Whatever It Is, I’m Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education (FSBG)

Nov 15, 2024 [ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR]
9:30am-10:30am
Instructor:

More Details

Description: 

In “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It,” president emeritus of Macalester College Brian Rosenberg draws on decades of higher education experience to expose the entrenched structures, practices, and cultures that inhibit meaningful postsecondary reform, even as institutions face serious challenges to their financial and educational models. A lively insider’s account, the book pinpoints factors that hinder the ability of U.S. colleges and universities to be creative and entrepreneurial amid calls to improve affordability, access, and equity for students. 

Through pithy personal stories of divisive town hall meetings, multiyear college governance battles, and attempts at curricular reform, Rosenberg illustrates internal and external dynamics that impede institutional evolution. Pressures such as declining enrollment, escalating costs, and an oversupply of PhDs in academia have long signaled a grave need for reform within a profession that, as Rosenberg ruefully acknowledges, lacks organizational flexibility, depends greatly on reputation and ranking, and retains traditions, from the academic calendar to grading systems, that have remained essentially the same for decades. 

Rosenberg looks outside the U.S. system to find possible antidotes in innovative higher education models such as student-centered and experiential learning approaches. This thought-provoking work offers ample evidence for presidents, chancellors, deans, provosts, and faculty to consider as they plan their missions to achieve institutional transformation. 

Facilitator: Eric Oslund

Meeting Format: Zoom

Meeting Schedule: Fridays Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Nov. 15 from 9:30am-10:30am

*8 spaces available; all participants will be provided a copy of the book

Want to propose a workshop topic related to teaching and professional development? Please share your genius with us and fill out the LT&ITC workshop proposal form. We're looking for a variety of interesting and diverse topics -- please help! 

Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on planned workshops, special events, and faculty book groups as well as highlighted articles that may be of interest to you.

If you're unable to attend a scheduled workshop, we typically record them and make them available via our YouTube channel.

Workshop registration and attendance information for inclusion in your tenure and promotion materials can be accessed directly via the university's workshop registration system.

If you're looking for some just-in-time training or want to dig a little deeper into a specific topic of interest, MTSU subscribes to both Teaching Professor ("reflects the changing needs of today's college faculty and the students they teach") and Academic Leader ("reflects the evolving needs of academic deans, department chairs and heads, program directors, and others with leadership responsibilities") online publications. If attempting to access either publication off-campus, you'll be asked to enter your MTSU credentials.

If you have an idea for a potential future workshop, please feel free to send your suggestions to Dr. Lando Carter.