Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interdisciplinary Strategies as Transformative Change in Higher Education

  • Published:
Innovative Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using data collected through case studies of 21 research universities in the United States, I reviewed the efforts institutions are undertaking to meet the growing demand for interdisciplinary knowledge. I adopted the framework of transformative change, where change occurs over time and brings important shifts in the way an institution views itself. Findings indicated that implementing interdisciplinary initiatives is accomplished not only through changes in how institutional work is organized and the facilities in which the work is carried out, but also through concurrent shifts in the institutional culture related to interdisciplinary endeavors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldrich, H., & Ruef, M. (2006). Organizations evolving (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altheide, D., Coyle, M., DeVriese, K., & Schneider, C. (2008). Emergent qualitative data analysis. In S. Hesse-Biber & P. Leavey (Eds.), Handbook of emergent methods (pp. 127–154). New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bess, J., & Dee, J. (2008). Understanding college and university organization: Theories for effective policy and practice. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boix Mansilla, V., & Duraising, E. (2007). Targeted assessment of students’ interdisciplinary work: An empirically grounded framework. Journal of Higher Education, 78(2), 218–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brint, S., Turk-Bicakci, L., Proctor, K., & Murphy, S. (2009a). Expanding the social frame of knowledge: Interdisciplinary, degree-granting fields in American four-year colleges and universities, 1975–2000. Review of Higher Education, 32(2), 155–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brint, S., Turk-Bicakci, L., Proctor, K., Murphy, S., & Hanneman, R. (2009b). The market model and the growth and decline of academic fields in US colleges and universities, 1975–2000. Retrieved July 9, 2009 from http://www.higher-ed2000.ucr.edu/Publications/Brint%20et%20al%20(2009a).pdf

  • Brodhead, R. (2004, August 19). Richard Brodhead: Welcomes graduate and professional students. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2004/08/brodhead_graduate_0804.html

  • Brodhead, R. (2006, October 16). Richard Brodhead: Supporting the faculty. Retrieved July 21, 2009 from http://news.duke.edu/2006/10/rhb.html

  • Campbell, R. (2005, February 20). Like no building you’ve ever seen before. Boston Globe. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://senseable.mit.edu/competition/Campbell_Globe.htm

  • Clark, B. (1998). Creating entrepreneurial universities: Organizational pathways of transformation. Oxford: Pergamon-Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke University. (2000). 2000 campus master plan. Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://architect.duke.edu/planning/master_plan.html

  • Duke University. (2006a). Susan Roth to oversee interdisciplinary studies, Sarah Deutsch to lead social sciences at Duke. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://news.duke.edu/2006/03/roth_deutsch.html

  • Duke University. (2006b). Duke and the changing landscape: A planning prologue. Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://www.provost.duke.edu/StratPlan/pdfs/MADPrologue.pdf

  • Duke University. (n.d.). Office of the provost: Research. Retrieved July 21, 2009 http://www.provost.duke.edu/units/research.html

  • Eckel, P., & Kezar, A. (2003). Taking the reins: Institutional transformation in higher education. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gumport, P. (1993). The contested terrain of academic program reduction. Journal of Higher Education, 64(3), 283–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gumport, P., & Snydman, S. (2002). The formal organization of knowledge: An analysis of academic structure. Journal of Higher Education, 73(3), 375–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hage, J. (1999). Organizational innovation and organizational change. Annual Reviews in Sociology, 25, 597–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, M., & Holley, K. (2008). Constructing the interdisciplinary ivory tower: The planning of interdisciplinary spaces on university campuses. Planning for Higher Education, 36(3), 34–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvard University. (2008). Commencement address of President Drew Faust. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/faust/080605_commspeech.php

  • Hatch, J. A. (2002). Doing qualitative research in education settings. Ithaca, NY: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy, J. (2003). Building for the future: Ushering in a new era of collaborative research. Stanford Alumni Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2003/novdec/columns/prez.html

  • Hockfield, S. (2006). Campus development for MIT’s future. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://web.mit.edu/campus

  • Holley, K. (2009). Understanding interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities in higher education. ASHE Higher Education Report series, 35(2). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

  • Keup, J., Astin, A., Lindholm, J., & Walker, A. (2001). Organizational culture and institutional transformation. In A. Astin & H. Astin (Eds.), Transforming institutions: Contexts and processes (pp. 17–40). Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Higher Education Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kezar, A. (2001). Understanding and facilitating organizational change in the 21st century. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kezar, A., & Eckel, P. (2002). The effect of institutional culture on change strategies in higher education: Universal principles or culturally responsive concepts? Journal of Higher Education, 73(4), 435–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, J. (1990). Interdisciplinarity. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, M. (2000). Transforming higher education: A comparative study. London: Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. (1981). Footnotes to organizational change. Administrative Science Quarterly, 26(4), 563–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massachusetts Institute for Technology. (2005, December 2). MIT opens world’s largest neuroscience research center. Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/bcs-dec2.html

  • Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M., & Huberman, M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, M., & Boix Mansilla, V. (2004). Thinking across perspectives and disciplines. Paper from the Interdisciplinary Studies Project of Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved July 9, 2009 from http://www.pzweb.harvard.edu/interdisciplinary/pdf/ThinkingAcross.pdf

  • National Science Foundation. (2004). Interdisciplinary training for undergraduates in biological and mathematical sciences: Program solicitation. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04546/nsf04546.htm

  • Newell, W. (2001). A theory of interdisciplinary studies. Issues in Integrative Studies, 19, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. (1990). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfirman, S., Collins, J., Lowes, S., & Michaels, A. (2005, February 11). Collaborative efforts: Promoting interdisciplinary scholars. Chronicle of Higher Education, pp. B15–B16.

  • Rhoten, D. (2003). A multi-method analysis of the social and technical conditions for interdisciplinary collaboration. Final report to the National Science Foundation. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.hybridvigor.net/interdis/pubs/hv_pub_interdis-2003.09.29.pdf

  • Sa, C. (2008). Interdisciplinary strategies in US research universities. Higher Education, 55(5), 537–552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sample, S. (2006, November 10). Redefining undergraduate education for the 21st century. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.usc.edu/president/speeches/2006/college_board.html

  • Schein, E. (2004). Organizational culture and leadership (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaughter, S. (1997). Race, class, gender, and the construction of post-secondary curricula in the United States: Social movement, professionalization, and political economic theories of curricular change. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 29(1), 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B., & McCann, J. (eds). (2001). Reinventing ourselves: Interdisciplinary education, collaborative learning, and experimentation in higher education. Bolton, MA: Anker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. (1987). Qualitative analysis for social scientists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tierney, W. (1988). Organizational culture in higher education: Defining the essentials. Journal of Higher Education, 59(1), 2–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • University of California, Los Angeles. (2008). UCLA re-accreditation by WASC. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.wasc.ucla.edu/index.shtml

  • University of Michigan. (2008). Interdisciplinary junior faculty initiative. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.umich.edu/pres/committees/interdisc.html

  • University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Interdisciplinary research and education. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.interdisciplinary.umn.edu/index.html

  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (2006, May 25). Resolution in support of Carolina North. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.unc.edu/community/cnorthresolution.htm

  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (2007). Carolina North holds vast promise. Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://www.unc.edu/community/chancellors_column_3_07.html

  • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (2008). An introductory discussion of the Carolina North plan. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=2455

  • University of Pennsylvania. (2002). Agenda for excellence, 1995–2000: A strategic plan for the University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 17, 2009 from http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v47pdf/010501/agenda.pdf

  • University of Pennsylvania. (2006). Penn connects: Campus development plan. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v52/n21/pdf_n21/supp.pdf

  • University of Southern California (n.d.a). About us: Office of the vice provost for research advancement. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from http://www.usc.edu/research/about/vp/

  • University of Southern California (n.d.b). James H. Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund. Retrieved July 21, 2009 from http://www.usc.edu/research/for_researchers/funding/usc/zumberge/

  • University of Washington (n.d.). Network of interdisciplinary initiatives. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from http://www.grad.washington.edu/acad/interdisc_network/InterdisNetwork.htm

  • Walters, A. (2006, May 12). Industry support for academic research falls, but federal aid rises. Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A34.

  • Yin, R. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Higher Education, University of Alabama, Box 870302, 328E Graves Hall, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0302, USA

    Karri A. Holley

Authors
  1. Karri A. Holley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karri A. Holley.

Additional information

Karri A. Holley

is Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Alabama. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Her research interests include interdisciplinarity, graduate education, and qualitative inquiry.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holley, K.A. Interdisciplinary Strategies as Transformative Change in Higher Education. Innov High Educ 34, 331–344 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-009-9121-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-009-9121-4

Key words

Search

Navigation