Building Partnerships, Building Community: Collaboration as a Critical Best Practice Larry D. Roper Oregon State University

What are Partnerships? Mutually entered relationships Shared investments in an endeavor Mutually beneficial arrangements Purposeful associations

Why do we need partnerships? To produce outcomes we can not achieve alone To reflect our share responsibility for achieving institutional goals To reflect the connection of our work to the academic enterprise and to invest in the broad education of students To reflect the integrated nature of education Because they are the right thing to do

Characteristics of Partnerships Fairness in effort and contributions Respect Equal-status Division of labor Clearly defined goals (shared vision and mission)

Challenges Of And To Partnerships Institutional history, culture and structures (including thought processes) Equality Relationship development skills Education (orientation)

Challenges Of And To Partnerships Translating institutional mission or strategic plans into opportunities  Internal opportunities  External opportunities Self-knowledge and self-confidence Absence of focus or articulated intention

How do we know when partnerships are meaningful? We are told so Goals are achieved They are re-created by the partners They achieve what neither partner could do alone They serve as models for others or others use them as models of practice They receive institutional support

Partnerships Questions What role do you want to play in change efforts at your institution? What level or scope of change within the institution do you want to influence? What lessons are being learned? What connections are being made between what you are learning and change within the institution?

Thoughts on Collaboration Collaboration is producing something that you can not produce alone Collaboration comes out of differences (if you agree, it is not true collaboration) You cannot achieve innovation and creativity on things you already agree upon Breakthroughs come from wrestling with dynamic tensions

Partnerships Outcomes Breakthroughs in awareness A new level of connection or relationship New understanding and appreciation of the realities of others Specific ideas, possibilities, decisions and commitments New energy for the future Understanding someone else’s view

Partnerships Outcomes Clarity about your own views Clarity about a situation New insights, connections and thinking Re-assessing knowledge that you’ve lost sight of for a while Uncovering ability and potential not previously revealed A sense that you contribute and that your efforts make a difference

Partnerships Outcomes New support systems are created New questions and problems are surfaced Enjoyment, fun Your heart and spirit are aroused