Exploring Sustainable Partnership Practices in University-Community Partnerships

• In Event: On the Ground Responses to the Anthropocene Context: Civic and STEM Engagement as Global Citizenship

Abstract

As defined by Curwood et al. (2011), university-community partnerships (UCPs) are “collaborations between community organizations and institutions of higher learning for the purpose of achieving an identified social change goal through community-engaged scholarship that ensures mutual benefit” (p. 16). One area UCPs have shown promise is in supporting the educational and social development of youth from underserved communities through afterschool programs. However, there are many challenges that can inhibit the sustainability of these partnerships. This poster explores practices related to sustainability in UCPs that serve K-12 students in afterschool settings by examining University-Community Links (UC Links), a network of over 20 UCPs in California and beyond. Inherent in nearly all of these UCP afterschool programs is a focus on STEAM and civic engagement, themes directly connected to issues of the Anthropocene. Understanding how to sustain these UCPs is extremely significant in our capacity to have a substantial impact on Anthropocene issues.

Many researchers have provided insight into the challenges that partners face in establishing and sustaining UCPs. Bringle and Hatcher (2002) focused on the disconnect that exists between universities and communities. As the authors explained, university partners are often theoretical and cautious while community partners are action-oriented and make decisions on the fly. Partnerships also have to overcome bureaucratic constraints, competition for recognition, and uncertainty about proposed outcomes (Aizik, Strier, & Azaiza, 2017; Bowers, 2017). Through the “employing paradox” framework, Bowers (2017), however, argued that the tensions that exist in UCPs are both normal and could be beneficial if leveraged. We use the employing paradox as a way to explore sustainable models of collaboration.

To investigate aspects such as reciprocity, communication, collaboration, and conflict that are important in building the capacity for sustainability in UCPs, data was collected through two rounds of focus group interviews with UC Links members including principal investigators, graduate student coordinators, and community partners.

The first round of focus group interviews were conducted at the annual UC Links Conference. In total, five one-hour-long interviews that featured 35 participants (including moderators) were conducted. The second round of focus group interviews featured a total of eight one-hour-long interviews and 49 participants, including moderators.

Findings indicate that UC Links members understand the importance of creating equitable, democratic partnerships that focus on partnership building, reciprocity, and leveraging conflicts. Multiple participants noted their experiences with each of these facilitators of sustainability. Furthermore, the ethos of the close-knit UC Links community encourages equitable, democratic partnerships that promote sustainability in these partnerships.

Currently, there is a gap in the literature regarding partnership sustainability for UCPs in afterschool settings. UCP afterschool programs, specifically those that are a part of UC Links, play a key role in engaging underrepresented minority youth with many literacies directly related to the Anthropocene, including STEM and civic engagement. By being able to sustain successful UCPs, the commitment to overcoming Anthropocene issues in both local and global communities will continue to grow stronger.

Authors

• Sos Nazaryan, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Mary E. Brenner, University of California - Santa Barbara