A series of workshops aimed at easing the dynamics of change associated with the Georgia Perimeter College/Georgia State University consolidation received high marks from some GPC faculty and staff.

The human resources departments at both Georgia Perimeter and Georgia State hosted a number of Change and Transition sessions over the summer.

Online department chair and history professor Dr. Otto Burianek attended a June workshop on Leading During Change and Transition. He says he appreciated the opportunity to gather with colleagues for the guided session.  

“The content [included] guidelines and principles that are familiar, and they provide a good framework for understanding and discussing a big subject: change and how to deal with it,” Burianek says.

Patrice Masterson, GPC Human Resources director, led some of the sessions and says the small-group format of the workshops “allowed us to have very rich conversations which met the specific needs of the individuals in each class.” 

Rosalind Ferrell, a GPC senior administrative secretary, attended a June session called Thriving During Change and Transition. “The content of this workshop [was] enlightening, useful, equipping and helpful in reducing anxiety,” she says. 

Ferrell adds that one of her biggest takeaways was learning how to adapt to change. “If I know that I am going through the natural progression of change, then I can move forward with ease.”

Georgia State University has listed a full line-up of fall trainings here. The sessions are open to Georgia Perimeter faculty and staff and include some change and transition topics, as well as wellness, workplace safety and other offerings.

In addition, for ease of access, two change management videos are posted on the Georgia State and Georgia Perimeter College consolidation resources page. 

The consolidation of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College in January will make it the state’s largest higher education institution, with more than 50,000 students.