ERIC Number: ED589692
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 168
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3690-4871-1
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Change Readiness: Realities and Perceptions of Vice Presidents for Student Affairs at Small, Private Liberal Arts Colleges
Kenny, Kathryn E. McCaffrey
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Colorado State University
This phenomenological study explored the experiences of vice presidents for student affairs at small liberal arts colleges with readiness for change within their organizations. The lived experiences of the participants were explored using the following research questions: (1) How do vice presidents for student affairs at small, private liberal arts colleges define what "readiness for change" means to them? (2) How do vice presidents for student affairs describe their readiness for leading change? (3) What skills and traits do vice presidents for student affairs identify as being important to their readiness to lead change within their organization? (4) How would vice presidents for student affairs describe their own personal development of the skills and traits needed to lead change? How did they develop these skills and traits? (5) How would vice presidents for student affairs apply their own readiness for change to their strategy for readying their organization for change? The researcher conducted semi structured interviews with twelve vice presidents for student affairs at small, private, liberal arts colleges in the United States. Using the interpretative phenomenological approach, five themes emerged during the analysis of the data. The lived-experience of the participants were represented by: (1) readiness for change; (2) communication; (3) value of relationships; (4) knowledge development; (5) change leadership. The data suggested that the essence of the lived experience of the participants was that they shared the desire to improve their organizations, develop their staff to be strong leaders on their campuses, and to create a high quality experience for their students. Keywords: change leadership, student affairs officer, change readiness, organizational change. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Educational Change, Readiness, College Presidents, Student Personnel Services, Private Colleges, Small Colleges, Administrator Attitudes, Transformational Leadership, Leadership Qualities, Skill Development, Change Strategies, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Relationship, Leadership Training
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A