Overcoming Immunity to Change at Metropolitan University: Designing Institutional Transformation

• In Event: Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: Faculty and Student Diversity on Campus

Abstract

Among institutions of higher education, there is increasing awareness of the need for change. Existing academic structures do not accurately reflect nor effectively support diverse faculty and student populations. This is particularly evident in the underrepresentation of tenured and tenure-eligible women and minority faculty in STEM fields. Transformative change is needed to advance university policies and practices that provide support and create advancement opportunities for women and others from traditionally underrepresented groups. In this paper, we discuss diagnosing barriers preventing change at Metropolitan University. Guided by Kegan and Lahey’s Immunity to Change framework, we seek to identify and remove roadblocks to change with the goal of permanently diversifying MU STEM faculty and paving the way for continued transformative growth.

Authors

• Maike I. Philipsen, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Christy Tyndall, Virginia Commonwealth University