The demand to innovate has become a rallying cry for leaders eager to push their institutions in new directions, but the very idea can set off a wave of skepticism and backlash. Since the 2000s, and especially in the wake of the Great Recession, innovation is now a currency of its own, a standard by which institutions and presidents are judged and even ranked. But the concept of innovating can be tricky to define, let alone put into action: meaningful change doesn’t come from using buzzwords, adopting new technology, or chasing silver bullets. The newest
Chronicle report,
The Innovation Imperative, examines the rise and establishment of the innovation movement, barriers to change on campuses, and the necessary elements for meaningful progress. Written by two senior Chronicle writers — Goldie Blumenstyk and Lee Gardner — this in-depth resource also features fifteen campus case studies, from “super innovators” setting the standard to colleges following suit to confront a variety of challenges across academe.
