Overcoming Challenges as a Community on Campus

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, what remains constant is change. Change can be exciting—and it can also bring new challenges. On college campuses, these challenges can have a ripple effect, impacting everyone from students to faculty and staff to university leaders. Thankfully, this reliably provides a fresh opportunity for growth, innovation, and inspiration if we are open to the lessons that can be learned through the process of change.

There are many ways to seize this opportunity. For some, perhaps progress is achieved through frequent collaboration. For others, receiving constructive feedback might be the best way to learn and adapt. By developing a growth mindset that prioritizes dedicated effort, effective planning, and an open mind, change can offer all of us valuable lessons.

Learning Through Listening

The latest chapter of President to President delves into the complexity of embracing change. In “Leading Change: Practical Lessons in the Implementation of a Multi-Institution Integration,” West Chester University President R. Lorraine Bernotsky, D.Phil., describes the important lessons she learned from her time as Interim President of Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest).

At PennWest, Dr. Bernotsky supported three separate institutions as they navigated the ambitious and rewarding process of integrating into one university community. She identifies the distinct advantages of collaboration and shows how it can inspire optimism and lead to positive outcomes across campus.

Community-Centered Change

Listening to the community is at the heart of Sodexo’s mission. In collaboration with student-led groups like The Quad Squad and Student Culinary Councils and through the perspectives shared by our immense network of student interns, we constantly incorporate feedback and insights to adapt our services and ensure we continue meeting the unique needs of each campus. Our frequent client surveys also help us support our campus partners as the world of higher education evolves.

Read more: Listening First: Students Behind the Insights

Moving Forward Together

Student-centered communities across the country are set to be the animating force behind lasting progress. We recognize the vital importance of listening to those communities, which is why it’s part of our everyday process at Sodexo. Through listening, we can all navigate difficult change, develop innovative ideas that inspire, and move forward together.