Frequently Asked Questions
Who do we mean by community partner?
Community partners are typically non-profit agencies and organizations that provide valuable support and services to communities.
What exactly is this directory and how do I use it?
This interactive tool is intended to be a starting point for investigating the possibilities of working collaboratively with UVM and the Community. The website represents a consolidation of current
UVM service-related offices and projects that could potentially
collaborate on new projects or work with community sites to carry out
existing projects. It is meant to provide information and contacts so
that you may further investigate potential partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions - Community Members:
Frequently Asked Questions - UVM Faculty, Staff, Students:
Frequently Asked Questions - Community Members:
I've identified a possible UVM office to work with, now what do I need to do?
Once potential projects are identified, community partners along with
UVM staff and faculty can determine the feasibility, logistics, and
expectations of a given project. The following are
suggested steps that community partners can take for moving forward:
- Contact the person or organization by phone or email. Explain
that you found their information through this directory and would like
to discuss the possibility of partnering with them on a community
project. Be prepared to share information such
as:
- Description of your agency and the population it serves
- Description of the community need/project
- Proposed timeline
- Number of people needed
- What participants are expected to gain and learn from the
experience
- Propose a date to meet with your contact to discuss next action
steps.
- Finally, be open to the conversation. This initial conversation
may be the first of many. It's all part of building the relationship.
What are some of the initial issues that I need to consider before initiating a partnership?
Project design and recruitment issues
- Design a valuable assignment by identifying the unmet needs of
your organization. Ask yourself:
- Do we have enough staff to…(write a newsletter, answer phones,
coordinate events, etc.)?
- What do our clients need, but we don't presently have the
resources for it?
- Find a partner who can help you to meet those needs in a manner
appropriate to the project (i.e. – contact a volunteer organization for
a one-time need, contact career services if you need a part-time
employee, contact CUPS if you have a project that is long-term and
could use a group of students dedicated to an academic course).
Project maintenance and retaining volunteers
- Create a relationship
with your workers or the service organization with whom you're
partnering. Get important contact information so that your agency can
stay in communication.
- Develop a welcoming environment
that will encourage people to partner with your organization in the
future. Also spend some time making sure that you communicate the
mission of your agency to provide important context for the
partnership. Here are a few ideas:
- Provide a tour of your agency
- Provide name tags so all participants can get to know who’s who
in the agency and vice versa.
- Plan an orientation to educate people about your organization
(Why and how did the agency develop? What are its current successes and
challenges? What programs and services does it offer? How will the
workers contribute to the overall mission of the agency?)
- A partnership goes two ways;
maintaining that relationship is the responsibility of all
involved. Here are some tips on maintaining a program:
- Time is Valuable!
Discussions from the beginning should make sure to take into account a
schedule that is equally beneficial to all participants. Then try to
stick to it!
- Communicate expectations.
Be sure to effectively communicate your expectations of the workers
and/or your expectations of the service event, and to ask about the
expectations that your partner might have of you.
- Keep your promises and hold
others to theirs. If your agency has committed to providing food
or transportation to the service event, be sure to uphold the
commitment. Don’t be afraid to communicate with participants if you
feel they are not meeting their end of the agreement.
- Keep people busy.
Keep track of when you will have participants at your agency and make
sure they have work to do at that point. Your needs will be met and
participants will know they are providing valuable service.
- Plan time for reflection with
your workers. This is an excellent opportunity for people to
process the service while still in the moment. It allows participants
to make connections between personal experience and the service itself.
Exploring the “how” and “why” of the work will help deepen and enrich
the experience.
- Acknowledge the work done by
those engaged in the service experience. This includes
both those “doing the service” and those at your agency who are helping
to facilitate it; all have put in valuable time and effort.
What are some of the boundaries/constraints/limitations that I need to be aware of when I
work with the University of Vermont?
- Academic calendar (key dates)
- Remember that many projects and programs at UVM are coordinated
with the academic calendar (early September to late May with a
significant break in late December and Early January). It will be
harder to get participants during breaks and vacations.
- Many projects and courses are planned at least one semester ahead
of time. If you have an immediate need, remember that it may be
harder to meet by course projects.
- Credit and non credit bearing projects
- Some projects are affiliated with academic courses or are
assigned individual academic credit. If this is true of your
partnership remember that you may need to put in a little bit more time
in supervision and partnership planning. However, you may also
greatly benefit from a higher level of commitment and student preparation.
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