Another proceeded on the basis of presidential vision and a strategic planning process. Yet another provided broad-based reading assignments for all participants and tackled organizational structure to attempt to change thinking about learning and to impact learning outcomes. All three stressed the need for a process that involves all parties in a collaborative mode. An audience member asked about the impact on morale. The common response was that morale will have its highs and lows, as is to be expected when major changes are underway.
Initial excitement can dip to low feelings as the reality of change hits home.
The period when the old way is gone and the new way is not yet working is a trying one. However, the more collaborative and participatory the process is, the more positive morale seems to be. All three have been involved long enough to feel that morale had taken an upward turn in the last year and that the majority at their institutions supports the change efforts underway. The moderator asked how each college dealt with the naysayers who do not want to commit to the learning college vision. The consensus seemed to be to provide opportunity for these people to get involved and for their views to be considered fairly and openly, but to allow the majority to move forward without being waylaid by a small minority.