Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I start a partnership?

A: Contact the APS Project Manager (Julie Braeutigam) at any time and she will help you find the right partner for you. Once a partnership is created, two members from the school and two members from the alumni group meet in a Partnership Meeting to make plans for the year and draft an informal Partnership Agreement. After that meeting, the partnership is official!

Q: How do you partner schools and alumni groups together?

A: We create partnerships based on the school's needs and the alumni group's interests and capabilities. This partnership is meant to provide the school and its students with additional help, volunteer resources, as well as a wide variety of educational opportunities. APS ensures that the school and alumni group are matching each other's expectations, and APS assists in managing the partnership when needed.

Q: How many years is a partnership?

A: Each partnership makes a year long commitment, usually starting at the beginning of each school year in September. Thereafter most partnerships, together, renew their commitment each new school year. There is no predetermined number of years that a partnership must last.

Q: What are some typical activities for partnerships?

A: You can check out The Top Ten Partnership Activities for the most common opportunities. We also encourage you to consider working with students on "non-traditional" volunteer and student activities and projects, including activities focused on volunteers' and students' specific interests. Some examples include:

1. Assisting a girls high school golf team;

2. Spending a Saturday morning helping the Chicago Humane Society;

3. Teaching a video film seminar where each student makes a short film;

4. Teaching students how to sew or cook;

5. Planning a Back-to-School event or graduation party

The opportunities really are endless so start thinking about what you'd like to do!

For Schools

Q: What is the time commitment for a partnership?

A: It all depends on how you and your alumni club partner plan out your events. Sometimes, the alumni group will plan all the events or will simply help out with the school-wide events already taking place. In these instances, the school spends little extra time preparing for each event. Other times, the school may have to be more involved. Activities like Saturday sessions require a staff member to be present.

Q: Who of my staff has to be involved?

A: We require that the initial Partnership Meeting happen with the principal and at least one other member from the school. After that meeting, the principal can choose any two people to be in charge of the partnership but there must be at least two people at all times.

For Alumni Groups

Q: What is the time commitment for a partnership?

A: Each alumni group is required to undertake three events a year with their partner school. You can choose events from the Top Ten Activities with your school or you can design other events. APS only requires that the event increase students' education, with the term "students' education" given a broad (but reasonable) meaning. If you choose a reoccurring event, such as weekly or monthly tutoring, it will take more time than any one-time event and it will count for more than one event depending on the time commitment.

Q: Is there a minimum of how many alumni we need to start a group?

A: No. Your partnership school and its students want and need your assistance, whatever your size! Some groups have 4 people while others have over 30. You are also welcome to invite friends to volunteer with your group even if they are not an alumna or alumnus of your school. The size doesn't matter just as long as the people in your group are committed and follow through.

Q: Can we only work with students during the school day?

A: No. In fact, several of our groups host tutoring sessions on Saturdays or in the evenings. Talk to your partner school about volunteer opportunities for after-hours. APS can assist in matching volunteer time and the a partner school's need for volunteers at certain times. Depending on whether the partner school is an elementary or high school, many partnerships have been successful in designing programs that fit both the volunteers and the schools preferred time frames.

As a final note, APS knows the effort involved in establishing, implementing, and maintaining successful partnerships and partnership activities. We have found that students are enthused about the interest and commitment from alumni volunteers, and that both students and alumni volunteers are enriched by their joint experiences. That's part of APS' mission - to enrich students' education with the talents and efforts of alumni volunteers.

Page updated 30 September 2008