What is it?
Strategic formation of a community of practice (CoP) intentionally assembles a collective of persons with a common concern for action in some area of mutual interest or passion, such as a desire to address alcohol-related problems on campus. They combine forces in a commitment to sharing their experience and expertise in a collaborative learning endeavour that will advance their joint agenda of activity. Such complementary competency, interaction, reciprocal support and enhancement of resources serve to help them “do their thing” better in concert than if they were to work at it apart from, independently of or merely alongside each other.
A CoP ethos may also be extended in a broader group initiative, combining personnel from the campus and the larger community in order to apply their respective skills collectively to concerns around student alcohol use in that wider setting.
Level of research support: Some evidence of effectiveness
Why do it?
The various concerns surrounding unhealthy use of alcohol are multi-faceted in nature, as are appropriate responses to those issues. This reality dictates that a range of roles and skills needs to be assembled to carry out and complete the task. Employment of a CoP perspective and orientation is advantageous with its premium on such principles and processes as common interest and passion, mutual activity, shared learning and jointly-cultivated practice. This synergistic approach to problem-solving will accept some suitable organizational structure and assignment of tasks in keeping with the need for coordination of effort and the reality of specialization. Yet it will promote a more egalitarian ethos over against a hierarchical, authoritarian arrangement that would neither be as flexible in its functioning nor so conducive to an experience of collective learning and extended skill development.
Who is it for?
Who can facilitate it?
How can we implement it?
Invite participation from various stakeholders
A campus CoP to address alcohol-related issues could be formed from various starting points. Whatever the position(s) and role(s) occupied by the original person(s) for giving impetus to the initiative, the process will be one of inviting participation from people who share the concern and want to contribute to the endeavour in a collaborative manner, offering their own abilities and means while eagerly encouraging, drawing on and learning from the capacities of others.
Agree on a vision, mandate, structure and action plan
The members of the CoP must come to a consensus on the scope of their task, mandate, management and operational structure, and strategy initiatives. Collegial spirit and function rather than official institutional structure will govern involvement and accountability relations. However, the pragmatic thrust of a CoP will seek to take advantage of existing arrangements and placements to facilitate optimal use of opportune channels in order to access support and reach objectives along the way.
Since full adequacy in response will require a comprehensive approach involving some strategies of a more environmental sort, including (to some degree) policy initiatives, participation of committed personnel with administrative weight is a desired component within campus CoP composition.
Build off-campus relationships
Putting together a CoP to work on issues related to student use of alcohol off campus involves building relationships with a range of community stakeholders, presumably broader in the case of more formal and extensive initiatives (e.g., coalitions). These can or should include municipal government, local business (not least hospitality establishments students visit), area residents, citizen groups, health care providers and public safety personnel.
A key part of relationship-building involves formalizing policies and communication procedures regarding alcohol-related incidents. These include
Consultation among CoP members will shape an agenda for action and development of a strategy to improve student connections with the local populace and bring about safer points of contact involving alcohol.
Article: Campus-Community Collaborations
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