A diffusion of innovations approach to gerontological curriculum enrichment: institutionalizing and sustaining curricula change

This article describes a gerontological enrichment model for institutionalizing and sustaining curricular change utilizing Rogers' (1995, 2003) diffusion of innovations approach to organizational change. The goal of the project, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, is to transform the social work curriculum at a major state university so that age and intergenerational connections are important organizing principles in the diversity emphasis of the program. Components of the model include: (1) increasing faculty competence; (2) infusing gerontological/ geriatric competencies into all foundation courses; (3) community partner involvement; (4) intergenerational service-learning; (5) developing field and practicum sites; and (6) evaluation. Implications for gerontological/ geriatric education are discussed.