Collaborative Thinking

A blueprint for what's possible when higher education institutions embrace collaboration over competition.

In Collaborative Thinking, Sarah K. A. Pfatteicher offers an insightful guide to the transformative potential of consortial thinking in higher education. With extensive experience leading one of the largest and oldest higher education consortia, Pfatteicher presents a framework for fostering collaboration that transcends the competitive mindset dominating many campuses today.

The book examines how consortial partnerships—whether sharing academic resources, administrative functions, or cultural programs—can amplify institutional strengths, promote cost efficiencies, and tackle enormous societal challenges like climate change and social inequality. Combining real-world examples with practical guidance, Pfatteicher explores the structures, funding models, and leadership strategies that drive successful collaboration. She emphasizes the skills and motivations needed to create and sustain these partnerships, from building trust and shared purpose to committing resources and adapting to evolving needs. The book also offers cautionary tales of attempted collaborations gone awry—and how to avoid such missteps.

Collaborative Thinking provides a blueprint for creating effective consortia and also demonstrates how the principles of collaborative leadership can strengthen stand-alone campuses. In an era of rising costs, demographic shifts, and global challenges, this book makes a compelling case for the power of working together to reimagine the future of higher education.

Sarah K. A. Pfatteicher is the Executive Director of Five Colleges, Incorporated—a consortium of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst—and serves on the executive committee of the Association for Collaborative Leadership.