Developing Community-Engaged Partnerships

Choosing the right community partner or project is a critical step in making your community engagement a worthwhile and meaningful experience. Learning about the community partner’s goals, expectations, history, philosophy, staff, and previous collaborations can help in the selection of a partner that best matches the student’s or faculty’s interests, skills, and learning goals.

Considerations When Choosing a Partner

As you explore potential community partners, you should consider a wide variety of factors that will impact your students’ experience and the success of your collaboration. Here are some questions to consider:

• Have others at NIU collaborated with this partner before? In addition to asking within your department and college, reach out to the Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development, as they may know about projects from other units within the university.
• Are they willing to be collaborative? Will they be available to you or your students for regular communications? Are they responsive to mutual problem solving and open to meeting student needs?
• Do they have an interest in the learning goals of the course or program? Are they flexible in adjusting the community projects to meet learning goals?
• Do they have adequate resources to orient and train students, if necessary? Do they have staff and procedures for doing so? Can they track student activities and contributions, if necessary?
• Do they identify tasks appropriate to the knowledge and skills of students in the course you are targeting for community-engaged learning?
• Is the partner sensitive to intercultural issues and demonstrates a respect for diversity? Do they provide an orientation to the culture and traditions of the agency?
• Are they accessible? Are they relatively convenient for students and in compliance with ADA or similar statutes?
• Do they have liability procedures, if applicable? Do they have liability insurance? Do they have screens or guidelines for student assistance? Do they provide a safe and supervised environment? Do they provide students with procedures for crisis management?

Support for Finding Partners

In some cases, you may know precisely who you want to work with as a potential community partner and already have an established relationship with them. In other cases, you may be looking to identify a partner or to establish a relationship with a partner you have identified.

The Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development (OERD) can provide support in either scenario. They have longstanding relationships with communities and agencies. They may also be able to connect you with other NIU faculty and staff for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The OERD engagement specialists would love to discuss how they can support you! Contact them at oerd@niu.edu.

Setting Expectations and Scope

Setting clear expectations and defining the scope of a community-engaged project is crucial for its success. Some key aspects to consider:

• Developing Mutual Goals - Working collaboratively with the community partner, discuss the learning objectives of the course and the needs of the community. Finding alignment between the two is crucial for creating a partnership that is beneficial for all parties involved.
• Define the Scope - The scope of the partnership outlines what the students will be doing, the expected outcomes, and any limitations, as well as the roles and responsibilities of you, the community partner, and your students. Include flexibility to be able to respond to new circumstances and unexpected challenges.
• Communication and Feedback - Establish a cadence for regular check-ins about the partnership and create feedback mechanisms to ensure the partnership stays on track. Scheduling regular meetings with the community partner allows both parties to discuss progress, address any issues, and make necessary adjustments.
• Student Preparation – Determine what preparation is necessary before students begin their work with the community partner, including content knowledge, skills, safety information, and background on the community and the partner organization.
• Document the Agreement - Creating documentation, such as a written agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU), is a vital step in formalizing the partnership. This document outlines the expectations, roles, responsibilities, and scope of the project, serving as a reference point for both parties. Having a written agreement ensures transparency and accountability, providing a clear record of the commitments made by each party.
• Share the Community Partner Toolkit - OERD is updating a toolkit of resources specifically designed to help community partners navigate their partnership with NIU. Check back for more information when that toolkit is updated and available!