Save the Date: 2026 National Extension Directors & Administrators Annual Meeting

The 2026 NEDA meeting is scheduled for September 15-17 in Seattle, WA. Monday, September 14 will be a travel day for those attending the ECOP meeting on Tuesday, September 15. New administrator orientation will take place the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15, followed by a reception and dinner featuring a 4-H speaker.

Hadley to Chair ECOP Professional Development Committee

Gregg Hadley, Associate Professor and Kansas State University’s Assistant Vice President Director for Extension, has assumed the chairmanship of the ECOP Professional Development Committee. Gregg succeeds former chair Karl Martin, dean and director of the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Karl will join the ECOP Program Committee.

Webinar: A Comprehensive Overview of "A Study of Land-grant University Federal Capacity Funding"

Thursday, April 9 | 4:00-5:15 pm ET

This webinar is designed for individuals who have not yet had the opportunity to hear Wendy Fink’s presentation on the Tripp Umbach, Phase 1 report on federal capacity funding and would like to learn more about the Board on Agriculture Assembly's Federal Capacity Funding Initiative. The analysis and key findings are based upon survey results from 94 capacity-eligible institutions. The webinar will cover:

1. What are USDA Capacity Funding Grant Programs?
2. What does Capacity Funding Enable?
3. BAA’s Capacity Initiative’s Three Phases
4. Phase One: Key Takeaways
5. What Can You Do to Help with This Effort?

Welcome:

Christopher Daubert, Chair, BAA’s Administrative Heads Section
Vice Chancellor and Dean College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources University of Missouri

James Pritchett, Chair, BAA’s Communications and Marketing Committee Vice President for Engagement and Extension Colorado State University

Presenters:
Wendy Fink, Executive Director - Academic Programs Section, BAA and Associate Vice President, Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources APLU

Marcus Glassman, Executive Director, Council on Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) Director, Governmental Affairs APLU 

Register here!

Contribute to the National AI Asset Map for Cooperative Extension

In partnership with the National Digital Extension Education Technology (NDEET) initiative and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Broadband Program Action Team, the Extension Foundation is asking for your help in cataloging efforts related to the use and adoption of artificial intelligence across the Cooperative Extension system.

NDEET is leading the development of a National AI Asset Map, a comprehensive inventory of AI-related work happening across Extension.

The survey collects information across a broad range of AI-related activities, including:

• Trainings, workshops, webinars, and presentations
• Publications, papers, and news articles
• Research projects and data sets (e.g., crop data, applied analytics)
• AI specialists and personnel
• Partnerships and collaborative initiatives
• Tools and technologies (e.g., websites, chatbots, applications)
• Governance, ethics, and policy efforts
• Events, videos, and outreach materials

Submissions may serve both internal and external audiences and may span all program areas. 

Learn more and complete the survey.

New Leaders in Programs and Professional Development

During the Spring Meeting in Oklahoma City last month, two new Cooperative Extension System Leaders were announced. Lisa Townson, University of Rhode Island, is Chair of the ECOP Program Committee, and Karl Martin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, is Chair of the ECOP Program Committee. Click on the images below to learn more about each Chair. Thank you Lisa and Karl!

Lisa Townson, Chair
ECOP Program Committee Chair

The ECOP Program Committee actively identifies, recommends action on emerging future Extension programs, program related issues, and delivery systems important to the Extension System and scans the System to identify critical issues and determine if an issue requires a rapid system-wide response. Guided by ECOP, the committee oversees the work of the Program Action Teams (PATs). The committee also currently provides leadership for the National Extension Diversity Award recognizing, honoring, and promoting inclusive programming for and with diverse audiences.

Karl Martin, Chair
ECOP Professional Development
Committee

The ECOP Professional Development Committee actively identifies, recommends, and directs professional and organizational development activities for Extension Directors and Administrators and all Extension professionals. This includes leading some First Friday Events and the orientation and onboarding session for new Extension Directors and Administrators at the annual NEDA Meeting. The committee also provides leadership for the national Excellence in Extension awards.

Learn more about the organizational structure of ECOP using it's organization chart.

Update on Efforts to Build Capacity - ECOP will spend a block of time on building capacity funding during the July face-to-face meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. This is the next step in a process lead by ECOP Past-chair, Bev Durgan, Dean of Cooperative Extension, University of Minnesota. A few weeks ago, a dialogue session on the initiative was conducted with Extension Directors and Administrators attending the PILD meeting. Notes from that meeting are available upon request.

A long-term joint “Capacity Funding Task Force” of Administrative Heads, agInnovation and Cooperative Extension is also in progress. The tri-chairs of the group advancing this effort are Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota; George Smith, AgBioResearch Director, Michigan State University; Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Other members are:

• Steve Lommel, Associate Dean and Director, NC Agricultural Research Service
• M. Ray McKinnie, Virginia State University
• Jason Henderson, Vice President for Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University
• Dennis Becker, Dean of the College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho
• Malcolm Warbrick, Director of Federal Relations, Penn State University
• Tom Thompson, Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech, Director of CALS Global
• Stacey Stearns, Communications Specialist, University of Connecticut
• Rich Bonanno, Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement, North Carolina State University
• Stephan Goetz, Professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics, Penn State University and Director of The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
• Jeanette Thurston, North Central Executive agInnovation Executive Director
• Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
• Staff lead: Doug Steele, APLU VP Office of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources

APLU has distributed a Request for Proposals to consulting firms that will help the group gather data, author a report, and develop common and consistent language surrounding this issue. Several firms have expressed interest and some have formulated preliminary proposals. Full proposals were to be examined by the tri-chairs last week after an APLU triage. 



Collaborations Between 1890 and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions - A new publication from the Southern Region Rural Development Center titled, “Collaborations that Work Analysis of Successful Extension Efforts between 1890 and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions” is now available.

USDA-NIFA Grants Modernization Stakeholder Survey - NIFA has launched a short Stakeholder Survey to assist with the Grants Modernization Initiative (GMI). Participation is a crucial component in ensuring that GMI is successful and can help improve user experience over time. The agency requests that all relevant voices be heard. This survey is designed to take approximately 10 minutes to complete.




Demystifying the Panel Review Process for Grant Funding - NIFA offers several technical assistance events to help prospective applicants understand NIFA funding opportunities. Supporting material from these events — which also provide guidance on grant development and grant management — is available here. The next session, that may be of interest is Demystifying the Panel Review Process for Grant Funding on May 2, 2024, 12:00 PM ET. Click here to register to attend and submit questions ahead of time. While this session is conducted by NIFA, the concepts taught in the session will be transferrable to other granting agencies.

Civil Rights Reviews – What to Know Ahead of Time

Civil Rights Reviews – What to Know Ahead of Time held on November 3, 2023, is a resource for what Extension Directors and Administrators should consider as they prepare for a civil right review for USDA-NIFA. It was one in a series of ECOP's First Friday sessions coordinated by the ECOP Professional Development Committee. This session is a general overview of what to expect and the importance of communicating externally with NIFA and internally with a review team. In addition to the link to the YouTube recording, slides from last Friday's session are available to view/download here. Dates for two more First Friday sessions on Civil Rights Reviews will be announced to Members of the Section and 1994 Extension Directors during the first part of 2024. Working titles:   

   (1) Language Access and Translational Services/Needs 

   (2) What an institution learns from the process? 

Watch for an invitation to ECOP Chair Damona Doye's First Friday Conversation on December 1, 2023, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Skip January 2024!

Pesticide Safety Education Funds Program Application, Due January 1, 2024 - The EPA has awarded a cooperative agreement to the Extension Foundation (EXF) to administer a national subaward program supporting Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs). The new project will receive up to $15 million over five years. It will build upon a previous PSEP subaward program, also managed by EXF, which concluded in July 2023. The application for the Empowered Up: A Comprehensive PSEFMP Promoting Efficiency & Environmental Justice (PSEFMP) is now available. In order to be eligible for this funding applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state or territory is eligible for funding. Learn more here.

Technical Assistance Webinar: Specialty Crop Research Initiative 2024 Request for Pre-Applications - A NIFA webinar on November 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m. ET will provide technical information about the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Request for Pre-Applications for 2024. The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and Extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems.




2024 National 4-H Conference Information Session - The 2024 National 4-H Conference will be held April 19-24 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Known as “the Secretary’s Conference,” this Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Registration for a NIFA informational session on November 15, 2023, 4:00 p.m. ET is an opportunity to learn about the National 4-H Conference history, objectives, schedule, chaperone roles, policies and registration process. Click here to read about the conference.

New CMC Representative

The Communications and Marketing Committee (CMC), a standing committee of the Board on Agriculture Assembly's Policy Board of Directors, oversees and guides the effort to increase awareness of the land-grant universities’ agricultural and related programs, Agricultural Experiment Stations, and Cooperative Extension Services. Shelly Nickols-Richardson (pictured left), Associate Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences & Director, Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was chosen by ECOP as the CMC Incoming Chair. Shelly will liaise between ECOP and CMC several times each year for her 3-year term. The appointment targets one of ECOP's four Strategic Directions, to "increase the visibility and recognition of the Cooperative Extension System as a provider of evidence-based education and services and as a valuable partner to federal and national non-federal entities through improved communications of program impacts and successes." Shelly has also served on the Executive Committee of the APLU's Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE; Class of 2021). Please join ECOP to thank Shelly for representing the entire Cooperative Extension Section with the CMC.

Identifying Professional Development Needs for Extension - Cooperative Extension professionals from 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities are invited to participate in a survey to identify professional development needs. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Findings from this survey will be used to determine future direction for the Extension Foundation and be shared across Cooperative Extension organizations. Please widely share this link to the survey https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AVkR8ZyDIj and encourage Extension personnel to participate by May 22, 2023. Karen Vines, Virginia Tech, is serving as the Foundation’s National Needs Assessment Fellow for this work.

NIFA National Science Liaisons Announced

NIFA’s program portfolio and contact with stakeholders, partners, and collaborators will continue, uninterrupted, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. This important function will be led by six science professionals, National Science Liaisons (NSLs), who will support the agency’s national research, education, and extension portfolio; advance NIFA programs; and serve as expert resources. Go here for biographies and contact links.

Opportunity to Inform the Future System-wide Training Available to Extension Professionals - Through funding from a USDA-NIFA Cooperative Agreement, eXtension will provide professional development across Cooperative Extension System for all land-grant universities, and continue to strengthen technology delivery. eXtension is in the process of picking four topics to build professional development training and eFieldbooks, geared towards USDA strategic goals. eXtension seeks early-stage, effective program feedback on the topics of Climate Smart Agriculture, Prevention and Mitigation of Ag Pests/Disease/IPM, Prevention of Food Borne Illness and Protection of Public Safety, and Safe and Nutritious Food for Low-Income Individuals. Start survey here. Please respond by October 25, 2019. A summary of the results will be shared in a future Monday Minute.

Extension Participation Encouraged - The APLUs' Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) has announced that the 2020 Summer Meeting will take place in New York City on June 9-11. Hosted by Cornell University & the State University of New York (SUNY) System, the meeting will convene administrators in economic development and community engagement under the theme "Green Economies and Community Engagement". CECE seeks session proposals submitted by November 1 HERE covering a wide range of economic and community development topics relating to theme. Contact APLU’s Shalin Jyotishi, sjyotishi@aplu.org, for more information.


Last Chance for 4-H’ers to Apply for Youth in Action Awards - 4-H’ers ages 15-19 are invited to apply for the 4-H Youth in Action Awards for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington D.C. for National 4-H Council’s Legacy Awards. The program recognizes four confident young leaders in the areas of Agriculture, Civic Engagement, Healthy Living and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), giving winners the chance to share how 4-H changed their lives and how they have used the skills they gained in Cooperative Extension 4- H to impact the lives of others. Applications close on Monday October 21. Visit www.4-H.org/YouthinAction to learn more and submit your application. Please direct any questions to YouthinAction@4-H.org.


Opportunity to Design the 2020 4-H National Youth Science Day Challenge - Cooperative Extension faculty and staff at all land-grant universities are invited to submit a proposal detailing an innovative 2020 4-H National Youth Science Day experience. The 2020 focus is Mission to Mars, with the land-grant university that submits the winning application to receive a $50,000 award. In order for 4-H NYSD to continue to grow and reach new audiences, National 4-H Council has streamlined the application and development processes. Click here to apply for the opportunity to impact thousands of youth across the country. Applications close on Monday November 18, 2019. Please direct any questions to Janet Golden at jgolden@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-204-6841.

ECOP Monday Minute 10.28.13

NEW: Assessment Policies and Procedures – Daryl Buchholz, ECOP Chair, alerts you of two new documents which outline policies and procedures related to assessments. This action was necessary due to changes in procedures adopted by the Board on Agriculture Assembly Policy Board of Directors, of which the Cooperative Extension Section and ECOP are a part. See https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4905 for Cooperative Extension Section Assessment Policies and Procedures and https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4906 for eXtension Assessment Policies and Procedures.  The SNAP-ED assessment, which applies to participating institutions, is not addressed in these documents.

ACTION: eXtension Announces Two Searches – The eXtension Governing Committee, Jimmy Henning, Chair, and Dennis Calvin, Chair-elect, request your assistance in identifying applicants for two critical eXtension responsibilities. Applications for the Interim eXtension Executive Director are due 11.27.13 and for the eXtension Strategic Planning Consultant on 11.15.13. For details, see http://create.extension.org/node/98153.

Professional Development Conference – See www.naepsdp.org for details about the December 3-5, 2013 National Association of Extension Program & Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP) conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Early registration goes through 11.4.13. The conference theme is Show Me the Value.

Benning Receives Evaluation Honor – Linda Kay Benning, Cooperative Extension Northeast Region Executive Director, has been named recipient of the 2013 Mary Nell Greenwood Extension Evaluation Award by the Extension Education Evaluation Topic Interest Group of the American Evaluation Association http://www.eval.org/. For a complete listing of awards, see https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4907.

USDA Farm Bill Campaign – The USDA Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs encourages your participation in the #MyFarmBill social media campaign. Share stories, photos, and videos of how the farm bill impacts your state and locality.