Developing Partnerships

Recommendations for Working with Faculty

The most sustainable way to work with a university is through the faculty. Having an excellent relationship with a faculty member will make your experience deeper and more flexible. Some tips for working with faculty:

• Whenever possible, be involved at every step of the course or project and it’s development.
• To develop real partnerships (and avoid logistical nightmares), work with as few faculty members as possible. Perhaps there’s one you’re already involved with.
• Aim to assist faculty in working only with you or one or two other organizations. At the same time, connect your faculty members with other community partners, as appropriate.
• Get the faculty member involved with your organization in other ways.
• When you leave your organization, help the faculty member with the transition to the new staff person.
• Thank the students for their involvement.
• Learn about the service-learning class’ learning goals and where the experience with your organization fits in.
• Offer to to the service-learning class as part of pre-service analysis, preparation and orientation.

See the Organization Orientation Checklist for more ideas.

The CCE can help you meet and develop relationships with faculty to build collaborations. Please contact cce@sonoma.edu to discuss this further.