Collaboration over Competition: Our Work Philosophy
Since beginning in 2019, we have centered our work philosophy around collaboration. As a new Center on campus, we were tasked with supporting education, research, community, and advocacy by working with different stakeholders on campus, in the Shoals, and across the state and region. Our goal has been to provide an accessible and inclusive space for students and faculty to share knowledge, collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, and build sustainable partnerships with organizations that are committed to addressing some of the most pressing social problems that we face today. This means working in partnership with existing campus offices and programs to continue to foster an environment committed to social engagement, empowerment, equity, and justice. This work cannot be done alone and we are fortunate to have a whole host of campus and community partners dedicated to this work.
Collaboration is the Name of the Game
Operationally defined, a “collaboration” is working together towards a common object or goal. In some environments, people feel that they need to compete over resources and this may not necessarily foster collaboration. Collaboration over competition centers communication, coordination, and commitment to maximize the utilization of (sometimes already limited) resources. In fact, many academic and educational service programs already rely on this exchange of resources to be successful. Collaborative efforts can enhance student learning outcomes, and these intentional partnerships across campus can help to minimize the overlap in programming and reduce competition for student engagement. This opens access to all students – creating a wide range of networking opportunities both on- and off- campus.
Building an Inclusive and Collaborative Organizational Environment
How do you build an inclusive and collaborative organizational environment? It starts with working together to address equity, inclusion, and justice in a holistic way. This requires the use of strategic steps that focus on working outside of our silos, emphasizing collaboration, and helping identify the gaps in programming. In your organization, you might start by asking yourself the following questions:
Where are the silos?
How do you bridge the gap between those areas?
Who are your unlikely partners?
For leaders, this requires a type of leadership intelligence characterized by self-awareness, mutuality, and response agility that results in a high-impact and inclusive organizational culture for a global society. If you are interested in learning more about building an inclusive and collaborative organizational environment, check out our new inclusion in the workplace certificate program in partnership with UNA’s Center for Learning and Professional Development, which is under the leadership of Mary Marshall VanSant. There are six workshops that are a part of the certificate program and registration is now open.
Lessons Learned
We have learned several lessons over the last several years. Here are a few that we would like to share.
Stakeholders can, and should be, identified intra-institutionally.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion must be intentionally embedded within an institution’s core mission.
Bridging gaps between organizational silos can be difficult work when people feel like they have to justify their existence within an organization.
Strategic collaborations can increase effectiveness and efficiency in programming and lead to new initiatives.
Partnerships enhance institutional capacity to meet the needs of students, and/or other partners.
Giving Thanks!
Bringing students, faculty, and staff together to create an inclusive environment is our mission, and we would like to take a moment to celebrate our collaborators here at the Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion:
Campus Partners
Alpha Delta Pi
Black Student Alliance
Career Center
Case Management
Center for Women's Studies
College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering
College of Education and Human Services
Collier Library
Department of Biology
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Hygiene
Department of Communication
Department of English
Department of Foreign Languages
Department of Kinesology
Department of Physics and Earth Science
Department of Psychology and Sociology
Department of Social Work
Disability Support Services
Diversity Student Ambassadors
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
First Year Experience
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Freshman Forum
Global Lions
Office of Community Service and Outreach
Office of International Affairs
Office of Title IX
School of the Arts
SFS
SOAR
Student Alliance for Equality
Student Counseling Services
UNA Campus Police
UNA Dining
UNA Military and Veteran Alliance
University Program Council
WGSA
Community Partners
Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind
Alabama Mentor
American Association of University Women
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Break Away
City of Florence
Druid City Pride
Equality Shoals
Florence Indian Mound Museum
Magic City Acceptance Center
Music Honor Society
Rescue Me Project
Sacred Way Sanctuary
Sheffied City Schools
Shoals Chamber of Commerce
Shoals National Heritage Center
Shoals Nonprofit
Trails of Tears Association
UAH Department of Sociology
Unalome
UU
Wake Forest University
Written By:
Sponsored by:
Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion
