The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the experiences of participants in a long-standing academic and student affairs partnership at a large public research institution. Using a grounded theory approach, the experiences of 12 participants were analyzed to understand the extent to which challenges to collaboration were experienced and how the groups organized themselves to respond. The study found that experience is influenced by participant values, their interactions with members of their teams, by the structure and culture of the partnerships, and by the culture and responsibilities of the primary campus groups to which they belong. Three of these four factors were also the sources of challenge to the participants: primary group membership, partnership structure and culture, and interactions on the team. The participants most commonly engaged team-based communication and individual reframing strategies to respond to tensions. The tensions experienced by participants and the strategies used to mitigate them are a fundamental part of the collaborative experience. This study can inform higher education leaders that full engagement by the participants and clear expectations for the partnership are critical. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]