Actionable Strategies for Successful Change Management in Higher Education

Rachel Pauletti - Forvis Mazars
Victoria Grady - George Mason University

As the challenges facing higher education mount and support for the industry wanes, the need for change on our campuses becomes more and more clear. Yet, there has been systemic resistance to change to date, particularly when it comes to changes to the operating model or traditional academic programming. What can be done to combat change resistance in higher education? In this session, we will explore the business case for measuring, acknowledging, and addressing change resistance on your campus. We will also suggest that there are clear and actionable interventions that will help campus leaders guide their constituents through times of change, enabling growth and innovation. As an example, we will introduce the use of transitional objects, which provide stability in times of upheaval and uncertainty. With this and other interventions, attendees at this session will leave prepared to begin meaningful conversations and avoid ruinous resistance to change.

Learning Objectives

1. Contextualize resistance to change in Higher Education with the resistance levels in other industries.
2. Articulate the business case for understanding and measuring change resistance in higher education.
3. Identify 2-3 strategies for successful change management, including implementation of transitional objects.

CPE Available

• 1.5 Credits: Business Management & Organization