Building Collaborative Partnerships
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Relationship to framework
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Early establishment of partnerships with university outreach programs helps students prepare for advanced-level math and reading-based subject areas. Effective P-16 alignment efforts require effective P-16 relationship building and partnerships between educational segments.
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Purpose
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To help both P-12 and university outreach staff to pursue the development of new partnerships or to refresh current partnerships.
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Outcomes
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Schools will be able to:
- Identify what currently exists.
- Determine action steps to be taken to develop and/or strengthen collaborative partnerships.
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How to use
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This tool can be used as general information or as part of the planning process.
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When to use
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Anytime
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Directions:
Use the following checklists to develop a plan to build/strengthen partnerships.
Checklist 1: Questions to Ask Before Pursuing Partnerships
These questions will help you determine whether your organization is prepared to engage in a collaborative partnership.
- Have you completed research on all prospective partners?
- Can you describe the partnership’s goals and objectives in simple terms?
- Can you identify the fundable parts of your project?
- Can you really accomplish these goals?
- Do you have tools to measure the success of the project?
- Do you have a proven evaluation method?
- Do you have assurance of dedication to the goals?
- Can you list the resources you are willing to bring to the table to accomplish these goals?
- Do you have established ways to coordinate with other community resources?
- Can you describe the relationship with the communities you plan to serve?
Checklist 2: Information Needed for Each Prospective Partner
Building a file for each of your prospective partners is essential to effective relationship building. By having current information on hand at all times, you will save time in research and preparation.
Each potential partner’s (including the convening organization) file should include:
- An organizational mission statement
- A case statement
- History of organization
- Demographics of area organization serves
- Staff’s credentials
- Financial information
- Current news (press and newsletter clippings)
- Special recognition, commendations, or awards
Checklist 3: Needs or Problem Statement
The objectives of the needs or problem statement are to justify the development of collaborative relationships and to build the case for support for the project. A problem or need may be described demographically or geographically, as related to a given community or region.
- Are the needs or problems stated in terms of the audience who requires assistance rather than the sponsoring partner?
- Are the needs and problems clearly related to the potential partnership’s mission and goals?
- Are the statistics to address the needs or problems being used accurately?
Checklist 4: Goals and Objectives
Effective collaboration begins with the agreement of common goals and objectives. The goals describe the anticipated outcome. The objectives are measurable outcomes that relate to the goals and should be written in precise terms.
- Are the objectives described in terms that can be quantifiably measured?
- Is the question “Who will do what for whom and how much by when?” completely answered?
Checklist 5: Plan of Operation or Program Design
The purpose of the plan of operation or program design is to provide organizations with a plan for implementing the potential partnerships.
- Does the plan of operation relate to the project objectives?
- Are the activities that individual organizations will in engage clearly stated to reach desired objectives?
- Is a statement of purpose clearly defined?
- Has process, outcome ,and impact objectives been clearly and correctly identified?
- Is the project timeline realistic?
Checklist 6: Commitment and Capacity
Collaborative planning involves all stakeholders. Participation must be consistent from teachers, counselors, support services personnel, administrators, support staff, parents, students, university partners, and community organizations and leaders. Potential partners need insight into each other’s ability to commit their financial and/or human resources to the proposed partnership.
- Has an in-kind contribution process been researched and implemented?
- Have similar efforts been appropriately researched, documented, and used as reference points?
- Are all partners contributing to the project, creatively or fiscally?
Checklist 7: Evaluation Plan
The evaluation plan assures potential partners that the convening organization has an objective methodology for measuring and reporting the level of goals attained and objectives met for the proposed collaboration.
- Have you determined who will evaluate the project?
- Have the results and process been clearly defined?
- Has the data collection process been accurately defined and described?
- Is the evaluation timeline and process clearly stated?
- Are the project’s objectives and methods able to be evaluated?
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