Title

Theorizing University Identity Development: Multiple Perspectives and Common Goals

Publication Date

2-1-2013

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Universities articulate their identities during moments of organizational change. The process of development of university identity is herein explored from multiple theoretical strands: (a) industrial/organizational psychology, (b) human development/social psychology, (c) marketing, and (d) postmodern sociological. This article provides an analysis of historic and emergent theories of identity development, suggesting commonalities such as: people seek positive self-identification with their universities; people use comparative "like me versus not like me" strategies; a view toward history and legacy is common, but need to be balanced by a view that identity is evolutionary, complex, and mutable. A case example of complex identity challenges for branch campuses is presented.

Publication Title

Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning

Volume

65

Issue

2

First Page

153

Last Page

166

DOI

10.1007/s10734-012-9526-3

Publisher Policy

pre-print, post-print, no publisher's pdf

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