New Administrators and Directors Orientation

Please complete the survey by April 15, 2025 (even if you have already completed a similar survey).

This event is intended for individuals on the Board on Agriculture Assembly and their supporting administrators or faculty, who have entered an administrative position recently and any others who would like to learn more about APLU, the Land-Grant University System and the BAA. Information presented will be particularly useful to administrative heads, deans/directors, and associate/assistant deans/directors.

Learning objectives include: Gaining an understanding of the Board on Agriculture Assembly and APLU, including how national priorities are set by organizational committees and how you can become involved; gaining valuable tips from experienced administrators about what they wish they had known when they were hired and hearing from senior university leadership about their career pathways.

A minimum of 20 participant are needed to make this a meaningful orientation. If there is not enough interest in attending a live format (July in Washington, DC; November at the APLU Annual Meeting in Philadelphia) please indicate you would be interested in a virtual format only.

Please complete the survey by April 15, 2025.

USDA Appoints New NIFA Director: Jaye Hamby

On March 20th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of Dr. Jaye L. Hamby as the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). As Director, Dr. Hamby will lead USDA’s efforts to advance agricultural innovation, community outreach, and fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Dr. Hamby, a Tennessee native, grew up on his family’s cow-calf operation and developed a deep connection to agriculture through 4-H and FFA, eventually serving as a national FFA officer. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Tennessee before completing his master’s and doctorate degrees in agricultural education at Oklahoma State University. Over the course of his career, he has directed hundreds of research efforts specializing in concept testing, product marketing, value driver analysis, and following market trends and strategies to support agricultural producers.


AgriProspects Webinar on Workforce Development Clearinghouse

The AgriProspects Workforce Development Network, a national program of the Extension Foundation open to all Land-grant Institutions regardless of Extension Foundation membership, recently announced a system wide data gathering initiative to build a Clearinghouse for Extension’s adult agricultural workforce development programs. This Clearinghouse will serve as the underlying structure for the AgriProspects Marketplace, a one-stop information portal to assist connecting learners, earners, and employers to the breadth and depth of Extension’s work within adult ag workforce development. Listing is optional and institutions can request to not be included in the Clearinghouse and Marketplace. A webinar was held on March 19th to roll-out the Marketplace concept and initiative. To learn more about AgriProspects visit the link above or reach out to Dr. Jason L. Weigle, Agriprospects Program Manager, at agriprospects@extension.org.

New Issue of the Journal of Extension

There is a new issue of the Journal of Extension. Scholars from the following states are represented: 

Alabama, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. 

Special Invitation: National 4-H Council Winter Town Hall (Virtual) – January 30th (3-4 pm ET)

Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to join National 4-H Council CEO, Jill Bramble, to learn more about how 4-H will rally supporters and tell our Beyond Ready story this spring and summer. The Virtual Town Hall will take place January 30, at 3:00 PM Eastern. Jill will be joined by three special guests:

• Dr. Lisa Diaz, National 4-H Beyond Ready Initiative Director (Illinois 4-H),
  
  
• Madison Powell, Young Alumni Advisor Committee Member (Indiana 4-H) and member of the National 4-H Beyond Ready Leadership Team, and
  
  
• Mark Berven, Chair, National 4-H Council Board of Trustees and President and COO, Nationwide Property and Casualty

You are welcome and encouraged to invite your institution’s Extension and 4-H communications professionals to attend along with you. Advanced registration is required. Register HERE.

 

Introducing NIFA’s New Acting Associate Director for Programs and Acting Chief of Staff

NIFA announces two important changes in agency leadership. Dr. Kevin Kephart will assume the role of Acting Associate Director for Programs and Brent Elrod is the agency’s new Acting Chief of Staff.

Dr. Kevin Kephart

Kevin Kephart, who currently serves as NIFA’s Deputy Director of the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment, joined the agency in 2020. Prior to his role as deputy director, he was the division director for NIFA's Agricultural Systems Division. He succeeds Dr. Dionne Toombs, who accepted a position with USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Brent Elrod

In the vital role of Acting Chief of Staff, Brent Elrod will work closely with NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra to synchronize and facilitate a wide range of activities that ensure the smooth operation of the agency. As the central point of coordination for both internal and external requests for information, Brent will play a pivotal role in aligning efforts and supporting the agency's mission.

Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) 2025 Conferences

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) provides learning opportunities for Extension professionals. Details will be posted at www.jcep.org.

• Extension Leadership Conference (ELC) will be held February 19-20, 2025 in Savannah, GA.
• Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) will be held April 7-9, 2025 in Arlington, VA, with April 9 reserved for Hill visits.

Latest from the Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension’s own scholarly Journal of Extension, has a new issue. See articles authored by Extension Professionals from:

• University of Georgia,
• University of Wisconsin,
• North Dakota State University,
• University of Minnesota,
• Kansas State University,
• University of Illinois,
• Auburn University,
• The Ohio State University,
• University of Maryland,
• University of Florida,
• University of Maine,
• West Virginia State University,
• Iowa State University,
• Michigan State University,
• University of Nevada - Reno,
• University of Vermont,
• Oklahoma State University,
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,
• University of Arizona,
• University of the Virgin Islands,
• North Carolina State University, and
• Other organizations.

LEAD 21 Call for Applications

The LEAD21 program is intended to meet the future needs for leadership development of faculty, specialists, district and regional directors, program and team leaders, research station and center directors, department heads and chairs, and others in the universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, natural resources, veterinary sciences, and human sciences and USDA/NIFA. Individuals from land-grant, NARRU institutions, and USDA are encouraged to participate. Read more here.



4-H Reputation Management 101 – October 30 (12:30-2 pm ET)

Effective reputation management is mission critical to responding to unexpected events and to preserving the integrity, reputation and trust that 4-H has worked hard to earn.

Join the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee and National 4-H Council for a training covering reputation management best practices for 4-H, including a refresher on the 4-H Crisis Communications Playbook, breakout sessions for scenario practice, and how to collaborate on reputational issues.

This training is intended for Extension Directors and Administrators, State 4-H Program Leaders, 4-H Foundation Executives and University/Extension Communication Professionals. Advanced registration is required. Register Here.



Nielsen to Deliver Morrill Lecture at National APLU Meeting

Dr. Larry Nielsen, Professor Emeritus of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University, will deliver the Justin Smith Morrill Memorial Lecture Nov. 10 at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) national meeting in Orlando.



New Journal of Extension Article Available

An excellent crop of Cooperative Extension scholarship is available at the Journal of Extension.

4-H Congress Board of Advisors News

  

Last month, the ECOP Executive Committee affirmed the recommendation by the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee to appoint Jeffrey Hyde, Associate Dean College of Agricultural Sciences and Director of Penn State Extension, (pictured above/right) as the Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP representative to the 4-H Congress Board of Advisors. ECOP Chair Damona Doye, Oklahoma State University, states, "ECOP is grateful to Jeff for accepting this role and to Gregg Hadley, Kansas State University, (pictured above left) for his dedication to same since his appointment in 2019. ECOP appreciates Gregg’s leadership and service in this role to help elevate the 4-H program and looks forward to Jeff’s contributions."

New EDA Team Member Announced - The Association of Southern Region Extension Directors have chosen Rich Bonanno (pictured left/above) as that organization’s newest Executive Director, effective September 1, 2024. Rich will succeed Ron Brown, who will continue on limited duty until Rich’s onboarding. Click Here to learn more about the national responsibilities of the Executive Directors and Administrator Team (EDA Team) in support of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and Cooperative Extension Section. 




Latest from the Journal of Extension - Cooperative Extension’s own scholarly Journal of Extension, has a new issue. Featured articles found in Volume 62, Issue 1 are:

What Do Extension and Public Health Educators Need to Address Substance Misuse?

How to Build Community Networks and Resources Necessary for a Successful 4-H Program

Exploring Land-grant Institution Partnerships to Better Serve Audiences

South Carolina Master Naturalist Program Evaluation: A Mixed Methods Approach

Check out the scholarly contributions from (State Abbreviation - Institution):

CA - University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and Cooperative Extension,

CT - University of Connecticut,

FL - Florida A&M University, and University of Florida (2 & 3),

IA - Iowa State University,

LA - Louisiana State University,

MO - University of Missouri (2, 3 & 4),

MS - Auburn University,

NC - North Carolina State University,

SC - Clemson University,

TN - University of Tennessee (2),

VT - University of Vermont,

WA - Washington State University, and

WV - West Virginia University.

USDA Announces Opportunity for Three Additional Nutrition Hubs - On July 11, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $4.5 million in funding to establish three additional USDA Nutrition Hubs in communities across the country. The new Nutrition Hubs will provide tailored and scalable approaches to equitably advance food and nutrition security and help prevent diet-related chronic diseases, especially in historically underserved communities. The additional Hubs will create a network that builds on the work of the pilot Nutrition Hub established last year in partnership with Southern University and A&M College under USDA’s Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) initiative. Applications for this new competitive award program are being accepted through October 3, 2024. The complete Request for Applications, including eligibility information, is available online.

National Office Staffing Update - Sandy Ruble is retiring in early August after serving the Cooperative Extension System and the ECOP for the past 10 years. Sandy started at APLU in 2014 by providing administrative support to the National Office Executive Director. She quickly progressed to Program Assistant and then to Assistant Director by taking more initiative for key roles and strategic communications. Sandy enjoyed devoting herself to the technical integrity of Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP’s member-driven communications and activities. Her efforts helped new and emerging leaders with seamless transitions into national roles in a complex system. As Sandy winds down her 42-year career, she will spend more time volunteering, visiting with family and friends, and traveling. 

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus until January 22, 2024, to honor the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good Virtual Event - A special presentation on Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good: An Action Framework for Public Research Universities has been organized by ECOP for Friday, January 19, 2024, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Elyse Aurbach, Director of Public Engaged and Research Impacts, University of Michigan, the leader of the APLU project, will present. The framework includes helpful ways to manage organizational change.

Public research universities have over 150 years of history of spearheading scholarship that advances the public interest. Founded to serve the public through their education, research, and engagement work, they provide life-changing education to students, advance society-shaping innovations, and engage communities to tackle our most stubborn challenges. The abstract and full report are available here.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://aplu-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMscOmprDMqHt38xL5efL7Irw507p37HFBm and receive a confirmation email containing connection details.

NIFA Grants Development & Management Networking Sessions - NIFA will pilot four networking sessions to help enhance grants development and grants management. The first session on January 30, 2024, will be on allowable and unallowable costs. NIFA experts on grants management, our OGFM staff will be answering questions as a Panel. We are requesting you to share the link with your grantees. The sessions are designed to answer questions asked by attendees. Pre-submitted questions will be answered first, which can be submitted during registration. Please encourage your applicants and grantees to attend as these sessions will not be recorded.




Build and Strengthen Leadership at the JCEP Extension Leadership Conference - The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) invites and encourages Extension Deans/Directors/Administrators to support Extension personnel to attend the 2024 Extension Leadership Conference (ELC). This event gives attendees opportunities to connect with others across Extension Associations and the U.S. Karl Bradley, Extension Foundation, will be the keynote and capstone speaker to excite and equip attendees to strengthen and grow their leadership.

Participation in ELC greatly depends on Extension Director support. Dr. Barbara Petty (pictured left), Associate Dean and Director of the University of Idaho Extension and ECOP Liaison to JCEP, shares the value of ELC. “The Extension Leadership Conference is an outstanding opportunity for field staff to learn how to be more effective in their roles as Extension Professionals. In addition to the dynamic speakers, a great benefit is the networking that occurs across the disciplines with colleagues from all over the nation. Idaho personnel have identified this conference as one of the most impactful in their professional development. I highly recommend this conference for your field staff and encourage you to support their attendance.”

ELC is February 14-15, 2024, at the Saddlebrook Resort Tampa. Registration and details are here: https://www.jcep.org/elc.



New Issue of the Journal of Extension Published - The newest issue of the flagship journal for Extension professionals, Volume 61, Number 3 of the Journal of Extension, is now available.

2022 Census of Agriculture Data Coming Soon - The 2022 Census of Agriculture data will be released February 13, 2024. NASS recently shared information about data release, preliminary return rate, and upcoming special studies. NASS Public Affairs Office states that with the census data that was collected in 2022, over 400 reports about agricultural commodities were produced. NASS reminders and updates for Extension Directors and Administrators appear regularly in ECOP Monday Minute to help track the schedule of data collection and promote the value of the census.  

SARE Coordinator Sought - In 2024, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program will initiate a $10 million national food loss and food waste grants program to support projects that align with USDA activities aimed at reducing food loss and reducing food waste, getting surplus wholesome food to individuals, and developing linkages between food producers, providers, and food recovery organizations.

To accomplish the goals of the grant program, SARE is seeking a Program Manager/Coordinator to assist in the organization, coordination, and implementation of selected grant projects. The Program Manager/Coordinator is a national seat, open to qualified applicants in the contiguous U.S.; Alaska; Hawaii; the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, and Northern Mariana Islands; and sovereign nations Republic of Palau and Marshall Islands. Institutions, such as colleges and universities; and organizations such as non-governmental organizations meeting qualifications are invited to apply.



2023 Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment Report Available - The purpose of the Extension Foundation Professional Development Needs Assessment study was to identify professional development needs for Extension professionals at 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities in the US and US territories. The Extension Foundation issued a request for applications for a Fellowship to complete this needs assessment. Dr. Karen Vines, Assistant Professor, Continuing Professional Education Specialist, Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education at Virginia Tech was selected as the Fellow and researcher for this project. Read the summary and access the full report at this link.

National 4-H Council CEO Shares Vision

Today marks Jill Bramble’s first day as President and CEO of National 4-H Council. As she steps into this new role, Jill shares the video message found below on her priorities: growing resources to support Cooperative Extension, embracing the digital transformation, and preparing youth for the workforce of the future. Jill is a fourth-generation 4-H alumna who rose through the ranks of National 4-H Council, starting as a grant writer 18 years ago. Throughout her time at National 4-H Council, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication to empowering young people, fostering innovation, and strengthening partnerships.

JOE Job Board Service Input Request - The Journal of Extension (JOE), the official refereed journal of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System, is seeking input from its partners on its Job Board service at jobs.joe.org. This fee-based service is available to those wishing to promote Extension job openings on the JOE website. Revenue received from this service helps support the production of the Journal of Extension. The feedback will be used to improve the Job Board. Even if institutions have not used the service in the past, the Board of Directors of JOE would like to receive responses to a survey. Please forward this survey bit.ly/45myD8h to Extension administration, human resources department personnel, or others who are responsible for advertising positions for completion by September 15, 2023. Thank you.

Conservation Districts Association Offer $38M for Climate-Smart Commodities Project Implementation – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) will be investing $80 million in projects that scale the production, Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV), and marketing of climate-smart commodities. Approximately half of the budget is dedicated to producer payments and financial incentives. However, approximately $38 million will be available for project implementation, which may be used for activities such as:

    • Outreach and education
    • Technical assistance, including climate-smart conservation planning
    • Activities relating to measurement, quantification, monitoring, and verification of associated carbon and greenhouse gas sequestration
    • Facilitating access to markets and promotion of climate-smart commodities, including enrollment in programs or opportunities
    • Project management

NACD recently issued a Call for Concept Papers, seeking innovative ideas that scale implementation of climate-smart practices, advance MMRV, and support producer participation in markets. Concept Papers are due October 13, and are the first phase of a three-phase process, which will include submission of full proposals in response to a Fall 2023 RFP. The most complete details are available in the program’s frequently asked questions document. Consider registering for the applicant webinar, regarding this opportunity set for August 31. 

Funding for 2 Military Youth Programs - NIFA recently announced two competitive youth development funding opportunities under its 4-H Military Grant Programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which are listed below. Both funding opportunities close on September 5, 2023. Access to recordings of RFA technical assistance webinars are available at the links provided.

• 4-H Military Extension Educator (MEE) Program
  The MEE program coordinates with 4-H Cooperative Extension faculty and staff throughout the Land-grant University system and supports DoD and Military Service Child and Youth Programs staff in delivering and promoting positive youth development programs and activities. DoD Child and Youth Programs supports 396,000 children at over 760 child and youth facilities worldwide. For more information, read the 4-H Military Extension Educator (MEE) Program funding opportunity. 

• Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, Youth Support Internship Program (YSIP)
  YSIP is a nation-wide internship program that provides practical work experience for college students and recent college graduates motivated to serve the needs of National Guard and Reserve Component military families. More than 192 students from across the nation have participated representing over 100 colleges and universities. YSIP interns facilitate youth development programs specifically designed to address the challenges associated with military deployments and family absences. This program supports DoD’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. For more information, read the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Youth Support Internship Program (YSIP) funding opportunity. 

Building Extension Understanding and Leadership in an Environment of Systemic Racism

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on July 6^th and will return on July 13^th. Have a safe and pleasant Fourth of July.

Last Friday, Administrator and Director colleagues and their Associates from approximately 45 Extension Institutions, the Board on Humans Sciences, and Tribal Colleges, from Florida to Guam and many locations in between participated in the dialogue, Building Extension Understanding and Leadership in an Environment of Systemic Racism. Participants listened to one another in small groups answering 2 probing questions: How does racism impact you and the ones you love day to day?  If you woke up tomorrow and your hopes for racial equity had been realized within your system, what is the first thing you might notice yourself doing, thinking, seeing or feeling? They learned how Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU) is unfolding and what is needed to support for this effort further. ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) presented potential actions for fellow leaders and ECOP to consider. Stay tuned for more details. 



ECOP/eXtension to Host Extension Futures National Action Dialogues, July 13^th or 14^th, 1 PM - 3 PM ET - The purpose of the Action Dialogue is to imagine near-future possibilities for how Extension can better serve individuals and communities in the face of evolving needs and capabilities. The outcome of this dialogue will support transitional aspects of more digital engagement and community platforms, and inform the need for funding of infrastructure/equipment needed for the envisioned futures. Focus topics include National Community Learning Networks, Digital Cooperatives, Professional/Continuing Ed/Workforce Development, Infrastructure (access/capability to use it), and Living Ecosystem of Professionals. All Cooperative Extension professionals, including Directors/Administrators, Agents, & Educators are invited. Registration available here, Please choose only one day to participate.



A Time Like No Other: 4-H Youth Development and COVID-19 - In this Journal of Extension thought leader commentary is a review of the potential devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, including trauma, impacts on mental health, socioemotional distress, and changes in academic learning. Stating that 4-H is uniquely positioned to mitigate these effects through intentional positive youth development efforts, there is a call to action for 4-H Educators and Extension Administrators as the nation moves from initial reaction to recovery and beyond. This commentary recommends four research-based strategies to ensure that youths not only survive but thrive in this time like no other. Go to: https://joe.org/joe/2020june/comm1.php 



A Request from USDA APHIS to Extension Colleagues - Earlier this month, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) declared eradication of Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 from U.S. greenhouses. APHIS is asking Extension Administrators and Directors and the agents in their coverage areas to help share information about this pathogen with nursery and greenhouse operators, landscape managers, homeowners and gardeners. A fact sheet that describes R. solanacearum symptoms, transmission, and management is on the APHIS web site. For more information about R. solanacearum, please contact Lynn Evans-Goldner, National Policy Manager by phone at (301) 851-2286 or by email at Lynn.Evans-Goldner@usda.gov.



Urban Agriculture Stakeholder Input Gathered for USDA NIFA - In response to a recent call from NIFA for stakeholder input to help inform and set priorities for $40 million of grant funding for research, education and extension around urban, indoor and emerging agriculture, the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research, the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) and a number of local Farm Bureau chapters located in urban counties from across the country, partnered to host four online, interactive listening sessions and an online survey. The listening sessions had 153 participants and the survey had 68 respondents from 38 U.S. states, territories and districts. The summary report provided to NIFA on June 22 is available here.

Tradition With a Twist: 2018 NEDA

Ecotrust is the venue for ECOP passing of the gavel on Oct. 2 in Portland, Oregon.

Beginning this year ECOP will conduct the traditional "passing of the gavel" at NEDA instead of at the APLU Annual Meeting. On Oct. 2 NEDA registrants will be transported from the Embassy Suites Downtown Portland to Ecotrust. Upon arrival everyone will enjoy a reception of "tastings" specially prepared by the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center (FIC) Agricultural Experiment Station, a resource for client based product and process development, packaging engineering and shelf life studies, food safety, and consumer sensory testing. During the catered dinner program, Chair Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska will share successes and appreciation, pass the gavel to Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, and be honored for his leadership. Guests traveling to Portland with NEDA attendees may register for this special event by September 24 at http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more info.

JOE Special Issue Guest Editors starting top left: Ken La Valley, University of New Hampshire; Eli Sagor, University of Minnesota; Debby Sheely, University of Rhode Island; Jerry Thomas, Ohio State University; Nathan Meyer, University of Minnesota, and Terry Meisenbach, eXtension Foundation, Inc.

Journal of Extension Special Issue on Innovation - From the editors: "Cooperative Extension’s innovative and connected educators have been developing and promoting contemporary, practical education to meet the country’s needs for more than 100 years. As we look ahead to Extension’s next century, we must consider the myriad factors that will influence our continued work with communities to address the nation’s most complex challenges. This is especially true as we consider Extension’s changing audience, people of all walks of life in urban and rural communities. This Special Issue on Innovation reaches across the Extension system to mine our colleagues’ innovative practices. We invite you to use this compilation of 22 articles from across the Extension system as a resource to innovate your own programming, a charge to think differently, and a source of new colleagues with whom to collaborate."

Share Impact Collaborative Summit Registration by 9/20/18 - eXtension is bringing partners to the Summit for Extension project and program teams. The deadline to register is September 20, 2018. To fuel project advancement, eXtension is engaging and involving important Cooperative Extension external partners at the Impact Collaborative Summit. The Summit is October 16-18, 2018 in Indianapolis, IN. Partners will be on-site to offer coaching, advice, and advise participants on alignment with potential collaboration for funding. Partners that attendees can expect to work alongside include Family Foundations, Community Foundations, United Way, Philanthropy Serving Organizations, USDA, Rural LISC, Agricultural Leadership Programs, Crowdfunding Platforms, and more! One of the benefits of the Summit is to help expand the capacity of project and program teams with new partners. Click here to learn more and register.

Collaboration with NRCS - On Friday, September 14, 2018 members of the Cooperative Extension Section and Jeff Jacobsen representing Experiment Stations conversed with Jimmy Bramblett, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Deputy Chief for Programs, Sharif Branham, Director of Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division, and Amanda Schaller, Conservation Technical Assistance. To review the conversation, please use the following links:
    Recording: https://youtu.be/PiaACT3Mibo
    PowerPoint: Collaboration with NRCS
    Questions/Comments: ecopblog@gmail.com

4-H Grows Engagement Campaign: A Year in Review and A Look Ahead

June 20 Webinar: Join National 4-H Council on June 20 at 4:00 PM EDT for an interactive webinar that will review year one of the 4-H Grows Engagement Campaign and provide a preview of the year ahead. To date, 31 land-grant institutions have co-invested in this initiative. Institutions currently invested in the program are invited to register, in addition to any LGU's that are not currently enrolled but are interested in learning more about the multi-faceted brand building and alumni engagement campaign. Click here to register.

Civic Dialogue Webinar on 6/30 - Fostering Meaningful Civic Engagement is an important topic in today’s society. The investment of time and skill development is considerable to make meaningful progress. Is this a worthwhile effort for Extension, and what resources are available to those that engage in this area? This effort continues the work of the ECOP Rapid Response Team that you have experienced over the past several weeks. This upcoming webinar differs from previous webinars in that the focus will be on tools and skills needed by Extension professionals who are or are considering programming on this topic. Learn more about the risks and benefits of investing in this topic and about a newly published toolbox of resources. Visit the toolbox | Upcoming webinar 

JOE Special Issue on Innovation - The Journal of Extension Board, in partnership with eXtension, is pleased to announce a Call for Paper Abstracts for the Journal of Extension Special Issue on Innovation. A 200-word abstract is due June 30, 2017. To see the key areas being emphasized for this issue visit the Call for Submissions. This represents a great opportunity to shape the ECOP initiative on Technology and Innovation!

Chuck Hibberd,
University of Nebraska

2018 ECOP Agenda - Incoming Chair Chuck Hibberd hibberd@unl.edu, working with the ECOP Executive Committee, is placing an emphasis on engaging Extension Directors and Administrators more directly in the development of ECOP’s short and longer-term action agenda. In addition, this effort is important for maximizing the effectiveness of ECOP (and Chair) actions, strengthening purposeful engagement with current and emerging partners, and charting new procedures and internal ECOP policies that reflect the core values of a membership-based organization. Chuck will be asking for your participation over the next few months in order to develop the pathway to achieve his/our engagement goal! The goal is to use the data collected to inform a comprehensive conversation during the NEDA meetings in October. Chuck asks that Directors and Administrators respond to the initial survey by Friday, June 23 and watch for future opportunities to engage and inform!

Health Implementation Team Meets in Atlanta

l-r Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension; Virginia Brown, University of Maryland; Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University; Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University; Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University; Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System; David Buys, Mississippi State University. Atlanta, GA

Health Implementation Team Meets in Atlanta – With leadership by co-chairs Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension, the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team continued its launch with its first face-to-face meeting in Altanta, GA, last week prior to the National Health Outreach Conference. All five action teams were fully represented with leadership by David Buys, Mississippi State University (Chronic Disease); Virginia Brown, University of Maryland (Health Insurance Literacy); Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University (Health Literacy); Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University (Health Policy Issues Education), and Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University (Positive Youth Development for Health). Over a three-year period the effort will implement Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness. The overall expected outcome is to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The co-chairs express thanks to Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station Directors and Administrators for nominating and supporting efforts of action team members. As indicated in the national framework (pg. 2), “This same system of Extension can do for the nation’s health what it did for American agriculture.” 

BAA-BoHS Focuses on Human Health and Agriculture Nexus – Prior to the National Health Outreach Conference in Atlanta last week, Rich Linton, North Carolina State University, and Chris Ladisch, Purdue University, co-chairs of the BAA-BoHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People Steering Committee facilitated a face-to-face meeting. Among action items were redirection of the committee’s charge, additional focus on understanding research priorities, and planning for updates on committee actions for land-grant university system and strategic partners. The committee was launched following a work session at Joint COPs in 2014 and has as its ultimate goal to improve human health and reduce chronic disease. 

USDA-NIFA Announces Liaisons to Regions – Director Sonny Ramaswamy announces the primary agency liaisons to the Cooperative Extension regions as follows: Northeast region – Muquarrab Qureshi; Western region – Louie Tupas; Southern region – Bob Holland; North Central region – Parog Chitnis; and 1890 Institutions regions – Bob Holland. Liaisons enhance communication between USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension directors and administrators for the benefit of improving programs, streamlining administrative functions, and articulating outcomes and public value of our work together. Bob Holland, Associate Director for Operations, also serves as the liaison to ECOP. Paula Geiger, Budget Officer, is liaison to the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee.

RFP for JOE Editorial Services – Extension Journal, Inc. is reopening its invitation for proposals to provide editorial services for the corporation’s flagship product, the Journal of Extension. Editorial services required range from initial review of all submissions, to writing advice for authors, to working with reviewers, to copy editing of all issues. Please consider our invitation. The deadline for proposals is May 31, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP go to: http://www.joe.org/rfp.php.

Extension Award Nominations Due 6.1.15 – ECOP and USDA-NIFA announces the 2015 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for nominations is June 1st at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Nominations, submitted online, must be completed by this date and time. Regions are subject to announcing earlier deadlines for their purposes. CLICK HERE for contact information by Region. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to http://www.aplu.org/CESAwards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble, ECOP Staff Associate sandy.ruble@extension.org.

12.15.14 - NEW eXtension UPDATE

ECOP Holiday Greetings

Wishing You A Holiday Season Filled With Warmth And
Wonderment And A Most Joyous New Year 

Extension Committee On Organization And Policy

Delbert Foster, Chair 

Executive Director and Administrator Team 

Ron Brown, Nancy Bull, Lyla Houglum, L. Washington Lyons,
Sandy Ruble, Jane Schuchardt, and Robin Shepard 

 

ECOP Monday Minute Returns on 1.5.15 

 

NEW eXtension UPDATE – The nomination process is underway through regional Cooperative Extension associations for the NEW eXtension Board of Directors. Those institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section with either a premium or basic membership will receive a ballot in early January to vote for the board members. Elbert Dickey, interim eXtension director, reports the response to the NEW eXtension membership poll now is at 96 percent (72 of the 75 institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section of the Board on Agriculture Assembly). Of those responding, 80 percent (58 institutions) have indicated intent to be members of the NEW eXtension. Details about membership levels are provided in the final report about the NEW eXtension. Questions can be directed to Dr. Dickey at edickey1@unl.edu whose interim appointment has been extended through April 2015 to provide consistent leadership through the transition. 

JOE Editor Proposals Due 1.15.15 – Extension Journal, Inc. invites proposals to provide editorial services for the corporation’s flagship product, the Journal of Extension. Editorial services required range from initial review of all submissions, to writing advice for authors, to working with reviewers, to copy editing of all issues. Michelle Rodgers, ECOP chair-elect and ECOP liaison to the Extension Journal Board of Directors, University of Delaware, asks your assistance in identifying qualified applicants. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP, Click Here. Questions can be directed to Terry Meisenbach tmeisenbach@extension.org. 

JCEP Leadership Conference Registration Open – Plan now to attend the JCEP Leadership Conference February 11 & 12, 2015 at the Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada with the theme Leading Through Trust. Keynote speaker and author of The Trust Edge, David Horsager, will discuss how trust has the ability to accelerate or destroy any organization or relationship. ECOP Chair Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, will provide an ECOP update and recognize the 125th anniversary of the passage of the second Morrill Act which created the universities commonly referred to as the 1890 institutions. Registration and more details are available at www.jcep.org. 

SNAP-ED Program Development Team Represented at National Conference – Jenna Anding, Texas A&M University, and Debra Garrard, Oklahoma State University, both members of the SNAP-ED Program Development Team, represented Land-grant Universities and Cooperative Extension at a recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Directors' meeting in New Orleans. During the conference, Anding and Garrard, who are members of the SNAP-Ed Program Development team, interacted with directors of SNAP-ED efforts from across the U.S. and briefed them on the contributions of Cooperative Extension to SNAP-Ed programs. ECOP authorizes an assessment of state Cooperative Extension Services receiving SNAP-ED funding to support the work of a Program Development Team managed out of South Dakota State University. Nominations are being sought by 12.19.14 for team members willing to help shape the future of SNAP-ED within the Land-grant University and in conjunction with other SNAP-ED efforts. For details on how to submit an application or provide a nomination, contact Sandra Jensen Sandra.jensen@sdstate.edu, 605.688.4944. 

Journal Continues Centennial Celebration – The December 2014 issue of the Journal of Extension, to be posted 12.18.14 at www.joe.org, includes the article Milestones and the Future for Cooperative Extension. ECOP immediate past chair, Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, is lead author. This completes the year-long series of articles published by JOE honoring Cooperative Extension’s centennial. 

GCHERA Announces World Conference – The Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences www.gchera.com offers its 8th world conference June 25-26, 2015 in Kaslik, Lebanon. The theme is Global Challenges: Nutritional Security and Environmental Sustainability for Human Health. Details, including a call for abstracts due 1.12.15, are available at http://webapp.usek.edu.lb/forms/WS/gchera/index.html. Questions can be directed to desireeelazzi@usek.edu.lb or alainabirizk@usek.edu.lb.

11.10.14 - ECOP Engaged in APLU Annual Meeting

ECOP Engaged in APLU Annual Meeting – At the APLU Annual Meeting last week in Orlando, FL, ECOP members fully engaged and represented the Cooperative Extension section, including Rick Klemme, Budget and Advocacy Committee, University of Wisconsin; James Trapp, Committee on Legislation and Policy, Oklahoma State University; Tim Cross, Policy Board of Directors, University of Tennessee, and Jimmy Henning, Board on Agriculture Assembly strategy sessions, immediate past ECOP chair, University of Kentucky. 

Communications and Marketing Project Expands – Last week the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly Administrative Heads Section (AHS) voted to be an equal funding partner in the current AES-CES Communications and Marketing Project effective in 2015. Current co-chairs of Communications and Marketing Committee are Nancy Cox representing ESCOP, University of Kentucky, and Scott Reed, representing ECOP, Oregon State University. The project seeks to educate the public and decision-makers about the value of land-grant university research, Extension, and with the AHS support, academic programs. 

Extension Project Gets Highest USDA Honor – USDA-NIFA’s Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP) received the Secretary’s Honor Award in the category of Increasing Global Food Security last week at a ceremony in Washington, DC. The award presented to Jim Hill, Associate Dean for International Programs, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Michael McGirr, national program leader, USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Center for International Programs recognizes exceptional leadership contributions or public service in support of USDA’s missions and goals.

eXtension Hosts Critical Conversation on 2nd Machine Age Conference – eXtension hosted a “Critical Conversation” panel on the thoughts of workforce changes as the result of technological changes. This critical conversation entitled “Takeaways from the 2nd Machine Age Conference” centered on ideas that were discussed at the MIT 2nd Machine Age conference and in the book 2nd Machine Age by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. The panel, moderated by Bob Bertsch-Web Technology Specialist, North Dakota State University, included Anne Adrian, Jerry Buchko and Jerry Thomas. The recording is at https://plus.google.com/events/c61cv6stfqn1dcd66p98lc6ujn4. 

University of Florida Honors Mellinger – Former, two-term CARET liaison to ECOP, Madeline Mellinger, has received the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Friend of IFAS Award for her long-term commitment to the university’s land-grant mission as a Florida CARET delegate. 

Journal Continues Centennial Celebration – The October 2014 issue of the Journal of Extension includes an article on Extension community development in the continuing series honoring the centennial. See http://www.joe.org/joe/2014october/comm1.php. 

Strengthening Rural Economies – See a new state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report illustrating the impact of USDA investments in rural communities. Each state factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development. They also outline how USDA is helping rural communities attract businesses and families by investing in housing and broadband.

11.3.14 - USDA, ECOP, ESCOP Signs Climate Hubs Document

USDA, ECOP, ESCOP Signs Climate Hubs Document – Pledging to work together on adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change and variability, USDA Regional Climate Hubs http://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/, Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding today during the Board on Agriculture Assembly meeting at the APLU Annual Meeting in Orlando. The document outlines coordination and does not obligate resources. Those signing are Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics; Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; Jimmy Henning, ECOP Chair, and Steve Slack, ESCOP immediate past chair. 

L-R Jimmy Henning, Cathie Woteki, Steve Slack

ACTION: JOE Editor Proposals Due 1.15.15 – Extension Journal, Inc. invites proposals to provide editorial services for the corporation’s flagship product, the Journal of Extension. Editorial services required range from initial review of all submissions, to writing advice for authors, to working with reviewers, to copy editing of all issues. Michelle Rodgers, ECOP chair-elect and ECOP liaison to the Extension Journal Board of Directors, University of Delaware, asks your assistance in identifying qualified applicants. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP, click here. Questions can be directed to Terry Meisenbach tmeisenbach@extension.org. 

ACTION: NEW eXtension Vote Due 11.17.14 – This week the voting members of the 75 institutional members of the Cooperative Extension Section will receive a ballot to determine the future of the NEW eXtension. Your careful consideration and vote by 11.17.14 is requested. ECOP through the eXtension Governing Committee, Dennis Calvin, chair, Pennsylvania State University, engaged an eXtension Strategic Planning Committee in 2014. Chaired by Keith Smith, Ohio State University, and assisted by the Cascade Center for Community Governance, the committee was composed of representatives from all five Extension regions and was charged to present a plan for increasing eXtension’s value to Land-grant institutions and partners. The final report was accepted at the October 15, 2014 ECOP meeting in Lexington, KY. ECOP unanimously voted to engage the Cooperative Extension Section to 1) discontinue the current eXtension assessment for 2015; and 2) move to a new membership, fee-driven model effective January 1, 2015. A “yes” vote on #2 does not obligate the voting institution to membership. In addition to the report, view the webinar recording http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p8ubbwg6dhy/ of 10.29.14. The webinar outlines a new vision for eXtension, making Cooperative Extension state and local electronic innovation the primary priority. Plus, the new funding model proposes a change from assessments to a fee-based approach. The webinar defines what you will get, what it will cost and the process for electing new directors. 

ACTION: Health Nominations Due 11.28.14 – Complementary to the BAA-BoHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People initiative, ECOP, in collaboration with ESCOP, is developing an implementation process on specific action areas related to human health and wellness. While the BAA-BoHS effort focuses on the integration of nutrition, health, environment, and agriculture systems, the ECOP/ESCOP action teams will focus on the other five priority areas identified in the ECOP Health Task Force Report www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134. These are health literacy, health insurance literacy, chronic disease prevention and management, positive youth development, and health policy issues education. Extension and experiment station directors and administrators have been asked to submit nominations for researchers, faculty and field educators for each of the five priority action teams. The deadline for submissions is 11.28.14. Work begins in early January. 

Funding Opportunity on Energy Efficiency – The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has $9 million available to improve energy efficiency of commercial buildings. More information, application requirements, and instructions for this funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001168) can be found on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website. To be eligible for consideration, a concept paper must be submitted no later than November 17, 2014. Questions about this FOA may be sent to CBIFOA2015@ee.doe.gov.