Tuesday Morning Notes, June 19, 2012

Tue Jun 19 13:34:32 MST 2012

TMN 
submittal: 
<http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/form/submittal_form.html>http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/form/submittal_form.html 

Tuesday Morning Notes
June 19, 2012

FROM THE DIRECTOR:

Some common questions lately from within CALS and 
the Extension system have centered on my views 
concerning the relevance of certain programs or 
program areas in Extension.  These questions need 
attention and they can be answered very directly.

All of the program areas that CALS Extension is 
working in today are important and valuable to 
the state. These range across all of the three 
major Extension program areas including: 4-H; 
Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences (FCHS); and 
Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR); also 
including the work in areas such as community and 
economic development.  The critical question at 
hand is not WHAT program area is important but 
rather HOW we deliver them.  A review of our CALS 
Extension strategic planning goals will reveal a 
place for every program area that we have in 
operation today. The Phase III Strategic Planning 
Goals are available on our website under the 
“About Us” link and under the “Strategic Plan and 
Impacts” tab. Under that tab you’ll find an entry 
at the top titled “2012 Phase III Strategic Planning Goals (June 2012).”

The first and most important factor to consider 
is the need for robust and top-quality programs 
across the board in all program areas. Basically, 
if anyone is concerned about the relevance of 
their Extension program they should abandon that 
worry and focus their time and energy on running a strong program.

Next, one might ask “what constitutes a good 
program?” On several occasions recently I have 
offered a definition of Extension as a program 
that is science-based, directed and engaged with 
an identified community, industry, agency, etc., 
addressing a distinct set of educational 
objectives with a multi-faceted educational 
program and it has continuity over time. I also 
recognize that Extension programs are commonly a 
combination of translational and applied research 
that should be operating in sync with the 
educational program and the targeted audience or 
stakeholders who are directly engaged with both 
the research and overall Extension effort.

As defined by the College & Departmental 
Continuing Status Review Committees and the APR 
County Faculty Guidance Committee:

“Extension integrates teaching, issue-driven 
research, and creative activity for engaged 
outreach that ultimately leads to a change in behaviors or conditions.”

Extension faculty and staff in CALS provide 
strong and unique expertise in terms of providing 
the delivery of science, technology, and new 
information to the public beyond the university 
and academic community. Extension programs are 
typically interdisciplinary and integrated and 
not adhering to the academic silos that can 
commonly develop in a university. We need these 
programs across all areas in CALS Extension and 
we need them to be strong and viable. We work 
best when we focus on people’s needs, issues, hopes, and dreams.

Strong and viable programs, in any program area, 
should include the following attributes:

1.         Relevant - to people’s needs and to 
the mission and objectives of the organization.
2.         Purposeful- being able to clearly and 
succinctly explain why you are doing what you are doing.
3.         Engaged - includes a two-directional 
dialogue between people and educators/ researchers.
4.         Productive - creating impacts that make a difference.
5.         Fundable - address compelling 
agricultural, natural resource, and social and 
human issues that need solutions and external 
funding can be secured to conduct the necessary work.
6.         Integrated - with a science foundation and research program.
7.         Directed but flexible - have the 
ability to adapt to local needs and unique circumstances.

In summary, our program areas in Extension are 
all important. This issue is really how we 
address and deliver programs in each of these 
areas. My suggestion is to go forth and direct strong, viable programs.

UPCOMING: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS

The western states, through the Western Region 
Program Leaders Committee, are sharing 
information on webinars aimed at Professional 
Development for faculty and staff.  Our 
colleagues to the northwest at Washington State 
University Extension  have a series of webinars 
that will take place over the next few months and 
we are invited.  This series of webinars is 
intended to provide broad based topics that many 
Extension educators and faculty members may need 
to be successful. Each webinar is from 
9:00-10:00a.m. Pacific Time, and is located at 
http://breeze.wsu.edu/ext_skills/. The next 
webinar will take on June 27th, 2012 and focus on 
developing a Positive Work Environment.  Whether 
you believe it or not, your management and 
leadership style sets a tone for others in your 
office. Positive, productive, effective 
workplaces don’t just happen. They are built 
through interest, effort and commitment. Join us 
as Kim Maupin discusses the professional respect, 
communication and support for the program that 
bring a positive work environment to the local 
Extension office. The sessions are limited to the first 100 people to connect.

TECH TIP OF THE WEEK:

Web browser extensions (also called add-ins or 
plug-ins) can be used to modify the behavior of 
existing features to the application or add 
entirely new features.  Extensions are generally 
used to add functions to the 
application.  Examples of functions which an 
extension might add include RSS readers, bookmark 
organizers, toolbars, website-specific client 
programs, FTP, e-mail, mouse gestures, proxy 
server switching, or developer tools.  Many 
Firefox extensions implement features formerly 
part of the Mozilla Suite, such as the ChatZilla 
IRC client and a calendar.  Many extensions can 
change the content of a webpage as it is 
rendered.  For example, Adblock extensions can 
prevent the browser from loading images which are 
advertisements.  Common plugins include Acrobat 
Reader, Flash Player, Java, Quicktime, 
RealPlayer, Shockwave, and Windows Media Player.

NEW PUBLICATION:

<http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1572.pdf>Managing 
Spurge in the Landscape, Garden and Turf by Kelly Young

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean
Director for Economic Development & Extension
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
PO Box 210036
Tucson, AZ  85721-0036
520.621.7205
520.621.1314 (fax)

To submit tips, suggestions, ideas for changes 
and anything that could help us be more 
effective, use  the 
“<http://extension.arizona.edu/state/directors-suggestion-box>Director’s 
Suggestion Box” – all submissions are anonymous.

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