Strengthening Partnerships

1. Strengthening Partnerships Kathy Nicholson-Tosh Cathy Kirby

2. Workshop Goals • Set Partnership Goals & Outcomes • Identify Partners • Define Governance • Determine optimal operating mechanism • Evaluate effectiveness • Identify factors that sustain the partnership

4. Purposes By Law Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, Section 2: • Support partnerships among secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, baccalaureate degree granting institutions, technical colleges, workforce investment boards, business and industry, and intermediaries

5. 1. Set Partnership Goals & Outcomes

6. Why Partnerships? • POS- Joint curriculum between secondary & ps; State-level agreement to share data • Student Perspective- Ed pathway that includes more than one institution • Supporting Student Success- more than books and institutions! • POS Principle 1: Leadership, Organization and Support • Programs of Study are developed, supported, and led with guidance from collaborative partners.

7. 7 Steps of Creating Effective Partnerships • Pick the right person, not the like person • Define roles immediately- clear and concise – now and in the future • Have a written agreement – an imperative “think of it less as a legal contract and more as a resource to ensure everyone stays on track as years go by and memory fades.” • Communicate Often and Effectively – number one killer is lack of communication • Evaluate the situation- constant and systematic review of how partnership is operating – at least once a year • Don’t Fear a Restructure – could just mean redefining roles or resetting expectation – play to each other’s strengths. Strengths change. • Plan for an Exit – there are reasons partnerships cease to exist that have nothing to do with failure – that needs to be planned for. Remember: “The right people for the right reason for the right time.” ~ from Small Biz Bee

8. Begin with the End in Mind

9. Let’s Discuss . . . • What defines a good partnership? • What causes partnerships to fail?

10. The Partnership Mission • Communicates why the partnership is being put in place; the purpose. • Communicates why it is important; the value. • Communicates a long-term purpose. SAMPLE The ---- Partnership generates ideas and leverages resources to develop and implement high-quality educational pathways that lead all students to employment and a career.

11. A Partnership Mission • establish collaboration • achieve shared decision making • align vision, mission and goals • leverage and blend local/regional resources

12. The Partnership Goals and Objectives • GOALS • Very short statement, few words • Broad in scope • Directly relates to the Mission Statement • Covers long time period • OBJECTIVES • Longer statement, more descriptive • Narrow in scope • Indirectly relates to the Mission Statement • Covers short time period Matt H. Evans, matt@exfmin.com

13. 2. Identifying Partners

14. Our Focus — the local level • Cluster based by CC • OR Super Region • Could be differences in sectors within the same region. • The goal should determine involvement. • Your regional uniqueness will shape it.

15. Getting Started • Is there an existing core team? • Will there be a lead entity? • Who is working together now? • Who is not at the table?

16. Connecting to Existing Partnerships and/or Initiatives

19. Developing a network of partners • Learning Exchanges • Sector-based • Business/Ind. involvement • Identify pathways • Identify certifications & assessments • Identify Sec & Post-Sec coursework

20. Handout

22. Manufacturing Career Cluster Orientation e.g. Middle & High School Pathways e.g. High School Postsecondary Education and Training Bridge Associates & Certificate Bachelors Graduate Careers Technology Orientation Courses WBL Credentials Manufacturing Production Process Development Courses WBL Credentials (Shared Pathway: See selections in Energy, TDL, A&C, & R&D Clusters) Manufacturing Production Process Development Courses WBL Credentials Careers Production Courses WBL Credentials Careers Production Courses WBL Credentials Maintenance, Installation & Repair Courses WBL Credentials Careers Automation Courses WBL Credentials (Shared Pathway: See selections in MFG, Energy, IT, and TDL Clusters) Logistic & Inventory Control Courses WBL Credentials Careers Quality Control Courses WBL Credentials Careers Logistics & Inventory Control Courses WBL Credentials (Shared Pathway: See selections in MFG Cluster) Health, Safety & Environmental Assurance Courses WBL Credentials Careers

23. 3. Define Governance

24. Sample Elements in Structure • Local/Regional Structure • Composition • Role of Local POS Partnership Council • Executive Committee • Chairperson • POS Local Partnership Manager • Connection to Local Sec & PS Sites • Connection to existing committees (local business advisory committees, other local business entities) State Structure • State POS Committee • Specific Career Pathways Committees

25. Illinois Pathways Advisory Council Illinois Pathways Initiative Governance Model Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee Pathways Resource Center AGR Learning Exchange MFG Learning Exchange TDLLearning Exchange ITLearning Exchange R&D Learning Exchange EGY Learning Exchange Goal: To create a new, innovative public-private education infrastructure that can advance college and career readiness by coordinating statewide networks of P-20 education partners, business, labor, and other organizations based on career clusters. FIN Learning Exchange A&C Learning Exchange HS Learning Exchange

30. Joint Advisory Committees • How will program advisory committees connect to the partnership? • Separate advisory committees support the individual programs at each institution • Joint advisory committees support the pathway (POS) that overlays two or more institutions.

31. Identifying Roles & Responsibilities • Fiscal • Logistic • Knowledge capital • Individual • collective

32. Adapted from: “How to Build a Bridge Program that Fit into a Career Pathway: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on the Carreras en Salud Program in Chicago

34. Officers Adapted from: Career Pathways Advisory Committee Toolkit, Debra Mills, CORD

35. Adapted from: Career Pathways Advisory Committee Toolkit, Debra Mills, CORD

36. 4. Determine Optimal Operating Mechanism

37. Effective meetings include the following components: Meetings 101 • The meetings are held at times & locations that are accommodating to the partners. • Should begin & end on time. • Should stay on task and on process. • Meetings should allow for full and open discussion of issues, including controversial ones.

38. Adapted from: Career Pathways Advisory Committee Toolkit, Debra Mills, CORD

39. Adapted from: Career Pathways Advisory Committee Toolkit, Debra Mills, CORD

41. Meetings should NOT be used to disseminate information

42. Use Technology to disseminate information…..

43. 5. Evaluate Effectiveness Pathways to Results (PTR) http://occrl.illinois.edu/projects/pathways

44. What were your goals?

45. Pathways to Results

46. Adapted from Pathways to Results, Deb Bragg, OCCRL

47. 6. Identify Factors that Sustain the Partnership

48. Sustainability • Formal or Informal? • Collaboration based on individuals? Okay in beginning….but will not sustain….people leave • MOU- Memo of Understanding

49. MOU or By-Laws (Operational Procedures) Formation • Chairperson: Designation; vacancies; Term & time of election; Duties • Local RPOS Partnership Manager: Duties • Elections: Terms and time • Meetings: Annual; Regular; Special; Notice of mtgs; Quorum • Task Committees • Accountability • Dissolution & Amendments • Name of partnership • Mission • Organization & governance • Membership of Council: Election & vacancies; Time & date; Attendance; Roles & Responsibilities • Executive Committee: Designation & vacancies; Term & time of election; Duties

50. *Adapted from CORD’s Education & Career Partnership Structure Sample