Community Partnerships

Round stone monument near Bizzell library.

Steps to Developing a Community Partnership

Learn all you can about potential partners through online, media and personal sources.

Carefully consider the nature of the commitment you are willing to make.

Start early.

Take the time to get to know one another as people, always remembering that communication is key.

Determine whether there is compatibility.

Ask the right questions.

Stay in touch.

Ascertain how you will know the degree of the success of your partnership.

Celebrate success.

Partnership Approach

OU Community Engagement focuses on reciprocity, long-term partnerships and cultural humility, cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships between communities and the University.

OU works with non-profits, schools and community organizations to understand their needs and priorities. Faculty and students look for opportunities for engaged learning and research to impact positive social change.

Principles of Partnerships

Partnerships form to serve a specific purpose and may take on new goals over
time.
Partners have agreed upon mission, values, goals, measurable outcomes and
accountability for the partnership.
The relationship between partners is characterized by mutual trust, respect,
genuineness, and commitment.
The partnership builds upon identified strengths and assets, but also works to
address needs and increase capacity of all partners.
The partnership balances power among partners and enables resources among
partners to be shared.
Partners make clear and open communication an ongoing priority by striving to
understand each other's needs and self-interests, and developing a common
language.
Principles and processes for the partnership are established with the input and
agreement of all partners, especially for decision-making and conflict resolution.
There is feedback among all stakeholders in the partnership, with the goal of
continuously improving the partnership and its outcomes.
Partners share the benefits of the partnership's accomplishments.
Partnerships can dissolve and need to plan a process for closure.

How to develop partnerships with OU faculty and community

Whether you are a community member or a faculty member, we can help you to connect for mutually beneficial collaboration.

Fill out intake form:

Community intake.doc

Faculty intake.doc

Project planning:

Introductions

Project planning/collaboration meeting

Assessment:

Use the CFE CE evaluation form or develop a project evaluation form

Debrief together and plan for new projects