AAUW North Carolina Report from SAR 2002: C/U program

College/University: Issues and Interests
Facilitator: Delene Lee, VP Administrationand Finance, Piedmont College, AAUW GA
June 8, 2002, AAUW SAR Conference, Tampa, FL
reported by: Nancy Shoemaker, AAUW Raleigh/Wake County

This was a wide ranging discussion on College/University members and student affiliates. Delene Lee was the only C/U member at the workshop: others were members of branches in communities near C/U memberes or potential members. Members shared their experiences, successes and frustrations. My notes are somewhat sketchy, but I remember a comment that it may be easier to bring student affiliates into the branch proper than to support a Student Affiliate Satellite on the campus. The group also raised the idea that if larger C/U member institutions could, by default, have more memberships-at-large included with their C/U membership, it might be easier to find a person on campus to "connect" with the branch as well as distribute the AAUW benefits more broadly on the campus.

Since returning from the conference, I received a copy of an article by Ruth Sweetser, C/U Chair for AAUW. It discusses several of the issues we touched on in the workshop and is reproduced below. See also the C/U section of www.aauw.org: http://www.aauw.org/4000/cupartner.html

In order to tap institutions of higher education as partners, AAUW has revamped its College/University Relations Program into a program based on partnership. What does that mean? What is the difference between the former program and the revamped program?

The difference is in perspective and in understanding by AAUW members of how to work with another organization for mutual benefit. The difference recognizes the WIIFM principle. The difference results in AAUW asking new questions: "What does the C/U need?" instead of "What can AAUW get?"

Up to now, if AAUW has approached a college/university--either to become an institutional member of AAUW and/or for some particular interaction, the motivation has usually been to obtain something for AAUW: space for an event, speaker for a presentation, support for a program, members for a branch or satellite--in other words, a very one-sided deal.

No longer! In our new C/U Partnership Program each partner, AAUW and the institution, must get something of perceived value out of the relationship. The onus is on AAUW to do its homework in determining some specific needs of the C/U, and also to recognize general needs which most institutions of higher education have, e.g., strengthening community relations.

In a partnership, each partner must also bring something of value to the table, each partner must come to the relationship from a position of strength. So, members must understand and be able to represent succintly and readily the resources and organizational strengths of AAUW

The approach to the institution is then predicated on explaining how, by working with AAUW and accessing AAUW resources, the institution can better serve its students, its programs and its constituents (including alumni and community).

For example, if the C/U needs to provide service learning and intern experiences for its students, AAUW can provide those. If the C/U realizes it is not meeting the needs of returning women students, AAUW can sponsor a Transitions Conference to document those needs and possible solutions. If the C/U has a mission of workforce preparation, AAUW can be a public policy partner in advocating for TANF reauthorization. If the C/U is trying to build a broader student base, AAUW can point to its national network of professionals for recruiting and mentoring.

Partnering entails much more than signing a membership agreement. It takes planning and a longer view. It involves new thinking, commitment to seeking and meeting needs of the partner, and knowledge of AAUW resources so that these resources can be matched against the institution's identified needs.

You are encouraged to develop college/university partnerships, using the following in the process:

• the C/U website at http://www.aauw.org/4000/cupartner.html
• the C/U committee and staff (santiageo@aauw.org)
• C/U-related AAUW programming, e.g., the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders
• a Power Point presentation available by emailing Ruth Sweetser (sweetser@iit.edu), Association Chair, College/University Relations Committee.

And let us know of your successes!

Last updated: 21-Jun-2002
Back to Concurrent Workshops Summary