Work With a University

Turn an academic relationship into useful collaboration around learning, research, innovation, and public impact.

Your Pathway

1. Understand → 2. Connect → 3. Explore → 4. Shape → 5. Align → 6. Agree → 7. Activate

1. Understand

Learn about the university before proposing a collaboration.

Look at:

• institutional priorities

• relevant schools and departments

• faculty interests

• research centers

• extension programs

• student programs

• geographic reach

• existing partnerships

• leadership priorities

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[Research with ChatGPT] [Work with Claude] [Partner Records] [University Website]

You're done when: You understand enough about the institution to avoid sending a generic proposal.

2. Connect

Find the right people.

The most senior person is not always the best starting point. Identify potential champions, faculty collaborators, program heads, research leads, and decision makers.

You're done when: There is at least one credible relationship inside the institution.

3. Explore

Have a discovery conversation.

Ask what the university is trying to accomplish, what challenges it faces, and where its faculty and students want greater engagement.

Share relevant ASG work without forcing a predetermined offer.

You're done when: Several possible areas of mutual interest are visible.

4. Shape

Turn the most promising opportunity into something concrete.

Possibilities might include:

[Start a Fellowship] [Start Research] [Start a Course] [Start a Lab] [Start a Project] [Start an Event]

You're done when: Both organizations can describe what they might actually do together.

5. Align

Clarify value for both sides.

Determine:

• objectives

• contributions

• beneficiaries

• responsibilities

• resources

• timeline

• decision makers

• expected outputs

You're done when: Expectations are sufficiently aligned to proceed.

6. Agree

Choose the appropriate level of formalization.

Not every collaboration needs an MOU.

Depending on the work, this might be a letter, proposal, project agreement, MOU, contract, or simply a documented set of commitments.

You're done when: The relationship has enough institutional clarity for the intended activity.

7. Activate

Start something concrete.

Move quickly from agreement to the first collaborative activity.

You're done when: People from both institutions are actually working together.

Next Pathway: [Run a Partnership →]