Cross-Sectoral Postsecondary Success Coalitions: How Education Professionals Navigate Voluntary Collaborative Efforts

• In Event: Crossing Institutional Boundaries: Collaborations Between Higher Education and Other Sectors

Abstract

This single case study explores the ongoing implementation of a postsecondary success coalition (PSC) by investigating the extent the PSC functions given its goals, with what results, and under what conditions outcomes occurred. This study reinforces and adds to organizational learning theory by examining an instance of educational collaboration around access to higher education among underserved populations. Data included meeting observations, interviews with coalition participants, and document analysis. Findings revealed that information search and use in spite of conditions of ambiguity occurred under conditions of high leadership capacity and organizational trust. Implications of this study point to the promise of community coalitions when careful consideration is taken for ensuring the engagement of key leadership and for curbing feelings of blame.

Author

• Jenee Myers Twitchell, University of Washington