Self-guided instructions for individuals or teams to develop a network map of institutional partners. Performed at the institutional context level, this activity can also be expanded to the multi-institutional level.

This activity can be performed individually or with a team.

You are encouraged to watch the related network mapping videos:

Instructions

  1. Draw a center square with text to identify your local AGEP alliance.
  2. Add circles with labels around your AGEP square to represent existing and potential stakeholders; ideal partners may include those who:
    • have similarly aligned goals and values
    • have a history supporting Black, Hispanic and Indigenous (BHI) scholars in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
    • are truly invested
    • can provide resources
    • are champions of the cause
    • are well positioned to help make progress
    • are individuals/departments/units/organizations important to your local context
  3. Draw solid lines between stakeholders that you have an existing relationship with.
  4. Draw dotted lines between stakeholders that you wish to connect with.
  5. Add notes to each line to indicate key aspects of this existing relationship.
  6. Add notes to dotted lines to indicate why this is a valuable relationship to develop.
  7. Review your map, consider:
    • Who is missing? Add additional partners as needed.
    • Are your constituents on your map, why or why not?
    • Which relationships are most robust and how can you leverage, and foster, these relationships
    • Which new partnerships will be most important and how will you develop them?
    • What shared goals and challenges will help you gain buy-in with these partners?
    • How can you leverage institutional and partner strengths to make change?
  8. Document interesting findings. Share findings with team members.
  9. Review, reflect and adjust documents periodically.

This activity is adapted from: Stakeholder Analysis – Mapping Program Networks (Food Security and Nutrition Network).

Attribution Statement

For those that might adapt and adopt this program model, please provide attribution to The University of Texas at Arlington and University at Buffalo, State University of New York Network Mapping work established in part with support from the National Science Foundation funded CIRTL AGEP Project.