1. Building Effective Partnerships – the Foundation of Service- Learning and Engagement Barbara A. Holland, Ph.D. October 30, 2009 University of Akron Service-Learning Institute copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

2. Community Engagement Community Engagement describes the collaboration between higher education institutions and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. (Carnegie Classification Project, 2005) copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

3. Why is Community Engagement Important? Engagement promotes an integrated view of learning and research Communities have ideas; they want access to new information, skills and partners Higher education must learn new modes of teaching and research to advance knowledge Contemporary students crave active and experiential learning – see knowledge in action Students must learn skills for life as well as work Colleges and universities have a moral and social purpose to contribute to the public good copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

4. Engagement’s Active Link to Knowledge Production Engaging students, their instructors, and community partners in high quality interactions meant to promote student learning while meeting community needs, Will almost inevitably do two things: 1.Turn the partner and instructor into teachers/learners of our students 2.Trigger new teaching/research ideas copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

5. CCPH Partnership Principles Mission, values, goals, outcomes Trust, respect, commitment Focus: strengths, assets, areas for improvement Balanced power, shared resources Clear, open communication Roles, norms, processes (mutually designed) Feedback for continuous improvement Shared credit for accomplishments Investment of time needed to develop and evolve copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

6. Campus Compact Benchmarks for Partnerships Shared vision and values Benefits and incentives for all partners Investment in trust/mutual respect Multi-dimensional (reflects nature of issues) Clear organization/dynamic leadership Linked to mission of partner organizations Clear process for communication, decision- making, change Evaluation of both methods and outcomes copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

7. Effective Partnerships (HUD COPC) Joint exploration of goals, interests and limitations Creation of a mutually rewarding agenda Shared leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, resource management Clear benefits and roles for each partner Opportunities for early success for all; shared celebration of progress Focus on knowledge exchange, shared learning and capacity-building Attention to communications patterns, cultivation of trust Commitment to continuous assessment of the partnership itself, as well as outcomes copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

8. The Centrality of Partnerships If partnerships are so important to quality service-learning, are we doing all we should to: –Recruit and orient partners that fit our goals for students –Involve partners in goal setting, activity design, expected benefits, assessment –Monitor partner role as teacher –Monitor cost-benefit to partner –Make reciprocity a prominent objective copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

9. SL Partnership Process Clarify learning goals and outcomes before approaching partner Describe student skill levels Listen to partner, needs, ideas and expectations Design activity as a negotiated process Write out expected roles and benefits Agree on a communications plan Discuss evaluation/assessment copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

10. Recent Research on Partner Motivations “Our common ground is a profound commitment to students” –Partners want to understand the learning goals for students –They also want to help students understand how their organization works – culture and context; and – help students understand how communities work Deep understanding of academic institution’s goals Partners value the relationship with the institution but also with specific people Hope for access to additional services (Sandy and Holland, 2006) copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

11. Partner-reported Benefits Interactions with students and staff improve processes and outcomes Enhanced organizational capacity Students inspire and energize other workers; fresh energy and new ideas Access to academic expertise Leverage financial and human resources Identify future employees Build new networks (Sandy and Holland, 2006) copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

12. Partner Ideas for Improvement Partnerships are personal relationships; meetings are valued Partners want direct involvement in planning and goal-setting Offer recognition and celebration of our role Concern about “fairness”…who gets to be a partner – how are choices made? Hours are a meaningless measure Partners want some involvement in evaluation and feedback Drink more coffee! (Sandy and Holland, 2006) copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

13. Partnership Types Service relationship – fixed time, fixed task Exchange relationship – exchange info, get access for mutual benefit, specific project Cooperative relationship – joint planning and shared responsibilities, long-term, multiple projects System and Transformative relationship – shared decision-making/operations/evaluation intended to transform each organization Hugh Sockett, 1998 copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

14. The Role of Partnership Evaluation Strengthens partnership – creates accountability Builds a foundation of understanding, based on a clear philosophy and common goals Reinforces mutual learning and shared decisions Focuses on feedback and improvement Reminds all that perceptions matter as measures of benefit and satisfaction with the partnership Supports recognition and celebration copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

15. Current Core Challenges? Power distribution Culture/Race Language of partnering Resource distribution Evaluation strategies and their uses Commitment: individual/institutional Leadership: transitions, renewal, longevity Visibility: internal and external Policy: internal and external copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

16. University/Community Partnerships Assessment Feedback Loop Institutional Capacity, Goals and Interests Community Capacity, Goals and Interests Program Evolution Funding Secured Project Proposals Learning & Planning Project Implementation Shared Agenda Capacity Building Summative Assessment Program Modification Barbara A. Holland 2003

17. Learning is the Connection Learning: –About each other’s capacity and limitations –About each other’s goals, culture, expectations –To develop students as active citizens –To exchange expertise, ideas, fears, concerns –To share control and direction –To adapt based on assessment and documentation –To experiment; to fail; to try again – To Trust! copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

18. The Challenge of Change for Higher Education Come to the table as a problem-solver Learn to work with communities and students as co-learners and discoverers Adopt a sense of moral responsibility to contribute to public good Increase capacity for collaborative work Develop a capacity for risk & experimentation Focus on impact, outcomes, benefits Change traditional academic cultures/habits that separate teaching from research copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009

19. Partnership Wisdom Effective campus-community partnerships can transform students, institutional quality and spirit, and community capacity. Partnerships are fundamental to successful engagement and service- learning. Truth-telling: Partnerships are high effort/high benefit! copyright by Barbara A. Holland 2009