School‐University Partnerships as Change Agents: One Success Story

Much has been written about school/university partnerships and the degree of success or failure which they have met. The Learning Consortium, a partnership between six organizations (two Universities and four school districts) was established in 1988. Since that time the Consortium has been a conduit for change in all members. A number of factors can be attributed to the success of the partnership. These include long‐term commitment, the effect of early successes, stable finances, credibility of the university faculty and the collegial model for managing activities, and decision‐making. In particular, three trends can be noted in the pattern of change implementation in organizations. Consortium activities have mobilized a critical mass to implement change; the joint activities have tended to build on and develop previous activities to become organic extensions rather than ad hoc programs; the partners have used Consortium initiatives as starting points for system change.