Is Cooperative Extension's Mission and Funding Model Compatible with Programming on the Worldwide Web?

1. Is the Cooperative Extension’s Mission and Funding Model Compatible with Programming on the Worldwide Web? Kara Newby, Jerry Thomas, Kevin Gamble, Mark Light

2. Guiding Question… Is information online- shared with a world-wide audience- still meeting the mission of a land grant model?

4. From the CREES/USDA website: “Despite the decline in the population and economic importance of rural America , the national Cooperative Extension System remains an important player in American life. It increasingly addresses urban, suburban, in addition to rural issues, and it has responded to information technology changes in America by developing a national Web presence.”

5. “Regardless of the program, extension expertise meets public needs at the local level. Although the number of local extension offices has declined over the years, and some county offices have consolidated into regional extension centers, there remain approximately 2,900 extension offices nationwide. Increasingly, extension serves a growing, increasingly diverse constituency with fewer and fewer resources.”

6. AND THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY…

7. “The extension system also supports the eXtension Web site. One of the goals of eXtension is to develop a coordinated, Internet-based information system where customers will have round-the-clock access to trustworthy, balanced views of specialized information and education on a wide range of topics. For customers, the value will be personalized, validated information addressing their specific questions, issues, and life events in an aggregated, non-duplicative approach.”

8. Are these two ideas- serving a population locally, while also “working differently” on the internet and with online communities mutually exclusive? Can we move to more online programming if we are still expected to only show, or to emphasize, local programming and local impact.

9. Questions? Some Questions to consider: Is the recession a good time to make the move? Since funding is being reduced, how can you proactively move to this model without isolating the local funding. Should local programming only be in our specialty area (similar to web work) and not try to be generalists? How do we inform local funders that specializing through the web gives value added resources?