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A Case Study of Liberal Arts Colleges in the 21st Century: Understanding Organizational Change and Evolution in Higher Education

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Abstract

We draw upon the evolutionary model of change in order to examine the organizational transformation of three liberal arts colleges (Albion College, Allegheny College, Kenyon College). Relying on our prior research (Baker, Baldwin, & Makker, 2012), we seek to continue our exploration and understanding of the evolution occurring in the important liberal arts college sector of higher education. We seek to understand why and how these colleges change, what changes occur, and, especially, what makes liberal arts colleges susceptible to change. The findings of this study have the potential to illuminate change in other types of higher education institutions.

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Notes

  1. Names of persons interviewed are used with permission.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Melissa McDaniels and David Tritelli for their support and helpful comments during the writing of this manuscript. This research was supported by a grant from the Hewlett-Mellon Fund for Faculty Development at Albion College in Albion, Michigan.

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Correspondence to Vicki L. Baker.

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Baker, V.L., Baldwin, R.G. A Case Study of Liberal Arts Colleges in the 21st Century: Understanding Organizational Change and Evolution in Higher Education. Innov High Educ 40, 247–261 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-014-9311-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-014-9311-6

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