Mission, Values, and Effecting Change: A Case Study

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive case study of a four-year effort undertaken by the University of WisconsinWhitewater to redefine its faculty evaluation, promotion, and tenure procedures in an attempt to link faculty rewards to student learning outcomes and to promote faculty priorities more consonant with the institutions overall educational mission. Specifically, the article describes the process followed to bring about changes; the successes achieved to date; and, most importantly, the lessons learned in attempting to effect substantive change among a faculty, 67% of whom are tenured. The effort remains a work in progress.