|
|
 |
| IV.
Partner Relationships |
A. Understanding Partnering Dynamics and Selecting Partners
At least two interrelated forms of understanding are required for developing
effective partnerships. The first is theoretical—the potential gains,
problems and obstacles that can be anticipated in professional, mutually
beneficial partnerships between and among representatives of cooperating
organizations. The second is understanding and appreciating the particular
needs and customs—for example, differences in organizational culture
and ways of working—of prospective partners. All parties must candidly
discuss these issues. In each case, every effort should be made to carefully
determine whether the value of working together exceeds expected costs
of time and resources.
- Allegheny College - Center for Economic
and Environmental Development
The Center has a great many community partners. An early effort, The
Meadville Community Energy Project, was based on collaboration among
college faculty and students with businesses, homeowners, renters, and
local/state agencies.
- Assumption College - Community Service
Learning Program
The College partners with a non-profit agency, the Rainbow Child Development
Center; it provides pre-school/daycare and after-school programming
for low income families. The African-Latino-Asian-Native American network
was also created at the College.
- Bates College - The Harward Center for
Community Partnerships
Partnering with coalitions of community leaders in Lewiston and Auburn
has become a priority for the College. It is increasingly helpful to
work with representatives of both city governments, two hospitals, three
public and private colleges, businessess, and the service sector.
- Berry College - Hunger and Homelessness
Outreach, Programs, and Education
In meeting a clear need for weekend food resources, students work with
their campus administrators, local faith-based organizations, and congregations.
- Calvin College - Nursing Department
Partnerships
Criteria for selecting a partner are considered in preparation for arranging
subsequent strategic planning activities and making logistical accomodations.
- Chaminade University - Income Tax
Preparation
A partnership exists with Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii as well as
with for-profit, nonprofit, and government representatives.
- Chatham College - Choosing
the Right Partners
The College created a set of guidelines for developing a more successful
partner selection process. Four community partners were asked to help
one another build capacity.
- Chatham College - The Practioner-in-Residence
The College is host to the National Education for Women's Leadership
Program. A community leader serving as a practitioner-in-residence lives
on campus and formally participates in all activities related to the
partnership.
- College Misericordia - The Service
Leadership Center
Community partners are selected once mutual goals are shared.
- College of Notre Dame,
Baltimore - International Cooperation in Service
Co-teaching and co-payment of costs among partners is deemed important
to partnering activities.
- College of St. Catherine - Using
Technology
A U.S. Department of Education grant was designed to establish partnerships
with three unalike elementary schools. Teachers from the partner schools
hosted College students. In meetings, and by using a conference, ideas
were exchanged about employing technology to facilitate teaching and
learning.
- Columbia College, Chicago - Office
of Community Arts Partnerships
The partners focused on what each could bring to the table—recognizing
that issues of money, power, and self-interest must be addressed continuously.
They knew that trust-building came first, and could result from honestly
articulating their values and hopes as they approached thorny issues
in meeting their Urban Missions' program goals.
- Emory & Henry College - Communities
Allied to Uplift Success in Education
This collaborative partnership is designed to support the educational
success of children and youth in rural Appalachian communities.
- Gannon University - Lake Erie Arboretum
at Frontier
A partnership is formed by university education students and fifth graders
for a LEAF Arbor Day Festival project.
- Greensboro College - The Village
401 Project
Community partners operate within their ZIP code (27401).
- Heritage College - Exemplary Multicultural
Projects in Rural Education
Local schools within the community were chosen as partners.
- Illinois College - The Illinois Partnership
of Minority Achievement
Partnerships among representatives of colleges, school districts, and
businesses are created to help meet needs of "at-risk" minority
students.
- Ithaca College - Cinema on the
Edge
An interdisciplinary partnership was formed among filmmakers, historians,
writers, and theorists. Collaboration also took place among various
administrative entities.
- Ithaca College - EcoVillage
of Ithaca
Local residents assist with course development as well as serving as
guest lecturers and adjunct faculty. Their professional expertise is
used in conveying information about energy services, conservation, organic
agriculture, sustainable land-use practices, co-housing, and managing
green space.
- Mars Hill College - Thematic Courses
in Liberal Arts in Action
Faculty relationships with community partners were designed to allow
professors to better understand how concepts of character and civic
life apply in day-to-day work.
- Maryville College - Just Connections
Local citizens collaborate with faculty members to create service-learning
opportunities through community-based research projects. Representatives
from organizations visit one another's communities in order to foster
collaboration.
- Marywood University - The Latino Collaboration
The University's School of Social Work established contacts with grassroots
Latino organizations. It is providing on-site training for staff members
of community groups.
- Messiah College - The Harrisburg Institute
Partnerships have been established in education, health, community revitalization,
justice, and family systems. Faculty, staff, and community partners
are invited to plan together—identifiying critical community issues
and exploring the role of the College in helping to meet common concerns.
- Presbyterian College - Communities
Helping, Assisting, and Motivating Promising Students
The College, through its faculty members and students, teach "CHAMPS"
students during summers. They focus on academic, social, and academic-support
activities.
- Rhodes College - St. Jude's
Children's Research Hospital Summer Plus Scholars
This partnership links a major biomedical research institute with a
small liberal arts college to provide students with extensive research
and seminar opportunities that are usually available only at a large
research university.
- St. Edward's University - The HEB
Community Internship Program
The University links internship students with local nonprofit organizations.
After interviews of intern candidates are completed within the University,
the nonprofit partners make final hiring decisions.
- St. Joseph's College of Maine - The
Rural Service Learning Initiative
The definition of community-based learning was broadened in order to
encourage innovative liberal arts and service pedagogy. Various partnerships
in the rural Sebago Lake Reigon were developed and strengthened.
- St. Thomas University - The Campus
and Community Alliance for North Dade
The University is part of an alliance among community organizations;
educational institutions; faith-based groups; charitable and government
agencies; and private business and its associations. Its purpose is
to facilitate social and economic development.
- Tougaloo College - The Partnership
in Excellence
An effort to carefully target partners included faculty, administrators,
and staff from secondary and post-secondary institutions, city and county
government, social services agencies, and local representatives of civic
and neighborhood organizations.
- University of Indianapolis - Parish
Nursing
Parish nursing courses emphasize theology and health, providing an interdisciplinary
focus. Partnerships were created with local hospitals, churches, church
conferences, state parish nurse coordinators, county agencies, and area
organizations. The University was instrumental in forming an Indiana
Parish Nurse Coordinators Networking Group. Partnerships with school
libraries and businesses are also deemed important for dealing with
various community services needs promoting programming, and for teaching
purposes.
- University of St. Francis - Occupational
Therapy and a Homeless Shelter
A partnership was developed with a local homeless shelter that focuses
on families so that students could have experiential learning while
providing a community service.
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Ministerio de Salud
A partnership was developed between the University's school of nursing
and health professors and a local parish. A great many students, faculty
members, and other individuals are involved in promoting health for
individual parishioners. Parish representatives become co-teachers and
co-planners with students. A variety of community groups with health
missions are also partners.
- Wagner College - Learning by Doing
Students interview community activists, corporate representatives, government
scientists, state and federal officials. They attend "town"
meetings—learning expressions of citizen concerns about the local
childhood cancer cluster that was discovered.
- Wartburg College - Community Builders:
Fostering Intergenerational Civic Engagement
Community members with different cognitive, social, civic, and generational
backgrounds are brought together. The sharing of one another's skills
adds value to community life. The creation of social capital is consequential
to the well-being of democratic society.
- Wesley College - Boys and Girls Club
of Delaware
Partnering with the College and Club is a publicly funded campus charter
school, a children's theatre, and a YMCA center. The after-school and
drop-in programs of the Club serve many students. A house as well as
athletic and recreational facilities are provided by the College for
use in these programs.
- William Woods University - The
Rosa Parks Center
The Center results from a reciprocal partnership between the University
and Missouri Division of Youth Services.
|
|
