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The face of higher education is changing. Tuition costs are rising, while household incomes are falling. Changes are occurring for how education is provided, financed, marketed and measured. In these challenging times, it is important to recognize and shift with sector trends to carry on DePaul's mission of providing an extraordinary, accessible education for our students.
As DePaul faculty and staff, our continued capacity to adapt to change will help to ensure the university's ongoing success in the coming years.
Although fluctuations in our work environment can be disconcerting, adjusting to change doesn't need to be daunting. Think about the number of industries that have undergone transformational change over the years. While the pace of change has been slower in higher education, significant change has occurred in just about every industry from banking to retail to healthcare.
Here are some strategies to consider when managing change at DePaul and in your specific role:
- Learn as much as possible about the potential changes.
- Uncertainty and ambiguity can make change feel overwhelming. Focus on the concrete information that you know, and the steps you can take to respond effectively. Manage change one day at a time.
- Identify what you need to know to implement change in your role. Seek out resources that can help you learn, or perhaps practice a new approach.
- Although it may be difficult, practice patience with yourself and your colleagues as our community navigates the challenging road ahead. Frustration can be a natural reaction, but don't allow it to overwhelm you. Find people who can help you put change into perspective. Remind yourself of previous times when you have successfully adapted to change.
DePaul offers a number of convenient and confidential resources to faculty and staff. More information about these resources is available on the
Employee Assistance Program website or by
contacting HR.