Registration Ends 2/3/2021 for DEI Learning for Leaders Event

Since 1984 the third Monday in January is set apart from every other Monday as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to celebrate the birth and life of a leader who served as chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement. Please join the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Office to remember Dr. King’s legacy and honor his dream. Normal office hours resume on January 19, 2021. 

Attention - To all Land-grant 1890 Extension Administrators and 1862 and 1994 Extension Directors who have not yet registered for the Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, on Friday, February 5, 2021, 3-4:30 p.m. ET, registration IS required. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org to register and receive connection details before close of business February 3, 2021. This is required. Why attend?

“Please plan to join me at the Learning for Leaders Session on February 5^th.  Advancing our understanding, sharing successes, and challenging ourselves on how we embrace diversity, inclusivity and equity within our own organizations is critical to the success of the Cooperative Extension System.  This session is designed to support the work of Extension Directors around these critically important issues.” – Dr. Karl Martin, University of Wisconsin

“Given our strong Extension network and our passion for meaningful change, it’s time to combine our expertise and experiences to become part of the solution. I encourage you influential leaders to join us for a rich dialogue as we seek to advance the cause for diversity, equity and inclusion.” – Dr. Carolyn Williams, Prairie View A&M University (Texas)

“Dr. Archibeque-Engle gave me several things to think about, in addition to great examples from her own life story. I look forward to working in this upcoming session with her and especially with my fellow colleagues, to implement new ways to deliver vibrant, inclusive learning programs locally. I might only need to go as far as my own diverse network of colleagues, Directors and Administrators, to grasp and establish real change.” – Dr. Wendy Powers, University of California

National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) Annual Report Released - NCFAR’s vital mission is to sustain and increase federal funding in food and agricultural research, Extension and education (RE&E). NCFAR leads through unique roles—the only coalition in which ‘Customers’— stakeholders who need and benefit from RE&E outcomes—are the leading voices in making an effective case for federal funding; provides a common forum and a unified voice, for diverse stakeholders; the only coalition whose focused mission is advocacy for federal funding for BOTH inter- and intra-mural food and agriculture RE&E. Read the report here. ECOP is a long-standing member of NCFAR and regularly contribute to the Lunch-n-Learn Series. Jason Henderson, Purdue University, is ECOP's appointed member of NCFAR Board of Directors. 




USDA Releases U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy Summary Report and Interactive Dashboard - The U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy and Dashboard was developed to provide a vision of Discovery Goals and to ensure a transparent and inclusive approach to addressing both challenges and opportunities in U.S. Agriculture consistent with the goal of the Ag Innovation Agenda to increase production/productivity by 40% and reduce the environmental footprint in half by 2050. The RFI process -- designed to hear the voice of the customer – provided a rich and compelling vision for how innovation and advanced technology can truly transform agriculture for the future. A complement to the strategy is the USDA Science Blueprint, which outlines the 5 key themes we believe USDA must expand as capabilities to bring many of the Discovery Goals to life. The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) has formed cross-agency theme teams to formulate the narrative, priorities, and strategies to build these capabilities. OCS will also be the home of the U.S. Ag Innovation Strategy for next versions and implementation oversight.



2019 SNAP-Ed Report Now Available - The 2019 SNAP-Ed through the Land-Grant University System Report and Infographic are now available here. The report features the outcomes and impacts of LGU SNAP-Ed programs representing 42 institutions and 37 states.



APLU Releases 2020 Annual Report - APLU has released its 2020 report, outlining the association’s work to support public universities in the midst of the pandemic, including through major advocacy efforts in Washington throughout the year. The report also details APLU's work to help an array of projects and initiatives centered on the three pillars of its agenda: expanding access and improving equity and student success to deliver the innovative workforce of tomorrow; advancing and promoting research and discovery to improve society, foster economic growth, and address global challenges; and building healthy, prosperous, equitable, and vibrant communities locally and globally.