Challenges in College Setting
- Darlene Edgar
Analytics
Miller, J., & Harrington, C. (2023). Challenges in Implementing and Sustaining Community College Organizational Change for Student Success. Journal of Postsecondary Student Success; Vol. 2 No. 2 (2023); 28-56. Challenges in Implementing and Sustaining Community College Organizational Change for Student Success
Community colleges face challenges in implementing and sustaining organizational change to improve student success rates.
Despite their dedication, these institutions struggle to significantly boost graduation and transfer rates.
Institutional-level reforms are needed to tackle low completion rates and reduce racial equity gaps.
Challenges include:
Lack of awareness and motivation among faculty, staff, and administrators.
Complex contextual issues such as organizational structures, leadership problems, and funding constraints.
Approaches to overcome these challenges include:
Providing professional development for leaders in change management strategies.
Emphasizing the urgency of the issue due to persistently low graduation rates and equity gaps.
Guided pathways are highlighted as a promising whole-college reform strategy.
Challenges in implementing and sustaining guided pathways include structural complexities, leadership issues, and stakeholder engagement.
The literature review identified three root causes for challenges in implementing change:
Contextual challenges
Awareness and motivation challenges
Change management process challenges
Recommendations for improvement include:
Facilitating institutional-level conversations
Involving all stakeholders in change discussions
Providing regular professional development opportunities
Engaging more faculty and staff in change efforts
Utilizing a macro change framework and external coaching support
Additional recommendations emphasize:
Helping stakeholders understand the rationale behind the change
Providing support for mid-level leaders
Integrating change into the college's vision, mission, and values
Utilizing existing resources and engaging in institution coaching supports.