Presented at Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) conference on May 12, 2014. Managing Corporate Relationships was based on corporate, government, nonprofit, public school district and Aurora University in partnership with the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School.

1. Managing Corporate
Relationships
Aurora University’s Partnerships

2. Welcome
&
Introductions

3. What we will cover
• Project – AU STEM Initiatives
• STEM Partnership School
• Partner Relationships
– Approaching
– Building
– Maintaining
• Q&A / Participant Discussion of Best Practices

4. Aurora University STEM Initiatives:
Example of Partner Relationships
In 2006, AU received its first Illinois Mathematics and
Science Partnership (IMSP) grant.
In 2008, AU received $100,000 award from Dunham Fund’s
Challenge for Change competition.
Components:
• Informal STEM Learning: After School and Summer
Programs for K-16 students
• STEM Teacher Training and Professional Development
Programs
• STEM Partnership School

5. Taking it to the Next Level:
City of Aurora STEM Initiative
STEM Partnership School
• New $12.4 M building on AU campus to open Fall 2014
• Serves 150 third-eighth graders from three districts (Aurora
East, Aurora West, and Indian Prairie).
• Eight workshops/classrooms, six labs, multi-purpose area
• Each lab will facilitate integration of STEM disciplines
aligned to national standards and be used by multi-
generational learners
• Staffed through a unique professional development strategy
where teachers continue content-based education and
rotate back to their districts as STEM leaders.

6. Partners: Who To Approach
Common
Interests
Location(s)
Assets and
Resources
Company
Performance
Mutual
Benefit

7. Partners: How To Approach
Government
Officials
People with
connections
Corporate
Giving,
Foundations
Community
Relations
Cold
Calls

8. Partners: How to Build the Relationship
• Know your Project
• Share the story—the compelling need
• Bring them to campus
• Discuss resources available
• Engage them in project
• Show the Return on Investment
• Demonstrate sustainability
• Invite them to other campus functions
• Encourage interaction between partners

9. AU STEM Partners

10. How AU STEM Partners are Involved
• Give financial support
• Connect to other partners and resources
• Contribute to the development of hands-on STEM curriculum
• Infuse projects and applications for currency of practice
• Construct displays, experiments, and research
• Presentations in class/workshops
• Host day trips and corporate tour experiences
• Participate in brown bag lunches with students
• Provide internships
• Host booth at Career Days
• Collaborate in grant projects and research
• Invoke global thinking
• Contribute toward finding solutions to national problems

11. Maintaining Partners
• Give appreciation and recognition
• Provide project updates
• Share relevant materials
• Host luncheons
• Show hospitality
• Invite them to other campus functions
• Expand their opportunities

12. Q&A
&
Roundtable Discussion
on Best Practices for
Maintaining Corporate Partners