating how collaboration across institutional units might help to influence change. Support your ideas with references to course content, required readings, and additional resources.
WEEK #3 DISCUSSION
While watching this video, Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action Video, reflect on the importance of change leaders and consider Sinek's ideas about how leaders inspire cooperation, trust, and change. Also, consider his ideas as a leader or change agent.
Canterucci, Kotter, and others suggest that certain characteristics define a strong leader. In your initial post, develop a list of the top five leadership characteristics that come to mind after watching the Sinek video and explain how each of those characteristics is used to encourage action, acceptance, and agreement. Describe how and why he inspires action in some and how leadership characteristics influence others.
ASSIGNMENT
Selecting a Need for Change
As a higher education administrator, you will consider, encounter, potentially initiate, and possibly help to manage change initiatives within your institution. By examining situational cases involving change at other institutions, you will be better prepared to predict, understand, and work through changes that will affect you, your students, and your colleagues at your college or university.
As you consider which case to select for the final project, think about the institutions described in each case study and consider why different institutions react differently to changes initiated both internally and externally. Use your own experiences as a student and as an administrator to help guide the selection process.
The starting point in any change initiative begins with a reflection of the institution itself as each college or university has its own “personality” that influences all decisions, reactions, and outcomes. As you work through this milestone and those that follow, consider how each aspect of the critical elements posed influence student success, retention, and persistence within the institution. While your specific role as a higher education administrator may not directly relate to these elements of the institution’s mission, they are a part of the guiding foundational role of each institution and you should use that as your focus in the final project.
Prompt
In Module Two, you will select the one case study that interests you most since this will be the focus of your work for the final project. Throughout this course, this case study will frame your responses for all tasks related to the final project. As you delve into the case, your introduction of it will serve as a backdrop for the description of the need for change and why the change agent has concerns related to the change. This milestone submission addresses critical element I (Introduction) and critical element II, section A (new president as a change agent) of the final project, and it serves as an initial draft for these elements. Substantial instructor feedback will be provided for foundational support of the final project.
As you consider the case study you selected and work through course content, identify ways to build on this milestone submission to expand your analysis, assessment, and application of these pieces of the project for your final submission in Module Nine. As you work on your milestone submission, it is important to note that not every critical element of the final project will be addressed by your milestone submission. When preparing your milestone and final project submissions, be sure to support your work with supplemental information and additional resources beyond the required resources and readings.
The following critical elements must be addressed in your paper:
- Selected Case: Explain why you have selected the case, and describe personal relevance, if any. This explanation will assist your instructor with understanding your goal and motivation so that relevant and meaningful feedback can be provided.
- Institution Description: Provide an overview and description of the institution, including but not limited to demographics, classification, student success, persistence and retention rates, affiliation, and mission and vision.
- Need for Change: Analyze the case study to identify and describe the need for change and to support your conclusions with evidence from the case study.
What to Submit
Your paper must be submitted and formatted as per the APA Manual, as a 3- to 4-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format. Ensure you have a cover sheet and reference sheet. Cover sheet and reference sheet are additional pages.