Collaboration at it’s Best: Career Services, Alumni Relations and Development Sharon Heron Sara Nagel Newberg St. Paul Campus Career Center University of Minnesota

Presentation Objectives Consider the benefits of and barriers to strong partnerships. Consider the benefits of and barriers to strong partnerships. Identify conditions which foster healthy, productive partnerships. Identify conditions which foster healthy, productive partnerships. Present and identify best practices Present and identify best practices

About the St. Paul Campus Career Center Reports centrally Reports centrally Serves three St. Paul Colleges, including the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Serves three St. Paul Colleges, including the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Collaboration is key to staying connected to the colleges we serve. Collaboration is key to staying connected to the colleges we serve.

Why Collaborate? Increased return on investment Increased return on investment Bring new skill sets and perspectives to the work Bring new skill sets and perspectives to the work Expand reach, broaden contact base Expand reach, broaden contact base Efficiencies, cost savings Efficiencies, cost savings

Survey Results: How do NAADA members collaborate? 21 respondents, representative of all advancement functions 21 respondents, representative of all advancement functions Most meet 10 or more times/year with other areas and communicate weekly or monthly Most meet 10 or more times/year with other areas and communicate weekly or monthly

Survey Results: Top benefits of collaboration? Better relationships with key audiences Better relationships with key audiences Improved outcomes of work (placement, admissions, retention, engagement of alumni, scholarships, sponsorships, giving) Improved outcomes of work (placement, admissions, retention, engagement of alumni, scholarships, sponsorships, giving) Improved efficiency Improved efficiency Image of the institution Image of the institution

What are the qualities of a good partnership?

Six Attributes of Leadership Skills for Partnering Future orientation in decision-making Future orientation in decision-making Comfort with change Comfort with change Win-win orientation Win-win orientation Comfort with interdependence Comfort with interdependence Ability to trust Ability to trust Self-disclosure and feedback Self-disclosure and feedback From Partnering Intelligence, Stephen Dent, 1999

Partnering Stressors Checklist 1. I am uncomfortable giving up control. 1. I am uncomfortable giving up control. 2. I do not feel I can totally trust my partner. 2. I do not feel I can totally trust my partner. 3. Partnerships feel like too much work. 3. Partnerships feel like too much work. 4. Partnerships create too much conflict. 4. Partnerships create too much conflict. 5. Partnerships never get anything accomplished. 5. Partnerships never get anything accomplished. 6. Depending on another person creates stress for me. 6. Depending on another person creates stress for me. 7. I dislike having to discuss things about myself. 7. I dislike having to discuss things about myself. From Partnering Intelligence, Stephen Dent, 1999

Survey Results: Barriers to collaboration? Time/staffing Time/staffing Communication/means of sharing contacts Communication/means of sharing contacts Different missions/purposes Different missions/purposes Money Money

Easy wins In small groups, brainstorm some strategies to enrich collaboration with your advancement partners in 10 minutes per month. Share 1-2 examples with large group.

Questions to ask yourself before entering (formal) partnerships Is there a common mission, vision, process? Is there a common mission, vision, process? How much time/money/effort will be required? How much time/money/effort will be required? Will there be adequate return on investment? Will there be adequate return on investment? Is it really a partnership? An assist? A favor? Is it really a partnership? An assist? A favor? Do we need an agreement in writing? Do we need an agreement in writing?

Best Practices Categories Best Practices Categories Career education for students Career education for students Fostering industry partnerships Fostering industry partnerships Leveraging Technology Leveraging Technology Career Needs of Alumni Career Needs of Alumni

Career Education Career Education Career Panels Career Panels –Bio-Business Networking –Environmental Panel – Food Industry Networking Mentor program Mentor program Industry tours Industry tours Grad profiles Grad profiles

Grad Profile

Building Constituent Relations Building Constituent Relations Joint meetings with donors/employers Joint meetings with donors/employers Washington Internship Program Washington Internship Program Industry scholarships Industry scholarships Alumni survey information Alumni survey information Alumni letter Alumni letter

Leveraging Technology Leveraging Technology Listservs Listservs Linked-In Linked-In Facebook Facebook Building Bridges Building Bridges Donor Management System (DMS) Donor Management System (DMS)

Volunteer Database

Career Needs of Alumni Career Needs of Alumni Career services Career services Goldpass Goldpass Career fairs Career fairs First Thursday Network (FTN) First Thursday Network (FTN) Alumni Survey/Senior Salute Alumni Survey/Senior Salute "You've Graduated, What Now?" "You've Graduated, What Now?"

PROCESSING ACTIVITY YOUR CHANCE TO COMPETE! Break into small groups Break into small groups Share your partnership best practices Share your partnership best practices Present top ideas to the group Present top ideas to the group Large group votes for most innovative Large group votes for most innovative There will be prizes! There will be prizes!