With budget limitations, additional expectations and accountability requirements, changing enrollment trends, teacher shortages, need for new kinds of services, and other difficulties faced by rural communities, partnership arrangements with the private sector and higher education promise new avenues for rural education to meet future obligations. While activities vary depending on school and partner needs, interests, and resources, partnerships develop relationships fostering trust, enhancing communication, exchanging information, reducing stress, instilling a sense of participation, and presenting positive images to both school and community. Fundamental elements in partnership development are friendbuilding (through a cultivation cycle emphasizing identification, information, interest, involvement, and investment) awareness, mutual benefits, leadership, group dynamics, common goals, institutional mission, human parameters, initial financial support, communication, shared perceptions, documentation, guidance from outside agencies and organizations, and institutionalization of ongoing programs. Successful partnership activities include classes for students at business sites, summer youth job programs, career education, school staff internships with partners, executives-on-loan, and adopt-a-school programs. Ten partnership programs between Georgia Southern College and the region's schools include community education centers, vocational education workshops, cultural arts programs, and mini-model United Nations. (NEC)