"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." Marcel Proust
Virtual College Partnerships
Virtual College Partnerships assists interested universities in partnering with individual high schools, urban debate leagues, and school systems to provide additional support to emerging debate communities. Colleges can participate with ALOUD partners in national research consortiums, audiovisual projects, coaching hotlines, and recruiting efforts while partner staff and local education officials gain access to new in-kind resources.
College Partners Program FAQ
What resources could colleges with debate programs provide to local high schools and Urban Debate Leagues?
Access to University Departments with Expertise (Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Education, Urban Affairs, Teaching & Learning, Business Admin., Comp. Science/Web Design)
Access to Specialty Programs (Grantwriting, Service Learning, Diversity Offices, Media Services)
Access to Interns
Connections to Fraternities and Sororities
College student Mentors
Research on urban debate
Campus facilities (libraries, meeting spaces, classrooms)
In-kind donations (equipment, furniture, computers, etc.)
Production of Evidence
Awards & Recognition
Monetary Support
National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) assistance
College Bridge Program
College Navigation Programming (financial aid literacy, campus visits to demystify process)
Coordinating geographic debate outreach to non-UDL members
Communicating about debate allies within
What resources could Urban Debate Leagues provide to colleges with debate programs?
Marketing materials on the benefits of debate
Students to attend their institutions for summer institutes & college enrollment
Database systems for tracking student development
Best Practice Guides for Outreach to their area high schools
Communication systems to initiate public school system partnerships for high schools
Models for initiating UDLs
Models for initiating junior high school outreach and league development
Debate Across the Curriculum Ideas
Information on effective business models and strategies (fundraising, advisory boards, business management, public relations,
Regional and national grant opportunities for K-12/college partnerships
Ready pool of students for research projects in debate, urban education, urban affairs
How would colleges potentially benefit from associations with local high schools, school systems and/or Urban Debate Leagues?
Prestige associated with national partnerships
Achieving strategic plan goals associated with K-12 outreach
Significant opportunities for positive press
Course Development Earned Income Streams (Distance Learning Courses, certification programs in debate, textbooks, Online Debate Courses)
Exciting extracurricular
Professional Development Earned Income Streams (summer institutes, coaching manuals, re-certification programs for teachers in current specialties)
Potential contributions to departmental or university fund development goals
Reconnecting debate programs to departmental academic missions
Increased Admission Interest (website hits, institute scholarships)
Community Relations
How would the recipients benefit from the associations with colleges?
Prestige associated with national partnerships
Additional office assistance for understaffed sites
Leverage with local university partners
Assistance in gaining facility access and instructions
New sources for volunteers and funding
Tutoring, proofreading documents & proposals
Role models for students
Scholarships
Potential for positive press
Advantages that stem from the attachment of a university name
How can our school join the College Partners Program?
- Online Partnership hosted at www.debateleaders.org with link exchanges with UDL sites
- Select a program option (Virtual Partnership, Initial Partnership, Full Service Partnership)
- Submit your college to the Expertise Locator
- In that e-mail, describe your Ideal “Match” high school or middle school match
- Information is tabulated & an appropriate match is identified including contact information, needs and schedules
- Confirming extent of service availability
- Agree on Memo of Understanding that outlines provision of services
Packages Description
Virtual Partnership Package
Document Review and Expertise (grants, public relations & marketing materials, business plans, etc.)
Web Design
National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) assistance
Curriculum Sharing
Debate hotlines (evidence, arguments, mentoring, non-debate issues)
Research Projects
Coach-to-Coach Mentoring Program for HS teachers
Student involvement (evidence production)
Videoconferencing
Identification of Debate Allies
Initial Partnership Package
Student involvement (internships, college mentors, evidence production)
Organizational connections (fraternities, sororities)
Coach/director involvement (research projects, lesson planning)
In-kind support (equip. furniture, computers, libraries, meeting spaces, classrooms)
National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) assistance
Coordinating geographic debate outreach to non-UDL members
Assistance in gaining facility access and instructions
Tutoring, proofreading documents & proposals
Role models for students
Full Service Partnership Package
Student involvement (internships, college mentors)
Organizational connections (fraternities, sororities)
Research projects
In-kind support (equipment, furniture, computers, libraries, meeting spaces, classrooms)
Monthly instruction in locating and producing evidence for students/teachers
National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) assistance
Coordinating geographic debate outreach to non-UDL members
Assistance in gaining facility access and instructions
Tutoring, proofreading documents & proposals
Scholarship assistance
Micro-Partnerships —Colleges interested in handling individual referrals from schools, students or coaches that are located in areas with urban debate sites.
This is our message to urban students:
Your Voice. Your Future. Debate.
