Managing Curricula Change in Engineering at Texas A&M University*

Growth and change have characterized American higher education for a long time [1]. Ideas foracademic change have been proposed by nearly everyone, from students and faculty members todeans and university presidents, responded to by a wide array of decision-makers, and implementedwithin diverse administrative arrangements. Since change is omnipresent, it is important torecognize its impact on overall organizational performance. By understanding change andincreasing their capacity to create their own futures, universities can continue to equip theirstudents for the rapidly changing, highly competitive environments in which they will practice. Thepaper describes a change management model developed and used by the Dwight Look College ofEngineering at Texas A&M University during the implementation phase of their new engineeringcurricula. As applications of the model the paper offers two case studies of significant curriculumchange: first-year and sophomore curriculum restructuring. The change model synthesizes earlierchange management models and our experience with the two major curriculum changes. Our casestudies and curriculum change model may help other institutions undertaking significant curriculumchange

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