Diane Haney
NYS College/University Director

Building and working in coalition with other organizations make programs stronger and more effective. Consider partnering with a college or university in your area. Check our C/U Members page to find institutions that are already AAUW members. If an institution you would like to work with is not a member, approach them anyway. After working together, they may wish to join.

Below are are some suggestions for working with local colleges and universities. In addition, the NYS board did some brainstorming on the College Connection at the winter board meeting - click here to view that document.

• If the institution is a member, ask the president or dean (or NYS CU Director) to identify the AAUW administrator or faculty representative and meet with that person.
• If the institution is not a member, use the new AAUW Partnership Program brochure and discuss the benefits of membership in AAUW with the appropriate campus administrator and/ or faculty representative. The brochure has a membership application for the college and the membership cost.
• Learn about and prepare to organize a "Transitions" program at the college or university. Ask the admissions office, college administrator or AAUW rep to introduce you to the Admissions Office Vice-President to review the option of organizing such an event. Work with various campus departments to integrate their expertise into the program.
• Plan a branch program or other AAUW event on campus, advertising at the college and in the community.
• Plan a Sister-to-Sister Summit and engage college students in the program as supporters of the 12-15 year old local school girls. Have the college students work on follow-up activities with the school girls.
• Work with the college on voter education projects and/ or work together to lobby for causes and changes relevant to women. include faculty as presenters in a discussion with issues common to AAUW branch members and college women. Ask a student to serve as a voter education intern for your branch.
• Invite a student or students to become affiliates in your branch. Pay the fees for the student and ask her/them to become interns forwarding branch projects such as website or newsletter design, marketing approaches, or a need specific to a branch project. Seek the advice of faculty and staff members on how to approach students, perhaps through Women's Studies Programs, business departments, or other pertinent departments or campus groups.
• Read the AAUW publication "The Third Shift" which addresses the benefits of enrolling in on-line college courses. Discuss those benefits with the appropriate campus administrators, faculty, and staff to determine whether AAUW could help promote on-line courses. If the college has not developed on-line courses be sensitive to the reasons why not as you discuss the benefits.
• Include College and University AAUW reps and other faculty and staff members in Eleanor Roosevelt Walk/Runs or other fundraisers.
• Engage female college students and coaches in a discussion about Title IX and its benefits, including leadership options and scholarship potential.
• Educate college students about the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders which runs concurrently with the AAUW National Convention.
• Invite key faculty, staff, and women student leaders to special AAUW functions every calendar year.
• Investigate regular use of college meeting/technology facilities for AAUW functions.
• Develop volunteer tutorial/mentoring programs with college.
• Work with college to develop programs for special populations such as students with disabilities, non-traditional college-going women students (Transitions), gifted-talented/low achieving high school students, international women students
• Celebrate student population milestones with special programs and honors.
• Regularly distribute AAUW public policy, research, program and fellowship information to college network.
• Invite college president/vice president/dean/ to visit and exchange program information with your branch. (Note: include student leaders)
• Obtain college calendar of major events. Send correspondence to key officials on those dates (e.g., congratulatory notes on student orientation day or graduation, acknowledge key awards or honors, etc).