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Fostering Sustainability in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Transformative Leadership and Change Strategies

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2008, Ph.D., Antioch University, Leadership and Change.
As evidence of the earth’s limited capacity to sustain human life mounts, institutions of higher education are being looked to for leadership in the effort to educate students about environmental concerns and support the development of sustainable innovations. Colleges and universities are responding to this call for leadership by starting and/or expanding environmental research programs, integrating sustainability issues throughout the curriculum, adopting sustainable operations, and building green facilities. Reflecting upon the sustainability efforts of these institutions, this research study explores the following questions:What factors are essential for initiating and leading a successful change effort to foster sustainability in higher education? What processes guide higher education institutions in efforts to deeply and comprehensively implement sustainable changes? A sequential mixed-methods research design was used to gather data from questionnaires administered to 86 colleges and universities in the United States implementing sustainability programs, from interviews with 20 individuals who are guiding the change processes at ten different institutions, and from archival records documenting the initiatives and outcomes at these colleges and universities. After the data had been analyzed to identify common themes, factors and change process strategies, the results of the analyses were examined in relationship to existing models of change in higher education. Significant correlations were found between the change strategies used and the support systems provided by these institutions and the level of progress achieved on the sustainability initiatives.
Jon Wergin, PhD (Committee Chair)
Carol Baron, PhD (Committee Member)
Richard Couto, PhD (Committee Member)
Jean MacGregor, PhD (Committee Member)
259 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McNamara, K. H. (2008). Fostering Sustainability in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Transformative Leadership and Change Strategies [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1232215313

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McNamara, Kim. Fostering Sustainability in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Transformative Leadership and Change Strategies. 2008. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1232215313.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McNamara, Kim. "Fostering Sustainability in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study of Transformative Leadership and Change Strategies." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1232215313

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)