Reading Club:  When Change is the Constant:  Leading Through Change Fatigue in Higher Ed

Where: Webinar/Virtual

When: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. EST

Note: Login instructions will be sent directly from Zoom prior to the event. If you have not received login instructions by 4:00 p.m. the day before the webinar, please check your spam folder. If you still have not received the login details, please email nercomp@nercomp.org.

Workshop Organizers: Travis Grandy of Smith College and Kristin Ziska Strange of Tufts University

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: Free
Non-Member: $45.00

Event Overview:
Higher education IT professionals are navigating more change than ever—expanding responsibilities, evolving technologies, shifting priorities, and increasing expectations, often all at once. But even when people understand why change is necessary, do they have the energy and capacity to make it happen?
This interactive reading club uses Drasin and Holliday’s research on organizational change fatigue and the Energy-Commitment Model as a springboard for conversation. Through short readings, reflection, and peer discussion, participants will explore how changing roles and competing demands affect their own teams and institutions—and identify practical ways to recognize change fatigue, pace new initiatives, and support people through ongoing transformation.
 

Session Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
 - Recognize signs of change fatigue and explore how shifting responsibilities and competing priorities are affecting higher education IT professionals and teams.
 - Apply the Energy-Commitment Model to consider whether people have the time, mental bandwidth, and emotional capacity—not simply the understanding—to engage successfully with change.
 - Identify one practical, low-lift strategy they can use in the coming semester to better pace change, support colleagues, or strengthen their team’s capacity for change.

Articles to read prior to discussion (PDFs will be sent in advance, after you register)
- Gherson, D., & Gratton, L. (2022). Managers Can't Do It All. Harvard Business Review, 100(2), 96–105.
- Drasin, J., & Holliday, T. (2024). Navigating Change Fatigue: The Energy-Commitment Model for Organizational Change. EDUCAUSE Review (Online). 

Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking the 'Register Now button, you are indicating a commitment to attend and will be held responsible for the registration fee. Your fee can be refunded if you notify us of a cancellation at least 2 days prior to the event via email to nercomp@nercomp.org

Accessibility
NERCOMP strives to make its online offerings and in-person workshops accessible to all registrants.  Please contact us should you have an accessibility need. We've worked to provide resources that are accessible to as many people as possible, and if you encounter any issues while attending our events, please contact us at accessibility@nercomp.org or at 860-345-2081 to request assistance.