Overview
This book significantly advances discussion of the mission of higher education in today's multicultural environment and global economy. It sets out the challenges and considerations that must be addressed by administrative leaders, trustees, and others who shape the vision and direction of the institution-but most particularly by academic deans and faculty.
The author makes the case that the inclusion of diversity and globalization in disciplinary work contributes to the research agendas of individual faculty and their departments, aligns with scholarly values, and promotes such student learning goals as tolerance of ambiguity and paradox, critical thinking and creativity. He offers a strategic vision of success, backed by theory and examples of effective application, for creating transformative change; and provides a roadmap to implementing inclusive pedagogical practices and curricula.
With implementation dependent on leadership and participation at every level of an institution, everyone with a stake in its future should read this book.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"Faculty will profit from reading this book because student success in the twenty-first century is at the heart of their vocation. If Anderson is correct, and I think he is, diversity and globalism is central to that success. The great value of this book is the delineation of the scopre of the work needed and the introduction to the many efforts that have been undertaken."“On rare occasions one finds a book that reframes prior visions. Such books one does not merely read, but one returns to study. Anderson’s Driving Change is such a book. The first three chapters provide a framework for understanding diversity and globalization, which moves beyond the limits of affirmative action, ethnic studies, and overseas study tours. The theoretical discussion is rooted in the premise that universities’ (read also society’s) ability to work with diversity and globalization will determine the nature of their futures. Following a discussion of principles, Anderson moves from theory to practice, giving illustrations of campuses that have embraced some facet of this new vision applying it either in terms of teaching strategies and methods, curricular organization, and/or student development. The fact that Anderson is able to draw on working applications gives credence to his theoretical propositions.”
"Along with solid insights and vision, he suggests some tools for incorporating inclusiveness into the fabric and the curriculum of institutions of higher education."
“The key to a college or university meeting 21st-century demands for greater excellence and improved national competitiveness, Anderson argues, is the ability to successfully incorporate diversity and globalism in the institution’s basic philosophy and infrastructure. He offers a practical handbook to these challenges [and] calls for leaders to move beyond the current level of discourse about diversity and begin the work of changing the teaching and learning paradigm, transforming the curriculum, and empowering the voices of diverse students.”
"Drawing on his many years of teaching and research about teaching and learning, as well as his broad experience at levels in higher education institutions, Anderson presents a guidebook for transformational change in our institutions. However, rather than simply espousing lofty ideals, Anderson’s book presents both thorough analyses of the challenges as well as practical examples and recommendations for successful implementation."