Designing for Change: Principles for STEM Programs That Foster Organizational Transformation.

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Research
• Organizational Studies
• STEM Education

Background:

• Higher education institutions face persistent inequities.
• STEM programs are often implicated in these inequities.
• Organizational change is necessary to address systemic issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify design principles for STEM programs that facilitate organizational transformation.
• To explore how intentional program design can reconfigure higher education structures, cultures, and power dynamics.
• To provide guidance for developing sustainable, equity-centered STEM initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Grounded in organizational change theory.
• Utilized a multi-site qualitative case study approach.
• Examined the Meyerhoff Adaptation Project.

Main Results:

• Identified four key design principles for STEM programs.
• Demonstrated how intentional design choices can reconfigure institutional elements.
• Showcased the potential for STEM initiatives to advance equity.

Conclusions:

• Intentional design of STEM programs can be a powerful mechanism for organizational transformation.
• The proposed principles offer a framework for creating equitable and sustainable STEM initiatives.
• These principles can guide higher education institutions in advancing institutional change and addressing inequities.