This session will present models for building effective partnerships with community colleges, businesses, and organizations. The session will highlight the many benefits of these collaborations, including expanded opportunities for students, increased job prospects for graduates, enhanced institutional reputation, and stronger connections between the campus and the broader community. In light of new federal mandates emphasizing graduate employment outcomes and increasing scrutiny of higher education’s return on investment, these partnerships are essential for demonstrating the value proposition of college. The discussion will showcase how these collaborations create new enrollment pipelines, open career pathways, help institutions meet evolving regulatory requirements, and deepen relationships with the wider community.
Participants will leave the session equipped with practical models and actionable plans for building and sustaining effective partnerships. They will gain strategies for aligning these partnerships with institutional mission, regulatory expectations, and enrollment goals, as well as approaches for creating meaningful career opportunities for students and alumni through collaborative initiatives.
Sean Burke, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Alma College
Melissa Chastain, Provost, Spalding University (KY)
Lynda Szymanski, Vice President for Academic Affairs, William Peace University (NC)
Chair: Susan Larson, Provost and Dean of the College, Concordia College (MN)