Advancing Digital Access-Registration Now Open

Digital access is vital to community wellbeing. Yet many communities struggle with the divide. In partnership with Extension Foundation, Southern Rural Development Center, USDA NIFA, the National Digital Extension Education Team (NDEET)/ECOP Broadband Program Action Team is offering a three-day in-person train-the-trainer workshop October 16-18, 2023, for teams of Extension professionals interested in helping close the digital divide in their state. Extension can play two key roles including: (1) community organizing and planning, and (2) educating on digital skills needed to access available broadband. This workshop will equip participants with both training and tools to guide efforts to close these critical gaps. Tools include a step-by-step planning process and the new national Digital Volunteer Initiative. Learn more: https://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/advancing-digital-access-2023.html




ACTION BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS AUGUST 4: Answers to Institutional Trends and Salary Questions - In June, Members of the Cooperative Extension Section were invited to contribute to an ECOP salary questionnaire to assess overall funding trends for Extension at the institutional level and to collect salary data from local agents/educators. In true system fashion, the 1994 Extension Directors are being consulted to collect similar data in the near future. The data will be aggregated for "external” messaging. Current, reliable, defensible numbers to answer straightforward will help to answer questions posed several times each year by federal agencies and other interested parties. Some of the Extension Directors and Administrators who have already completed the questionnaire are reporting that the exercise was valuable to them. Contributing institutions will have access to the resulting report. The last of the submissions by 1890 and 1862 institutions is expected to wrap-up by the end of this week.

New Extension Community of Practice on Mental Health - A new subgroup of Connect Extension focused on Mental Health and Well-Being is now open to receive members! To join, visit https://connect.extension.org/...ealth-and-well-being and click “Join.” If you are not already a member of Connect Extension, you’ll be prompted to create a free account. If you are already a member and logged in, you can simply add this subgroup to the list of subgroups to which you belong.

The purpose of this subgroup is to highlight non-clinical, prevention-based work being done in the allied areas of mental health and well-being, facilitate the sharing of resources, inform members of upcoming events, and explore ways that Extension professionals can collaborate more effectively. For the purposes of this group mental mental health and well-being includes such topics as loneliness, chronic anxiety, depression, mindfulness, suicide, dementia, substance use disorders, recovery, and youth mental health. For more information, contact Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director at rogerrennekamp@extension.org.

Cooperative Extension System Leadership Meets in Kansas City

Last week in Kansas City, ECOP received a visit from Dr. Manjit Misra, the director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA’s extramural funding agency in the Research, Education and Economics Mission Area. ECOP learned about Cooperative Extension influences in Dr. Misra's life and career. The latest draft of Strategic Directions 2023-2026 was approved. An operating budget for 2024 included $10,000 toward the formation of a Food System Viability and Market Access Program Action Team (PAT), working especially food loss and food waste. Dr. Ashley Stokes, University of Tennessee, will provide leadership for this new PAT.

NEDA Meeting Registration Status and Reminder - To date, there is a solid 40% rate of response by members of the Section to register at the Early-Bird rate for the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting, October 10-12 in Tucson, Arizona. The link to register is https://neda.extension.org. Details are still evolving as to guest speakers and leadership learning sessions. Stay tuned for more information

2023 FALCON Conference - The First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its 19th Annual Conference, scheduled for October 13-15, 2023, at the Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado. The FALCON 2023 Agenda includes sessions in 1994 land-grant teaching, extension programs and research that benefit Native American students, communities, governments, and lands. There will be a strong student focus and tribal college students are especially invited to participate and present their work. The conference will also include a NIFA update, training workshops, information-sharing, and networking opportunities. To learn more and register, click: FALCON 2023 Registration. 

Course Available: Advancing Food Security for Military Families - Food security is a top priority for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Cooperative Extension is integral in helping military families become more food secure. Discover Extension professionals can work together to expand food security for military families in local communities with this timely course. Advancing Food Security for Military Families is a free, self-paced course developed by national food security expert Dr. Angela Odoms-Young. Share this professional development opportunity to expand capacity to support food security among the military families. Enrollment link: https://oneop.thinkific.com/courses/advancing-food-security-for-military-families

Message From New Executive Director

Greetings Extension Leaders -  

I am delighted to begin my service as your National Executive Director of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). I’m also humbled by the faith you have placed in me to undertake this responsibility. 

I plan to do a lot of listening in the coming weeks and months. Luckily, CES’ leaders are some of the world’s best teachers. I’m looking forward to building on the knowledge that I’ve gained over the years as your federal NIFA partner.   

I look forward to a long tenure of effective service to the CES and ECOP. Please feel free to reach out to me by email (whoffman@aplu.org) or cell phone: (202) 897-9994. 

Dobbins to Represent Extension on NIPMCC - On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) appointed Tom Dobbins, Director of the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and Associate Dean of Outreach and Engagement, to represent the Cooperative Extension System on the National Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee (NIPMCC).

Registration for the 2023 EDEN Annual Conference - Once a year, EDEN delegates assemble at the EDEN Annual Conference to share best practices, developing research, showcase projects that have been completed throughout the year, and enhance skill sets through professional development opportunities. The conference will offer guest speakers, breakout sessions, educational excursions, networking opportunities and a professional development training. This year, the host is the University of Georgia in Savannah, from September 26-29. To view the agenda, find hotel information, register for the conference, or learn more, visit EDEN’s Annual Conference webpage at extensiondisaster.net/news-events/annual-meeting.

Urban Research and Extension Opportunity - The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research, which is in the process of a rebranding itself to the National Urban Research and Extension Center (NUREC), is accepting applications for their Fellows program (Deep Dive, Urban Sabbatical, and Graduate Fellows). The organization has been dedicated to developing resources to guide metropolitan Extension organizations since 2006. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2023. For more information, see: metroextension.wsu.edu/fellows. Funding for fellowships is dependent on membership explained at metroextension.wsu.edu/wcmer-member-benefits. A fellow from a non-member institution could receive non-monetary benefits (support, connections, etc.).