University of New Mexico

Case study competition2013 University of New Mexico Megan Chibanga Jandea Dickson Matt Makofske

Situation overview Relationship Campus Happenings Strategy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Strained Town/Gown Relationship Overview • Sunnyvale University was established in the mid-1800s, and has since encroached on the New England community it’s nestled in. • More recently the expansion has frayed the once symbiotic relationship, but the relationship has become more one sided, swayed to the university getting more than they’re giving. • Town/Gown • Campus Happenings • No Strategy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Campus Happenings Overview • Student Activity Issues • There are late night parties which are disrupting the community, though it is unclear if these are happening in the graduate town housing; off campus housing, or on campus student housing. • Weekends see students wandering around town, to the dismay of the townspeople. • Sestercentennial Celebration • Alumni increased the already abundant university presence within the town. • This was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, and caused a meeting between town & gown. • Town/Gown • Campus Happenings • No Strategy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

No Cohesive strategy Overview • Neither party has worked individually or together to create a cohesive long term plan for the relationship, and how both can contribute to the growth and success of the other. • There is little agreement about what the plan should be amongst the town and the university, thus the need for the committee, with representatives from both arenas to come to a conclusion. • Town/Gown • Campus Happenings • No Strategy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Objectives Committee Solution Presentation UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Committee Formation Objectives Per the objectives outlined by the President, to us, the Dean of Students, we are to form a committee. The committee must include the: • Director of Residence Life (provided) • This will be critical to initiating the solutions to the student conduct issues that seem to be arising out of the variety of housing situations on and off campus. • Director of Student Activities • This fosters the discussion about what students have to do on the weekends to be engaged. • Deputy Mayor • This must be a two-way solution, so the involvement of the Deputy Mayor will be essential to a cohesive and long term solution. • Committee • Solution • Presentation UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Committee Formation Objectives Using the “Mars Group” approach (CITATION), we have invited the following additional people: • Student Body President • Students must buy into the solution, and since the solution will effect them, they should be included in the process. • Chamber of Commerce Representative • Local businesses consistently benefit from the students, so their interest should be included. • University Senate Representative • Faculty support and buy in will be important in the long term culture change of the town/gown relationship as their presence is more lasting than that of the students. • K-12 School Board President • They should serve a dual role, both to understand the relationship of the university and town, as well an ability to provide insight into the community perspective on community/school relations. • Committee • Solution • Presentation UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Solutions Objectives Broadly, we suggest a long term strategic plan focused around the ideas of boundary spanning. At its heart, boundary spanning is art of relationship development, it is the mediation of expectations between the sides being spanned – boundary spanning does the tough work of finding common ground between groups (Hallinger & Murphy, 1986, p. 344). But, more on that, and how to incorporate social media, later. • Committee • Solution • Presentation UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Presentation Objectives As directed by the President, we plan for the following to be present to hear a more detailed plan for rebuilding the symbiotic relationship between Sunnyvale University and the surrounding community: • University Board • University President • Town Council • Community Members • Committee • Solution • Presentation UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Detailed Solution Connections Trust Relationship UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Plan Overview Detailed Solution This relationship cannot be fixed immediately, but with time and energy on both efforts over the next 5-7 years, we believe the following is possible: • Years 1-2: Establish Connections • Defining & Hiring of a Boundary Spanner • Assessment of current programs & opportunities • Make small, but meaningful, adjustments based on findings • Years 2-3: Build Trust • Creation of “seats” for both parties at both tables • Development of plans & programs for improvement • Years 3-7: Ongoing Two-Way Relationship • Implementation of improved plans & programs • Development of future action plans • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Establish connections:Identify Boundary Spanner Detailed Solution We believe boundary spanning must begin at the foundational level of establishing connections. • To begin, Boundary spanners must first learn the language of the other side and be able to use it with them, second they must develop a trust between both units that each will act in both units’ best interests, and lastly they must find a shared understanding or “common persuasion” to guide action (Corey, 1944, p. 336). • In order for this relationship to work and generate mutual benefit, the boundary spanner is the single most pivotal piece in this puzzle. • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Establish connections: Hiring A boundary Spanner Detailed Solution • Boundary Spanner • We believe this person should be a hired person, or an adjustment to responsibilities, and should be housed within the President’s office of the University. They should be the bridge between the town and gown, and that should be the primary focus of their day to day duties. • Duties • The Community Relations Coordinator (boundary spanner) will be responsible for representing the University at Town Council meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings, as well as any other major community functions. • They should also be the connector within the university for all efforts relating to the plan to improve the town/gown relationship. This provides a consistent face and the chance for a truly holistic and cohesive effort toward improvement. • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Establish Connections: Program Assessment Detailed Solution • Housing • A review of student conduct polices and procedures should be scheduled to address the issues of parties that are effecting the community. • An assessment of campus housing available should be conducted to determine if availability and need match, or is there an imbalance? • Student Activities • A review of the activities and programs provided to student should be done to determine if there is an appropriate quantity, quality, and kind of programs being offered for students to take part in. • Based on preliminary results, adaptations should be made to provide for immediate alleviation of students meandering through town on the weekend. We would suggest an increase in community service and action programs, which provide both an opportunity for students to be involved as well as a chance for the town to be improved. • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Building trust:Creating Seats at the Table Detailed Solution Collaboration requires participants “problem solve constructively” together, something that is possible once there are trust and norms to frame action (Kurylo, 2010, p. 25). • Town Member as Board Member • The University Board, to the extent of its ability, should work to include a seat at the table for an identified member of the town. This seat can be observational or with voting rights, but the representation of the town in decision making is crucial. • University Representation within Town Council • As a large portion of the community, it is important the university act as a member of the community, and be present at Town Council meetings; we would suggest the town council and university board mirror the positions offered to one another. • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Building trust:Plan Development Detailed Solution "Dozen of studies confirm that education was by far the best prediction of engagement in civic life, and universities were in the midst of the most far-reaching expansion in American History." (Putman, 2000, p 18). • Residence Life • Based on the previous assessments, the university, in conjunction with Residence Life, should work to improve the housing options and availability to students on campus. • Student Activities • Upon review of assessment, key programmatic and organizational changes should be made to fit the student need and interests. • Residence Life & Student Activities • Collaboratively should begin to provide significant opportunities for students to learn through service to the community. There should be multiple opportunities a month for students to engage in a positive way within the community to instill a sense of pride in both the university and the surrounding community. • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Ongoing Relationships:Plan Implementation Detailed Solution "Dozen of studies confirm that education was by far the best prediction of engagement in civic life, and universities were in the midst of the most far-reaching expansion in American History." (Putman, 2000, p 18). • Residence Life • Based on the previous assessments, the university, in conjunction with Residence Life, should work to improve the housing options and availability to students on campus. • Student Activities • Upon review of assessment, key programmatic and organizational changes should be made to fit the student need and interests. • University Senate • In collaboration with ResLife and Student Activities should implement a service learning component into the curriculum • “Service learning has sometimes been used synonymously with community service, though there are important distinctions between the two terms. The differentiating characteristics of service learning include its emphasis on participants’ structured reflection; collaboration between school and community to address acknowledged community needs; clearly stated links between service and academic knowledge/curriculum; clearly stated learning goals; and a sustained time frame, among others” (Rudow, 2009, p. 10). • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Ongoing Relationships:Reflection & Future Plans Detailed Solution • Continued interactions and dialogues help the sides grow to understand each other, trust each other that neither would take an action that would compromise the other, and that both are working towards common aims. This process of building relationships creates a “social capital” between participants; this capital typically consists of “social trust,” “norms of reciprocity,” “stores of goodwill,” bonds, and respect that set the foundation for ongoing relationships and collaborations in the future (Cowan & Arsenault, 2008, p. 23). • A key to this is fostering shared cultures among groups that allow for each segment to “genuinely engage differences” with the other segments so to find that shared ground for communication and the spanning of boundaries (Magolda, 2005, p. 21). In addition, it is important to make all stakeholders accountable in the responsibility of outcomes (Lane, 1985, p. 259). By fostering this environment of mutual trust and value, leaders can create buy-in towards committing to the “continual improvement and pursuit” of the overall goals of the organization (Cherif, Ofori-Amoah & Hanna, 2010, p 6). • Connections • Trust • Relationships UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Social Media Relevancy Immediacy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

Relevant & Immediate Social Media Social Media Social Media is more than just a growing fad, and more than an electronic bill board. Social media requires a delicate balance between relevancy and immediacy to have a lasting impact. (Cabellon, 2012, ACUHO-I LLPC) • Being late, and out of date, is worse than being absent • It’s okay to show up late, but be sure to have an informed and capable person running the show. • This is an effort that needs continuous attention, and should have a plan created uniquely to address this issue by the key user and the necessary stake holders. • Social Media outlets aren’t a marketing platform, they’re a connection platform • Utilizing social media in terms of sharing memories of the service learning projects and positive interactions within the community is great, but it should be real and reflective of the challenges faced; it should also be used to generate solutions to the challenges. • Relevancy • Immediacy UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

references Cabellon, E. (2012, October) Social Media and Student Affairs: Engaging Our Online Communities; Keynote address at the Living Learning Program Conference of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. Albuquerque, NM. Cherif, A., Ofori-Amoah, B., Hanna, B. W., & Stefurak, L. (2010). Strengthening the Academic Department Through Empowerment of Faculty and Staff. Academic Leadership, 8(2), 1-9. Corey, S. M. (1944). Co-operative Staff Work. The School Review, 52(6), 336-345. Cowan, G., & Arsenault, A. (2008). Moving from Monologue to Dialogue to Collaboration: The Three Layers of Public Diplomacy. Annals Of The American Academy Of Political & Social Science, 616, 10-30. Kurylo, A. (2010). Teaching the Difference between Compromise and Collaboration through Trial and Error. Communication Teacher, 24(1), 25-29.Lane, J. E. (1985). Academic Profession in Academic Organization. Higher Education, 14(3) 241-268. Levina, N., & Vaast, E. (2005). The Emergence of Boundary Spanning Competence in Practice: Implications for Implementation and Use of Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 29(2), 335-363. Magolda, P. M. (2005). Proceed with caution: Uncommon wisdom about academic and student affairs partnerships. About Campus, 9(6), 16-21. Rudow, S., & Meade, K. (2009). Missing Links: Redefining Service Learning Curricula. Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association -- Teaching & Learning, 1. Putman, Robert D. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. 15-136 UNM: Chibanga, Dickson, Makofske

University of New Mexico