Staff and faculty members in USC Student Affairs and USC Student Health, under the leadership of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Chief Health Officer for USC Student Health | Keck Medicine of USC, have joined to address key public health and student experience issues using the Collective Impact framework.
Collective Impact as a specific framework offers guiding principles and a framework for coordinating multiple entities towards solving complex social issues. This framework distinguishes itself from other organizing and community development efforts in that cross-campus leaders come together to strategically follow the five conditions listed below to empower relevant groups in a community to accomplish a population-focused outcome, as opposed to siloed efforts and individually-focused outcomes. (Kania J., & Kramer, M., 2011. Collective Impact)
Currently, USC Student Health and USC Student Affairs are implementing a Collective Impact framework to increase the well-being of the entire student population (per the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan). Offices, departments, and divisions throughout campus are encouraged to join.
The Five Conditions of Collective Impact
The Collective Impact framework has five conditions that together produce true alignment and lead to powerful results: a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a backbone support organization.
Common Agenda
Collective impact requires all university partners to have a shared vision for change.
Shared Measurement Systems
Collective impact necessitates collecting data and measuring results consistently on a short list of indicators at the student level and across all partners/participating organizations.
Mutually Reinforcing Activities
Collective impact initiatives depend on a diverse group of stakeholders collaborating in ways that support coordinated actions across divisions/departments.
Continuous Communication
In order to create a system for structure and build trust, partners/participating organizations must develop continuous and shared communication with each other to recognize and appreciate the common motivation behind their different efforts.
Backbone Support Organization
The backbone organization requires a dedicated staff separate from the partners/participating organizations who can plan, manage, and support the common agenda and goals through ongoing facilitation, technology and communication support, data collection and reporting, and handling the myriad logistical and administrative details needed for the success of the USC Student Well-being Collective.
Visit the Collective Impact for Student Well-being website.
For more information, please contact Health Promotion Strategy in USC Student Health, as it serves as the backbone support organization for the collective. Email: hpstrategy@usc.edu.