Drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in community to raise the professional stature of educators. The authors, experts in their field, provide clear steps and real-school examples with a focus on collaborative adult learning for student gains,…

Presents suggestions for using agendas to structure team meetings and for encouraging dialog among team members at middle schools. Discusses the importance of considering dialog in planning agendas and concludes that team dialogs can help to create a new version of collaboration in schools and new connections for students. (KB)

The institutional facility manager can assist the consulting architect by dealing with regulatory agencies, detecting deficiencies in work early in progress, briefing new users of the building, and supplying feedback.(MLF)

Relationships between scientists and campus communicators are often poor because the two inhabit very different worlds. Bridging the gap depends on improving communication, which in turn can have far-reaching benefits for both. Efforts to reconcile the two worlds are essential. (MSE)

A number of factors keep college alumni staff and development officers from forging cooperative relationships, and campus and graduates suffer as a result. These factors include competition for resources and professional opportunities and stereotypes of administrator roles and characteristics. Successful partnerships require shared values and…

There is good reason for college fund raisers and business officers to collaborate on common financial interests. Communication is a key element of such cooperation. Other needs include agreement on accounting and reporting of institutional finances, agreement on stewardship of gifts (particularly with restrictions or endowments), and common…

Misunderstandings between a university's attorney and its public relations office can arise because of differing goals, schedules, rules of evidence, and levels of respect accorded them. Cooperation can be fostered by forging a bond before a crisis arises, sharing expertise, thinking ahead, remaining flexible, and analyzing successes and failures.…

Alumni administrators in private schools can participate in choosing and acclimating a new school head by pushing for an alumni constituency committee to meet candidates; asking candidates directly about alumni work; offering the new administrator early and wide exposure to alumni; and educating and promoting the new head. (MSE)

Collaboration between professions or disciplines or across distances is discussed. A definition of collaboration is offered, processes and factors making collaboration difficult are identified, and two features of networked communication (access equalization and social equalization) that are important to collaboration are examined. (Author/MSE)

This paper clarifies vocabulary in the area of collaboration in schools, describes characteristics of collaboration, and outlines a set of principles. Principles explain that collaboration is not a prerequisite in most school programs, may occur informally, requires time to develop, is not a panacea, and may raise ethical issues for special…

This article describes efforts in Colorado to develop collaborative relationships among educators to better meet needs of students with disabilities. The article stresses the importance of developing common understanding, developing a full array of services within the delivery system, and addressing school scheduling issues. (JDD)

As schools reform for the 21st century, educators are being asked to work together in more and more ways. Many have not been prepared to work together, and little additional time is being allocated for collaborative work. Two solutions are worth consideration: (1) to make more time and (2) to use time more effectively. As teachers and other school…

Teams can produce innovative solutions to complex problems, enabling organizations to be faster, more responsive, more competitive, and more successful in meeting their missions. These kinds of results are not guaranteed, however. When an organization sponsors a team, it is usually to address a challenge deemed essential to organizational success.…

Only with the spirit of cooperation can the two functions of affirmative action and personnel management advise, guide, and protect their institutions and provide real opportunities for protected classes in the extremely important area of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. (Author/MSE)

Five college and university fund-raising professionals discuss ways in which uncoordinated solicitations of gifts from the same prospective donor(s) by different schools or departments can be avoided by planning, coordination, and communication. Advantages and disadvantages of centralized and decentralized administrative approaches are considered.…