Collaborations and Partnership Development

1. Collaborations and Partnership Development Kathi Schoonover Director of Research & Sponsored Programs Northeastern State University

2. Partnerships An association or a combination, as of persons, organizations or institutions, for the purpose of engaging in a joint venture. Resource: National College Access Network (NCAN) www.CollegeAccess.org

3. COLLABORATION • Work together on a common enterprise or project; • "The soprano and the pianist did not get together very well"; • Win-win: for partners and for funding agency

4. Objectives • To bring multidisciplinary groups together under a central theme. The multidisciplinary groups may be different academic units within a college, different colleges within an institution or different institutions. • To establish a cohesive group that allows individual units or individual partners to contribute to the principal theme

5. Characteristics • Each member of the collaboration or partnership must have an interest in the theme with documented expertise. • The leader may be self-selected, appointed or elected. • The leader must be willing to listen, involve the partners and provide leadership in the administration of the collaboration or partnership.

6. Questions to Ask When Building Collaborations • What is the target area we will serve? • Seek out collaborate partners • Make sure you include representatives from all boundaries of the target area.

7. Who do we need to get things done? • People who are oriented toward implementation. • People who hold a position of influence in the target area such that others will follow. • People with a “can do” attitude. • People with resources.

8. What is the makeup of the target area? • Effective collaborations engage institutional, civic, and natural leaders who reflect the demographic diversity of the target area. • Make sure you select people who can organize people from their identity group and not just be the “gatekeepers”. • Ask questions and find the names of real leaders in the target area.

9. Who can speak with authority on the challenge you are seeking to meet? • Board members • Staff members • Teachers vs. Administrators • Faculty vs. Administration • Workers vs. CEO’s

10. Do we have representation from the target population we will serve? • Parents • Students • Workers • Consumers

11. First Meeting of the Collaboration • Consider using a facilitator • Share an overview of the issue or problem • Set basic ground rules: • One person speaks at a time. • Be respectful. • Listen as an ally. • Be concise and stay focused on the agenda.

12. Facilitate a discussion with these questions: • What do we need to understand about this issue? • What are the barriers to effectively resolve/address this issue? • How do the organizations at the table work on the issue? • How can we address these barriers as a group? • Do we have the right people at the table?

13. Establish an organizational structure • What is our mission? • How often do we meet? • Do we have committees? • How will the partners share responsibility for organizing and leading the meetings? • Who prepares and contributes to the agenda? • How will partners handle logistical arrangements?

14. Task 1: Formulate Goals • What is the issue? • Why is a partnership the best way to address the issue? • What are the relevant assets? • What are the goals?

15. Task 3: Identify Perspective Members of the Partnership • Compile contact information for prospective members. • While prospective members may participate in professional organizations, there may not be an organization that speaks directly to their issues or concerns. • Prospective members may lead to other prospective members.

16. Task 4: Organize Events that Partners Want to Attend • Maintain focus on the relevant issue. • Emphasize research and data-informed practices. • Reflect the diversity of the partnership. • Provide remote locations with two-way video conferencing if available. • Structure the meeting for networking.

17. Task 5: Evaluate • Evaluation of key components provides feedback that enables refinement and redirection. • Evaluation provides a process of continuous improvement. • Evaluating the impact of the consortium helps build a case for sustaining partnership efforts.

18. Partnership DevelopmentSome general transferable principles: • Partnerships lead to new projects and new grant proposals. • Partnerships may develop faster because of successful history of partnerships with other entities. • Partnerships take time. • Public/private partnerships must have knowledgeable leaders, experienced participants, strong academicians, and strong decision makers involved all the way. • Resist selecting partners by reaching out to people you already know or reaching out to everyone.

19. Partnership DevelopmentSome general transferable principles: • Partnerships must have authority, i.e. president, dean, chair. • Partnerships on paper onlyare not considered valid – show evidence, i.e. articles, projects. • There will be more financial audits with partners than without. • Corporations want to know why, how, and see creativity now. Will fund R&D, product development.

20. Partnership DevelopmentSome general transferable principles: • Allow enough time to develop partnership. • Begin making contacts prior to establishing a collaboration. • Let them know what is in it for them. • Develops an entrepreneurship attitude among business and industry. • Building of future relationships

21. Longevity of Partnerships • Corporations want long-range partnerships that evolve into more projects over time. • Institutions should plan for change and growth in the partnership. • Build on previous successful partnerships. • Organize events that the partners want to attend.

22. Tips • Creativity is necessary. • Decisive action is necessary. • Do your brainstorming in private, not in front of partner. • Spend time on evaluation. • Corporate partners want to see what you have done for them yesterday. • Schools and agencies tend to resist change. • Flexibility, meeting real needs in practical ways insures continuation of partnership and satisfaction of partner.

23. Possible Collaborative Partners • Colleagues – Same Area or Interdisciplinary • College/University Departments • Local Education Agencies • State Department of Education, State Agencies, i.e. OCAST • Business and Industry • Faith-Based Organizations, i.e. Churches • Community Based Organizations, i.e. Chamber of Commerce, Scouts • Other Colleges/Universities

24. Faith and Community-Based Organizations • Established leadership within the community • Experience in volunteer recruitment, management, and retention • Resources such as buildings, meeting rooms, and equipment • Trust within the neighborhood • Integrated personal relationships within the community • Experience with directly serving those in need • The mission and desire to help those in need within their community

25. Other Colleges/Universities College/University Departments • Develop a process for sharing research and program interests. • Make our interests known to administration. • Be willing to let go of “turf” issues. • Make it a joint venture. • Advertise collaborative successes.

26. Memorandum of Agreement • State the mission of the partnership. • Provide a strong communication plan for the partnership. • State roles and responsibilities of all partners. • Advisory Board membership. • Provide a summary statement of sustainability upon completion of the program.

27. Summary - Collaborations • Parties who represent • Parties with authority • Clear communication • Time • Win-Win!