ECOP Strategic Agenda Advances

Incoming ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, working with current Chair Fred Schlutt and ECOP, continues to engage our ECOP members, Extension Administrators and Directors in developing the ECOP strategic agenda. This effort is building on the survey results from the July 7 webinar. That input formed the content for a Qualtrics Survey to provide regions the opportunity for more directed input. This input will be the basis for a webinar set for September 25th for regional Executive Committee members, ECOP, and the Extension Director and Administrator team. This webinar will focus on a review and discussion of the draft strategic agenda priorities, input on intended outcomes relative to each priority, and initial ideas on implementation tactics for each priority. The webinar results will set the stage for a discussion at the 2017 NEDA meeting on October 4th. Chuck will finalize the NEDA conversation into the ECOP strategic agenda that will form the basis for the work of ECOP for 2018 and beyond. The engagement of Extension leadership at our 1862 and 1890 institutions has been invaluable in the process thus far, and Chuck looks forward to robust and productive discussions on 9/25 and 10/4.

Vernon Jones. Langston
University

eXtension Foundation Results and Impact Collaborative Launch - eXtension has been in the process of a dynamic reboot on its mission and how our Cooperative Extension colleagues around the country are being engaged in exciting new ways. On October 3rd at 2017 NEDA, Vernon Jones, eXtension Foundation Board of Directors Chair, (Langston University) will report on eXtension's flagship program. Directors and Administrators in attendance will learn more about how the Impact Collaborative is meeting the demand for innovation and professional development. All Extension Directors and Administrators are encouraged to register for NEDA by September 18 before a price increase.

Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural
Development Center; Chris Boerboom,
North Dakota State University

2017 NEDA: Extension as a Rapid Responder – On October 4th at NEDA Chris Boerboom (North Dakota State University) and Rachel Welborn (Southern Rural Development Center), are featured presenters at a session called Extension as a Rapid Responder to Critical National Issues - Civil Discourse at 2017 NEDA on Wednesday, October 4th in Essex, VT. The session will showcase steps taken in piloting the Rapid Response Team protocol and explore applications to foster productivity with other multi-state virtual working groups. Additionally, NEDA attendees will engage in a first-hand exploration of issues around Civil Dialogue and Race Relations. For more information on the Rapid Response Team effort, visit https://publish.extension.org/civildialogue/.

Happy Birthday, 1890 Land-Grant Universities
In celebration, readers are encouraged to review the resolution presented to 1890 Cooperative Extension leaders in October 2015: bit.ly/ECOP1890Resolution.
A Tip of the Hat to Our 1890 LGUs Celebrating 127 Years of Cutting Edge Science, Education, Community Service
by Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA Director 
The author of the Act that created land-grant colleges, Congressman Justin Smith Morrill of Strafford, Vermont, had been disappointed that such educational institutions were out of reach for African-Americans. Almost 30 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act of 1862, the Second Morrill Act, creating our nation’s historically black land-grant colleges, was successfully shepherded through Congress by then Senator Morrill and signed into law Aug. 30, 1890. After 127 years of experience and diversity in agricultural research, education, and extension, our 1890 LGUs are poised to develop leadership and human capital for our nation’s preeminence in the 21st century. That is not a bad legacy for the seminal ideas Justin Smith Morrill articulated in the 19th century. Read the full article. 

Free Virtual Conference on “Learning Through Change”

ECOP Monday Minute will resume on September 11, 2017. Have a safe Labor Day holiday. 

eXtension Foundation Announces a Military Families Learning Network Virtual Conference for military family service providers to LEARN strategies for managing change, GROW in their understanding of capacity for change and begin to THRIVE as they connect with colleagues facing similar challenges. September 26-29, 2017. Registration is found at  https://militaryfamilies.extension.org/2017virtualconference. 

4-H and Google to Bring Computer Science Education to Young People Nationwide - 4-H and Google are coming together for a first-of-its-kind computer science (CS) collaboration thanks to the STEM outcomes and expertise that are a hallmark of the Cooperative Extension System. The partnership is funded by a $1.5 million grant from Google.org to establish a computer science program that will empower more than 100,000 kids across 22 states in its first year. The 4-H and Google partnership, featured on many news outlets, including CNN.com, was announced on August 11 at the Illinois State Fair in collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension. National 4-H Council is grateful to the Illinois 4-H team for its support of this important partnership and help with the launch announcement. The partnership will establish an official 4-H CS Career Pathway, which helps kids progress from casual interest in CS to dedicated studies and career experience. Utah State University Extension’s 4-H program is a key partner in co-creating the pathway and developing tools for educators to implement the program. Click here for more information.


West Virginia University Launches Center for the Future of Land-Grant Education - To support the creation of a 21st century land-grant mission for West Virginia University and beyond, the WVU College of Education and Human Services will open the nation’s only higher education research institute dedicated to land-grant colleges and universities, the Center for the Future of Land-Grant Education, in the Fall of 2017. The Center will focus on advancing knowledge of the policies, leadership, students, faculty, and organizational practices of land-grant institutions. Faculty affiliates within the Center are leading higher education scholars dedicated to finding innovative solutions to preserve these unique institutions for future generations. Dr. Nathan Sorber, the Center director, is a national expert on the land-grant movement and public higher education, having three recent books on the topic for Transaction, Routledge, and Cornell University Presses. Other Center scholars have national profiles in rural education, education and community engagement, student access, public policy, and higher education organizations and management. The Center scholars have been recruited from leading education programs in the country, having worked previously in national research institutes such as the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Penn State University and the Education Policy Center at Harvard University.

NIFA Supports Federal Initiative to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance - Antimicrobial drugs (antimicrobials) are important for preventing, controlling, and treating diseases that harmful microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) cause in humans, food animals, and plants. These types of drugs include antibiotics, which are types of antimicrobials that specifically kills or inhibits bacteria. Through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI and other competitive and capacity programs, NIFA funds many types of basic and applied AMR research. From 2012-2015, the AFRI Food Safety Challenge Area program priority “Effective Strategies for Mitigating AMR” awarded $11,049,195 in research, education, and/or extension projects. Currently, “Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance” is an AFRI Foundational Program that will fund AMR research in both the private and public sector. In addition to these NIFA-funded programs, the USDA contributes to a number of other AMR activities related to surveillance, research, development, extension, education, and outreach. To learn more about antimicrobial resistance, view the full infographic. 

August 31 – Executive Director Applications Coming to a Close

Last week ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt announced a closing date for applications for the Executive Director, Cooperative Extension System, to be August 31, 2017. “The Search Committee is ready to move ahead with an application review,” said Fred. ECOP Monday Minute readers are encouraged to share the deadline and the job announcement bit.ly/ED-CES.


Communications and Marketing Committee Request - Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota, as Chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee (CMC), recently shared 2 recent reports from kglobal - a second quarter report and results of a recent "Call to Action" video campaign, describing the efforts of kglobal to support the BAA’s “One Ask” initiative; the initiative to increase funding to AFRI, Smith-Lever, Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Evans-Allen and 1890’s Extension by $200M. Referring to systemic collaboration, Bev reminds Extension Directors and Administrators that future Calls to Action are meant to be shared with communicators, colleagues and stakeholders. and that more great stories are welcome. Cooperative Extension Section CMC representatives are Fred Schlutt, ECOP Chair, University of Alaska, efschluttjr@alaska.edu; Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, latimorm@fvsu.edu; Scott Reed, Oregon State University scott.reed@oregonstate.edu, and Steve Bonanno, West Virginia University scbonanno@mail.wvu.edu.

Cooperative Extension System and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Partnership - Universities Selected to Support Culture of Health Initiative: Cooperative Extension's new partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to impact 1,000 communities over the next 10 years will launch this fall with the help of a $4.6 million grant approved in July by the Foundation's board. On behalf of the partnership, National 4-H Council is pleased to announce the selection of five LGUs that will lead this initiative over the next two years in three communities of readiness within each of their states. The five LGUs (from 26 applications) include: University of Maryland (Eastern Shore), University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University, University of Tennessee and Utah State University. Supporting partner LGUs include the Universities of Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, Washington State University has been selected to lead the professional development work for the Culture of Health partnership. Supporting partner LGUs include: University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of California, Colorado State University and the Ohio State University. To ensure the System is positioned for national scale of this initiative and lasting impact, significant investments will be made in readiness for over 50 additional LGUs. Additional information will be shared in mid-September through a public announcement. Questions can be directed to JoAnne Leatherman, Program Director, Foundations and Healthy Living, National 4-H Council, jleatherman@4-H.org.

Michelle Rodgers,
University of Delaware

Extension Leader Michelle Rodgers Named National Project Director for Culture of Health Initiative - Dr. Michelle Rodgers, Associate Dean and Director, University of Delaware Extension, will assume a new half time role on September 1 as National Project Director of Cooperative Extension System's (CES) new partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Rodgers will continue to fulfill her responsibilities as Delaware's Extension Director with the assistance of a new half-time Associate Director position. The partnership to impact 1,000 communities over the next 10 years will launch this fall with the help of a two-year, $4.6 million grant approved in July by the Foundation's board, see above story for more details. Nearly 50 people applied for the project director position. National 4-H Council wishes to thank the nine colleagues representing Extension, ECOP, NIFA and Council who participated in the interviews and selection process. As Associate Dean and Director, Dr. Rodgers provides overall leadership for programs, personnel and the organizational development of the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. She is the immediate past chair of ECOP and served as co-chair of the ECOP Health Task Force. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, Rodgers spent five years as Associate Director at Michigan State University Extension. Rodgers also worked at Penn State University as an agent and regional director in Cooperative Extension.

Leadership in the City Online Professional Development Course for Urban Extension Professionals - Leadership in the City is an eight-week online professional development program for urban Extension professionals interested in entrepreneurial leadership, networks, innovation, and management. The program was developed based on a foundation of entrepreneurial theory and urban Extension practice. The curriculum builds upon existing leadership experiences, management training, and Extension professional development. Each competency-based module incorporates interactive digital delivery and the flipped classroom model for active learning and engagement. Participant from seven states have already registered. The investment in the program is $500 plus a commitment to actively participate. This course is aligned with ECOP’s 2017 Emphasis Areas and is led by Dr. Julie Fox from Ohio State University Extension. Practical application benefits individual participants, as well as their teams and organizations. The eight-week online course begins September 8, 2017 with orientation materials available on September 1. Multiple participants from the same institute are each entitled to a $100 discount (Discount code: EITC17-100). Complete details and registration can be found at https://cityextension.osu.edu/leadership.

2017 NEDA: Extension Impact and Value

Jeff Dwyer,
Michigan State University

2017 NEDA: Extension Impact and Value - Jeff Dwyer, Michigan State University, is a featured presenter at a session called Communicating the Impact and Value of Extension at 2017 NEDA on Tuesday, October 3rd in Essex, VT. Jeff will begin the dialogue with NEDA attendees with an example of an effective communication approach. Planning Committee members Gary Lemme, Auburn University, and George Czapar, University of Illinois, will also share their experiences on this topic in small group discussions and best practices from participants will be summarized. Extension Administrators and Directors are encouraged to book a hotel room by 9.8.17 and register before early registration ends on 9.18.17, by going to http://www.cvent.com/d/55qd1t today.


Positive Youth Development Call to Conversation: Input Opportunity - On August 3-4, several Extension Administrators and Directors, Program Leaders, and representative from numerous national youth organizations participated in a Call to Conversation on Positive Youth Development. NIFA is now reviewing the excellent feedback that was shared. Those who were not in attendance are invited by Lisa Lauxman, Director of 4-H National Headquarters, to respond to questions found on pages 2-3 on the "Point of Departure" document. Send your comments and feedback to 4-H National Headquarters pydvision@nifa.usda.gov by/before August 21.

Supporting the Tribal Land-Grant Institutions - NIFA commits to catalyzing transformative applied research, education, and Extension at 1994 land-grant institutions to address critical challenges in Indian communities across the United States. The 1994 land-grant institutions have the unique ability to address issues affecting lives of American Indian students and communities. These institutions deliver place-based knowledge that is rooted in the histories, environments, cultures, and economies of their respective communities. They are essential to affecting local to regional change as fully engaged partners within the land-grant university system.

Professional Development Opportunity - Join the 4-H system for the 2017 Professional Development E-Academy, The Role of Diversity and Inclusion in Positive Youth Development. The focus will be on engaging diverse youth and understanding the social issues they face. There will be ten one-hour online sessions spread out from October 2 to October 23. You can get more information and register for the free sessions at 2017 E-academy Registration. The target audience is 4-H field faculty but all positive youth development professionals are welcome to participate. The 2017 E-Academy is brought to you by 4-H National Headquarters in partnership with National 4-H Council and the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.