The importance of institutional relationships between community colleges and local universities is immeasurable. Connecting and aligning shared goals through intentional communication and relationships can lead to successful outcomes for all. With institutional budgets being stretched and difficult decisions that are always under consideration, productive relationships that streamline processes, increase collaboration, and produce positive results are increasingly important.
Building and maintaining productive institutional relationships lead to trust and understanding that can have an impact on many things including student transfer pathways, program agreements, and positive enrollment growth for both types of institutions. Institutions are able to reach their goals and exist in alignment while helping students reach their goals as well because they are the ones ultimately being served by both institutions.
Sometimes it's as simple as people coming together to meet each other in-person, face-to-face, to talk through shared goals, challenges, and alignment. Listening to each other and intentionally seeking solutions that work for all is a great first step. People are often waiting for that opportunity, but they haven't known how to connect in a meaningful way.
Wheatley (2002) wrote, "Remember, you don't fear people whose story you know. Real listening always brings people closer together." Get to know someone's story. Relationship building isn't always an easy process, but it also isn't terribly difficult to get started. It requires time, energy, creativity and persistence. It requires a person to connect with many different people within each institution. Consider ways to connect with a faculty member vs. staff members vs. administrators when seeking new or additional relationships that are in alignment with your institutional goals. Community college and university connections are increasingly important, and those connections can be strengthened through in-person relationships and taking the time to engage in intentional communication.
Wheatley, Margaret J. (2002). Turning to one another: simple conversations to restore hope to the future. San Francisco, CA :Berrett-Koehler Publishers,
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