The Partnership Council

Serving your community for the common good

The mission of the Partnership Council is to promote highly effective campus/community collaborations in civic engagement between Gustavus Adolphus College and St. Peter. Functioning as a conduit for relationships, the council embodies and models values of shared voice, reciprocity, open communication, and active engagement. The council supports local collaborations through the provision of feedback and suggestions on service and service learning proposals in order to most effectively complement diverse interests in civic engagement with local community assets, needs, and priorities. The Partnership Council aspires to become a premier model for supporting highly effective campus/community collaborations in a rural context.

• Partnership Council slideshow
• Partnership Council quick reference

Serving the Community

The Council supports individuals and groups with what can be one of the most challenging steps in designing a meaningful civic engagement activity - finding a well-matched community collaborator, placement, or partner.

About the Partnership Council

The Partnership Council is an integrated body of diverse Gustavus and St. Peter community members who are recruited on the basis of the "uniqueness" that each member's own community connections bring to the council as a whole. Members serve not solely as representatives of particular groups, but rather as "connectors" who draw from their unique personal and professional networks in the community to explore, consult, and support proposals for civic engagement. Concerned with maximizing and enhancing the quality and potential behind local collaborations, council members deliberate in a spirit of reciprocal consultation to help creative and motivated people find each other in the community!

Overall Functions

The Partnership Council...

• Provides comprehensive feedback and suggestions for placements and partnerships on proposals for service and service learning civic engagement between Gustavus and St. Peter;
• Makes initial inquiries with potential community partners, Gustavus faculty and students to ensure viability of its own feedback and suggestions;
• Continues to support proposals and placements as necessary;
• Provides assistance with project negotiation and problem-solving as necessary;
• Identifies assets of the community as well as areas for growth;
• Promotes additional outreach and education to Gustavus and St. Peter communities for purposes of supporting effective campus/community relationships and collaborations.

The Partnership Council does not...

• Authorize or approve/negate proposals, projects, or programs;
• Directly manage projects or programs;
• Advise one-time volunteer opportunities;

Frequently asked questions about the Partnership Council

Submitting a Proposal

Service Learning and Service proposals can be submitted online.

Contact Information

Jeffrey Rathlef - Director of Community Service and Service-Learning: jrathlef@gac.edu