This study examined the unique partnership between Midwest Community College and Urban Public Schools’ Urban Career Technical High School. The Urban Technical High School (UTHS) is designed to provide students interested in Tech Prep education a clear pathway from high school to college. Through collaboration, services were provided to assist high school students in addressing remediation needs, accessing college credit before high school graduation, and maintaining a college admission track.
This study corroborates the findings in the literature. The stages of negotiation, as outlined by Gray (1989) were evident in the development of this partnership. The activities delineated in the problem setting stage, design stage, and implementation stages were discussed by the participants. Gray’s conceptualization of the Negotiated Order Theory deals with the process elements of inter-institutional collaboration. Factors that motivate organizations to collaborate include declining productivity (declining achievement), economic and technological change (change in industry and employment needs) blurred boundaries (increased partnership to align curriculum), and shrinking funding (reduction of federal, state, and local funding). Issues of motivation, power, and influence are stated as factors that influence the movement through stages. These issues were verified as influences on the negotiation process. In spite of these issues, the perceived benefits and challenges, as revealed by the participants, provide a useful starting point for others interested in engaging in a similar strategic partnership.