What Are Community Partnerships at NDNU?
When organizations and their communities work together, they share their expertise, build bonds of trust, and strengthen communities by making them more resilient and equitable. In fact, the World Economic Forum has recognized cross-sector collaboration as a vital element in addressing some of the most significant challenges our communities face.
One of the best ways to foster cross-sector collaboration is to develop community partnerships in which organizations of all kinds partner with others in their communities to work toward achieving specific goals. Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) has embraced the concept of community partnership and is committed to sharing its expertise through partnerships that both strengthen its community and enable students in NDNU academic programs to enhance their educational journey.
What Is a Community Partnership?
Those who are unfamiliar with the concept may be wondering, what are community partnerships? Simply put, a community partnership is a collaboration or association between an organization, such as a school, corporation, or government agency, and a community-related group or organization. Both entities involved in such strong partnerships work together to achieve certain goals. Through this type of collaboration, all parties involved can benefit from the partnership.
The goals of community partnerships can focus on a variety of areas. For example, an organization can form a partnership to develop or strengthen a particular aspect of a community, such as its health or safety; to conduct research to gain knowledge; or to apply the organization’s expertise in a real-world environment. A partnership can also concentrate on addressing a social, environmental, or economic issue or focus on preventing conflict in a community.
Higher Education Institutions’ Participation in Community Partnerships
Higher education institutions are particularly good candidates for participation in community partnerships. With resources in areas such as academic expertise, research, and teaching — not to mention student populations eager to learn and apply their knowledge — higher education institutions are well positioned to work in collaboration with their communities in a mutually beneficial manner.
A 2023 study in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science uncovered a wide array of community partnerships in which higher education institutions around the world have participated. For example, higher education institutions have formed community partnerships to address issues such as:
- Community and public health
- Social inequality
- Community housing
- Climate change
- Environmental justice
- Poverty
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
How Do NDNU Community Partnerships Work?
NDNU community partnerships are natural extensions of the university’s mission, vision, core values, and hallmarks, which are as follows:
- The NDNU mission is to serve its students and its community by providing excellent professional and liberal arts programs in which community engagement and the values of social justice and global peace are integral to the professional learning experience.
- The NDNU vision is to be recognized in the San Francisco Bay Area as a leader in integrating community engagement into high-quality academic programs.
- The NDNU core values embrace community, diversity, excellence, goodness, integrity, justice, learning, and service.
- The NDNU hallmarks encompass a commitment to community service, the creation of community among those with whom it works and with those it serves, and the development of holistic learning communities that educate for life.
With those guiding principles in mind, NDNU strives to engage in community partnerships that deepen the university’s connections with local organizations, leaders in education, and area employers. NDNU also designs its academic program to incorporate experiential learning and student service opportunities in the local community.
NDNU community partnerships and community engagement activities work in a variety of ways. For example, NDNU:
- Offers community engagement courses. NDNU community engagement courses enable faculty, students, and community members to collaborate in mutually beneficial ways. These courses encompass community-based learning, community-based research, and internships, as well as requirements that students complete a minimum number of community service or research hours.
- Participates in community engagement activities. NDNU academic departments have engaged with the community through activities such as promoting employment opportunities in the community, participating in and supporting community events, and enabling community organizations to participate in educational events.
- Has formed a variety of specific community partnerships. NDNU has developed partnerships with community organizations through which it has accomplished goals such as offering mental health services and researching the availability of social services in the community.
Examples of NDNU Community Partnerships
The specific examples of NDNU community partnerships and activities summarized below illustrate how NDNU has collaborated in ways that are mutually beneficial to NDNU and its community.
NDNU School of Psychology Practicum Program
The NDNU School of Psychology has formed community partnerships with more than 90 community organizations through which it provides approximately 20,000 hours of mental health services each year. With an emphasis on serving underserved and marginalized populations, community partnerships have provided much-needed mental health services to clients in 15 counties across a 777-mile expanse of California.
At the same time, these partnerships have enabled NDNU students to gain valuable clinical experience, pursue professional growth, narrow their career interests, and become aware of potential career opportunities.
NDNU Participation in the Rize Partnership
Through its participation in the Rize partnership, NDNU has been able to expand the academic programs it offers to students in the community and enable students to study more topics that align with their educational and career interests.
For example, the Rize partnership has enabled students to pursue a wider array of concentrations in the NDNU Master of Business Administration degree program. The Rize partnership also has given students the opportunity to take specialized online courses taught by faculty from other higher education institutions.
NDNU Get Psyched Professional Development Series
Through its Get Psyched program, NDNU offers a series of professional development events for mental health professionals, graduate students, and faculty, as well as for community partners that are involved in training, supervision, and practicum placements for NDNU students.
These events bring in experts in the field of psychology to share important information on topics such as trauma-informed care, maternal mental health, and suicide risk.
NDNU Partnership With Maricopa Community Colleges
In 2025, NDNU formed a partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges — one of the largest community college systems in the nation — to expand its college credit transfer opportunities for students and enable them to complete their bachelor’s degree programs.
This partnership will make it easier for students, particularly those in underserved communities, to continue their education after community college and earn bachelor’s degrees.
Community Partnerships Help NDNU Achieve Its Mission
NDNU is committed to serving both its students and its community, and community partnerships are an important avenue for NDNU to act on that commitment. With its 170-year history of service, NDNU stands ready to educate its students and enhance and strengthen its community.
Those who have an interest in enrolling in an NDNU academic program can trust that community engagement is integral to NDNU students’ learning experience. Embark on a rewarding and meaningful educational journey at NDNU today. Fill out the form below to be connected with our Admissions team.
Recommended Readings
Is a Bachelor’s Degree Worth It?
Master of Arts vs. Master of Science: What’s the Difference?
What Is a Degree Completion Program?
Sources:
Frontiers in Environmental Science, “Mapping Universities-Communities Partnerships in the Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals”
World Economic Forum, “Why Cross-Sector Collaboration Is Key to Building More Resilient Communities”