National Impact Database Team Becoming a Subcommittee of the CMC

On July 22, 2021, ECOP voted to move the National Impact Database Team, whose duty it is to implement and maintain the website landgrantimpacts.org, to become a joint sub-committee of the Communications and Marketing Committee (CMC). The transition will occur over a 1-year period. Also, Karla Trautman, Chair of the CMC, Director of Extension at South Dakota State University, said, "One of hallmarks of CMC's strategic communications roadmap is a monthly calendar of events.” Monthly suggestions for engagement like this are sent to university communicators. To either verify or add contacts for Extension to that list, please contact Rick Rhodes at rcrhodes@uri.edu. 

On the same day, ECOP members met Andrea Putman (pictured here),  APLU's new Assistant Vice President, Communications and External Partnerships, Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources. The Cooperative Extension Section is equally invested with Experiment Station and the Academic Heads Sections of the Board on Agriculture Assembly in Andrea's work through 2022. Extension Directors and Administrators should be aware of their multi-dimensional role with the Strategic Communications Roadmap Plan that Andrea is now hired to lead and implement. Please join the Cooperative Extension National Office staff, Caroline Henney and Sandy Ruble, and ECOP to welcome Andrea!



NIFA Offers Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program Webinar - Learn about NIFA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) in an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, July 28 from 2 - 3:00 p.m. ET. The virtual session will be led by program experts and grant awardees as they share their knowledge and personal experiences with the BFRDP program. Attendees are highly encouraged to ask questions during the live question and answer segment. Register online for this webinar. This event is the second installment of NIFA’s new monthly Nutrition Security Webinar Series. The series is set to feature a broad range of topics and speakers focused on prioritizing nutrition security during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic Development and Community Engagement Leadership Opportunity - Applications for seats on the Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) Executive Committee are being accepted through Friday, August 6. CECE (No cost to join here with APLU membership) is seeking 8 new members to serve a 3-year term as the Class of 2024. As a standing commission of APLU, CECE strives to provide a national dialogue on universities and their impacts in community and economic engagement. Through conferences, initiatives, and by supporting grantsmanship of APLU’s Office of Economic Development & Community Engagement (OEDCE). Three cheers for colleagues, Marshall Stewart, University of Missouri, Shelly Nickols-Richardson, University of Illinois, and Ashley Stokes, University of Tennessee, for serving in the Class of 2021! Who will be next to join Mike Gaffney, Washington State University, Class of 2023, and Jorge Atiles, West Virginia University, Class of 2022, from the Cooperative Extension Section? Apply here.




International Rural Exchange Experience Announcement for Young Adults - Applications for the 2022 IFYE Experience will be accepting applications beginning August 1, 2021. Founded in 1948, IFYE has continued its founding promise by providing international cultural exchange programming that places young adults, age 19 and above with multiple, rural based host families for two- three- or six-month programs in countries around the world to become immersed in the country’s culture by living it on a daily basis. Interested parties should visit the IFYE website at https://ifyeusa.org/foreign-exchange-program. The IFYE motto of “Peace Through Understanding” continues to touch the lives of people around the world. To learn more visit www.ifyeusa.org.