Maricopa Continued

Paul Elsner reviews the "lessons learned" while transitioning the ten Maricopa Community Colleges to learning colleges. He summarizes in this way:

• First,we have learned that collaboration and cross-functional team processes require incredible amounts of support.
• Second, we have learned that the CEO plays an important role in creating a learner-centered institution.
• Third, we have learned that it is critically important to involve students in the change processes.
• Fourth, we have learned that it is also critical to involve faculty at every step of the long process.
• Finally, we have learned that Maricopa must rely on both internal resources and external consultants to assist with creating a new learning-centered system. (pp. 186 - 187)

He also says, "Once in a while, there are periods in the development of an institution that can be called the 'defining years.' ... Higher education, including community colleges, has been in a fixed place for too long. Institutions of higher education must be shaken out of their comfortable roles if they are to deal with the changes other social institutions are facing" (p. 185).

Have you ever been involved in an institution during its "defining years?" What was the experience like? What were the lessons learned?