Abstract
One of the more astonishing characteristics of educational research is the relative lack of social organizational analyses of higher educational institutions. There is even a greater gap in the literature with regard to thechange process associated with a given university or college. The present study is an examination of one college's attempt to change from a traditional white female “finishing” college to a larger biracial and coeducational college committed to experimental and innovative educational programs. Two ideal types of educational social organizations are utilized as explicit aids for the specification of the educational change process observed for the “Becoming Place” during the time period 1969 to 1975. The major findings, which are based on several data sources, can be summarized as follows. (1) Even when a proposed educational change is characterized by ideals of maximum involvement in the decision making process for all members of a college community, resistance to the change can be very substantial. (2) Ironically, little or no involvement by the faculty, students, and alumni in the initial decision to innovate was a major factor for the resistance to educational social change. The research is concluded with a consideration of the findings in terms of possible implications for the future of small colleges.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennis, W.The leaning ivory tower. London: Jossey Bass, 1973.
Bertrand, A. L.Social organization: a general systems and role theory perspective. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis, 1973.
Brookover, W. B., and Erickson, E. L.Sociology of education. Homewood, Ill.: Dorsey Press, 1975.
Cohen, Y. A. The state system, schooling and cognitive and motivational patterns. InSocial Forces and Schooling N. K. Shimahara and A. Scrupski (Eds.), New York: David McKay, 1975, pp. 103–140.
Corwin, R. G. Innovations in organizations: The case of schools.Sociology of Education 1975,48(Winter):1–37.
Daft, R. L., and Becker, S. W.The innovative organization: innovation adoption in school organizations. New York: Elsevier, 1978.
--Institutional Self-Study Report. Published by the Becoming Place for the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1964.
Katz, M. B.Class, bureaucracy and schools. New York: Praeger, 1975.
Lauer, R. H.Perspectives on social change. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 1977.
Lewis, E. M. This unusual year.The Becoming Place Alumni Magazine, 1971 (a).
Lewis, E. M. You've come a long way, lady.The Becoming Place Alumni Magazine, 1971, pp. 14–19 (b).
Lippett, R., et al. The teacher as innovator, seeker, and sharer of new practices. InPerspectives on educational change Richard I. Miller (Ed.), New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1967, pp. 307–324.
Miller, R. I. (Ed.).Perspectives on educational change. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1967.
Oliver, D. Utilitarian perfectionism and education: a critique of underlying forces of innovative education. InSocial Forces and Schooling N.K. Shimahara and A. Scrupski (Eds.), New York: David McKay, 1975, pp. 250–281.
Olsen, M. E.The process of social organization: power in social systems 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1978.
--Report on Institutional Self-Study. Published by the Becoming Place for the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools, 1974.
Riley, J. W., and Riley, M. W. Sociological perspectives on the use of new educational media. InNew teaching aids for the American classroom. W. Schramm (Ed.), Washington, D.C.: U. S. Office of Education, 1962, p. 29.
Shimahara, N. K., and Scrupski, A.Social forces and schooling: an anthropological and sociological perspective. New York: David McKay, 1975.
Spicer, E. H. (Ed.).Human relations and technological change. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1952.
Spring, J.A primer of libertarian education. New York: Free Life Editions, 1975.
Thompson, J. D.Organizations in action. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967.
Turbeville, G. Debating the great issues.Vital Speeches 1979,45(1):30–32.
Turner, R. H. Modes of social ascent through education: sponsored and contest mobility. InEducation, economy and society Halsey Ford, and Anderson (Eds.), New York: Free Press of Glencoe, 1961, pp. 121–139.
Wells, R. H., and Picou, J. S. Innovation and the becoming place: a case study of an alternative college, 1980. Unpublished paper presented at the 1980 meetings of the Southern Sociological Society.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wells, R.H., Steven Picou, J. The becoming place: A study of educational change in a small college. Res High Educ 17, 15–32 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00973660
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00973660