Enculturation and Socialization of New Faculty and Staff

Higher education institutions have distinct organizational cultures. In order for organizational culture to continue, newcomers must undergo a process of socialization, that is, of acquiring the knowledge, social skills, and language to conform to the cultural norms of the institution. Enculturation is the process of adopting and expressing the knowledge and skills gained in the socialization process through behaviors and actions. Without newcomers being socialized and eventually enculturated, organizational culture would not thrive; individuals perpetuate the culture through their shared meaning and actions. This entry provides an overview of the enculturation and socialization of new faculty and staff, then explores higher education subcultures as well as issues related to organizational culture and gender.