Resource Library
The resources curated in this online library are aimed to help leaders who are engaging in a systemic change project. Systemic change is a change that affects multiple courses, departments, programs, divisions, colleges (or beyond) and results in changes that affect policies, procedures, norms, cultures, and/or structures (organizational, curricular, fiscal).
This Resource Library offers existing tools and readings you can access to support change efforts at your institution. The resources are organized by topic and align with major sections of the CLT.
These resources are designed to complement our comprehensive Change Leadership Toolkit (CLT) and our Case Studies.
Introduction to the Change Leadership Toolkit
Learn more about systemic change more broadly by reading these books and articles.
Systemic Change Resources
- How colleges change: Understanding, learning, and enacting change (2nd ed.). Kezar, A. (2018), Routledge
- Using a systems approach to change: Examining the AAU Undergraduate STEM Initiative. Kezar, A. & Miller, E. (2021), Transforming Institutions: Accelerating Systemic Changer in Higher Education
- Leading Change. Kotter, J. (1996), Harvard Business School Press
- Increasing student success in stem: A guide to systemic institutional change. Elrod, Kezar, Project Kaleidoscope
- Why "Ecosystem Approaches" are Key to Systems Level Innovation, Si Network
What and Who of Change
These resources will help you further reflect on setting change goals ("what" of change) and building out your change leadership team ("who" of change).
What of Change Resources
- Essential Questions and Data Sources, Association of American Universities (AAU)
Who of Change Resources
- Forming And Developing Teams: A Tip Sheet from REvolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) Participatory Action Research, Center for Evaluation & Research for Stem Equity
- Changemakers: Building a Team
- Changemakers: Bringing a Student Voice into the Room.
- Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations Self-Assessment
- Guide for Composing a Campus Racial Equity Team, CUE
- Mid-Level Leader Toolkit, Moore Philantrophy
Change Leader Moves
These tools and articles will help you think more deeply about each of the Change Leader Moves.
Create Visions, Expectations, and Pacing
- Creating Shared Vision: A Tip Sheet from REvolutionizing engineering and computer science Departments (RED) Participatory Action Research, Center for Evaluation & Research for Stem Equity
- Design for Equity in Higher Education, Pullias Center for Higher Education
- Changemakers: The Student Success North Star
- Developing a Shared Vision for Change. Doten-Snitker et al, (2019), Research in Higher Education
- Changemakers: Transformation Timeline
Develop Strategy and Resources
- Creating Strategic Partnerships: A Tip Sheet from Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) Participatory Action Research, Center for Evaluation & Research for Stem Equity.
- Overview of Strategic Planning, The Society of College and University Planning
- Leading Highly Effective External Strategic Partnerships, The Aspen Institute College Success Program
- Tools in a Toolbox: Leading Change in Community Colleges, Jamie Lester for ACE
- Strategies for Successful Change, Barbara Hill for CLIR
- Changemakers: Planning Next Steps Worksheet
- Changemakers: Assessing and Prioritizing Initiatives
- The Trouble with Strategy, Peter Eckel for Inside Higher Ed
- Strategic Planning in Higher Education: A Comprehensive Guide, Deanna Ziemba for Spider Strategies
- 3 Exceptional Examples of Strategic Planning in Higher Education (And Why They Work), Mary King for Envisio
- Adopting a Strategic Finance Lens: A Strategic Finance Toolkit, rpk Group
Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Shared Equity Leadership Making Equity Everyone’s Work, Pullias/ACE
- Shared Equity Leadership Toolkit, Pullias ACE
- Reflective Guide — Leading for Equity from Where You Are: How Leaders in Different Roles Engage in Shared Equity Leadership, Pullias/ACE
- Reflective Guide — Organizing Shared Equity Leadership: Four Approaches to Structuring the Work, Pullias/ACE
- Toolkit — Capacity Building for Shared Equity Leadership: Approaches and Considerations for the Work, Pullias/ACE
- Toolkit — Shared Responsibility Means Shared Accountability, Pullias/ACE
- Center for Urban Education Observation Tool, CUE
- Center for Urban Education Embedding Equity Mindedness Tool, CUE
- Understanding the Student Experience: Loss and Momentum Framework (LMF), Completion by Design
Lead People and Teams
- Forming And Developing Teams: A Tip Sheet from REvolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) Participatory Action Research, Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity
- Shared Leadership in Higher Education, Adrianna Kezar & Elizabeth Holcombe for ACE
- Immunity to Change Worksheets, Chapman & Co Leadership Institute
- Guide For Composing a Campus Racial Equity Team, CUE
- Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations Self-Assessment
- Changemakers: Building a Team
- Changemakers: Bringing a Student Voice into the Room
Engage in Advocacy and Navigate Politics
- Buy In Worksheet, Pullias Center for Higher Education
- Scaling change in higher education: A guide for stakeholder groups, Pullias Center for Higher Education
- Understanding Leadership Strategies for Addressing the Politics of Diversity, Adrianna Kezar, The Journal of Higher Education
- Navigating Politics: A Requirement for Career Success, Mary Lou Santovec, Women in Higher Education
- 6 Aspects of Political Skill, Center for Creative Leadership
- Changemakers: Gaining Buy-In Worksheet
Communicate Effectively
- Communicating Change: A Tip Sheet from Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) Participatory Action Research, Center for Evaluation and Research for STEM Equity
- Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide, The Communications Network
- Communication Strategy Guidelines for Network Colleges, Achieving the Dream
- Internal Stakeholder Engagement Workshop Toolkit, Public Agenda
Sensemake and Learn
- SENSEMAKING: Framing and Acting in the Unknown, Deborah Ancona
- The Framework for Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Teaching and Learning, AAU Undergraduate STEM Education Initiative
- Increasing student success in stem: A guide to systemic institutional change (p.69). Elrod, Kezar, Project Kaleidoscope
- Changemakers: Initiative Inspiration Worksheet
- Data-Enabled Leadership, ACE
- Bringing Accountability to Life, Alicia Dowd & Colleagues for ACE
- Big Data on Campus, Jonathan S. Gagliardi and Philip Wilkinson for ACE
- Using Data and Evidence to Lead Holistic Advising Redesign, The National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, Advising Success Network
- The Postsecondary Data Partnership, National Student Clearinhouse
- Colleges Track Progress to Inform Continuous Improvement, KPIs, Completion by Design
- Using a Cycle of Exploring Research and Data to Improve Student Success, the RP Group
- Essential Questions & Data Sources for Continuous Improvement of Undergraduate STEM Teaching and Learning, AAU
Prepare for Success over the Long Term
- Increasing student success in stem: A guide to systemic institutional change (p.71). Elrod, Kezar, Project Kaleidoscope
- Achieving Systemic Change: A Sourcebook for Advancing and Funding Undergraduate STEM Education, AAU
- Changemakers: Initiative Blueprint Worksheet
- A Formative Tool and Approach to Assessing Strategic Plans in Higher Education, Amelie D. Smucker & Leslie W. Grant
Leadership Context
For more information on how your organizational context can shape the change process, see the following resources.
Resources
- Designing with, not for students: Prioritizing student voice using liberatory design thinking, Harper J. & Kezar, A., Sage Journals
- Shared Leadership in Higher Education: A Framework and Models for Responding to a Changing World, Holcombe, E., Kezar, A., Elrod, S.L. and Ramaley, J. (Eds), Taylor & Francis Group
- How Colleges Change, Kezar, A. 2018, Routledge
- The effect of institutional culture on change strategies in higher education: Universal principles or culturally responsive concepts? Kezar, A. & Eckel, P. (2022), The Journal of Higher Education
- Leading Highly Effective External Strategic Partnerships, The Aspen Institute College Success Program
- Strategies for Successful Change, Barbara hill for CLIR
- Remaining Resilient through Leadership Transition: A Case Study of Transformation at Portland State University, APLU and USU
Change Levers
These articles provide more information on change levers and how they can accelerate your change.
Resources
- Levers for Change 2023: Enacting a National Agenda for Undergraduate STEM Education, Layne Scherer and Travis T. York for AAAS | IUSE
- Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System, The Donella Meadows Project.
- How to Work with Leverage Points, Si Network
Ecosystem Mapping
We use the term "ecosystem mapping" to describe the process of mapping out your change leadership ecosystem, including your goals, the Moves you have already made, key elements of context, and potential change levers. This process will help you identify the next Moves you should make. The resources listed here can help you think about how to select your next moves and consider your change ecosystem more broadly.
Resources
- How colleges change: Understanding, learning, and enacting change (2nd ed.). Kezar, A. (2018), Routledge
- What is Systems Mapping & Why is it Important, Si Network
- Ecosystem Mapping 101 Infographic: System Change for Social Impact. Alex Derr (2023), Visible Network Labs
Creating Your Change Leadership Plan
These resources will support your thinking as you build out your Change Leadership Plan.
Resources
- Changemakers: Planning Next Steps
- Logic Models
- Change in higher education: Not enough, or too much? Kezar, A. (2009), The Magazine of Higher Learning
