5 Strategies for Strengthening Academic Administrator–Faculty Partnerships

When I took on the role of director of the research office for medical students, I was faced with a challenge: How could we better support faculty mentors while improving the research opportunities available to our trainees? The answer, I discovered, lay in fostering strong partnerships between academic administrators and faculty. These collaborations are the foundation of holistic educational programs that integrate research skills, professional development and experiential learning opportunities for student and trainee success.

One such collaboration I’ve been involved with was the development of an e-learning module for faculty. At the outset, it was clear this tool needed to do more than just streamline the submission process for research projects available to medical students—it also had to provide resources to strengthen mentorship practices. I worked closely with faculty throughout the design process, ensuring their needs were prioritized, their expertise was leveraged and the module fit into their schedules. This experience reaffirmed a key lesson for me: Partnerships are built on mutual commitment, clear communication and a shared purpose.

Another collaboration involved designing a structured curriculum to prepare postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students for independent academic careers. Once again, faculty played a crucial role in shaping the curriculum, ensuring it was practical and directly relevant to the challenges of navigating academic careers. Their input and dedication helped create a program that fostered a sense of shared ownership and strengthened faculty engagement.

These experiences have shaped my perspective on the importance of administrator-faculty partnerships. They have taught me that collaboration is a priority for developing educational programs that empower trainees and meet institutional goals. Building on these lessons, I want to share five actionable strategies that academic administrators can use to strengthen faculty engagement and foster effective partnerships to support student and trainee success.

1. Show the Value

Highlight opportunities for professional growth and alignment with institutional priorities to encourage faculty participation. For example, mentors can be recognized for their participation by sharing their name and commitment to research mentoring with their department chairs and institutional leaders, creating a sense of appreciation and reward. Faculty are more likely to participate when they see how their involvement aligns with their goals and institutional priorities.

Actionable Tip: Share program reports and faculty testimonials on your website or in newsletters to illustrate the value of participation. Seeing peer success stories builds credibility and encourages program engagement.

2. Personalize Outreach

Effective communication begins with understanding your audience. Tailor emails to highlight how a faculty member’s unique skills align with specific initiatives. Avoid long and generic calls to action. Use clear, concise messaging with bullet points to drive attention to key takeaways.

Actionable Tip: Segment your audience using tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact to craft tailored messages based on similar experiences (e.g., those who have previously participated in your programs versus those who have not, or those who have mentored medical students, Ph.D. students or postdoctoral fellows) and track engagement metrics. You can measure communication effectiveness by evaluating email open rates, monitoring social media and tracking responses to actions, such as event registration or survey completions before and after sending a message.

3. Make Participation Easy

Faculty are more likely to engage when participation is straightforward and flexible. Streamline processes, offer virtual options and outline time commitments up front for tasks like completing a module or attending an event. Multiple communication channels (e.g., direct emails, newsletter posts and fliers), visually appealing materials and clear instructions can further reduce barriers.

Actionable Tip: Use platforms like Canva or Articulate 360 to create engaging training materials that are visually appealing and concise.

4. Recognize and Celebrate Contributions

Public recognition of faculty contributions ensures continued commitment. This not only emphasizes the value of their work but also increases program awareness and encourages others to participate.

Actionable Tip: Feature a “Mentor Spotlight” in your newsletter or create posts for social media celebrating faculty contributions.

5. Build a Faculty Community

Build community through a shared sense of purpose, ensuring members feel connected and heard. Hosting informal gatherings, such as mentor appreciation luncheons, and inviting faculty to share their insights fosters a sense of belonging and encourages open communication. Additionally, incorporating open-ended questions in survey forms to gather feedback on a program’s strengths and areas for improvement is a valuable practice.

Actionable Tip: Use tools like SurveyMonkey or Jotform to collect feedback and suggestions from faculty. This ensures their voices are heard and helps shape initiatives that resonate with their needs.

Collaboration as the Key to Success

Key principles for successful administrator-faculty partnerships include adopting a collaborative approach to program development, involving both groups early in the process, and tailoring initiatives to reflect a shared commitment. Faculty bring subject-matter expertise and a deep understanding of trainee needs, while administrators provide resources, strategic frameworks and insights into skill gaps and skill acquisition. By working together, we can design and scale initiatives that address the evolving needs of trainees while aligning with institutional priorities. Such partnerships not only help students and trainees gain clarity about career goals, build confidence and excel in their chosen careers or specialties, they also provide opportunities for faculty and administrators to grow as mentors and leaders.