Capacity & Commitment

Iowa State University Extension regularly engages representatives of key constituents in ongoing dialogues about educational needs, possible partnerships, and program ideas. Key constituents include the Iowa Association of County Extension Councils, Citizens Advisory Council, Citizens for Extension, ISU Extension county councils, and partnerships with state and local government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs); specific examples of their involvement follow.

Stakeholders provided input into Extension’s Federal Plan of Work (2000-2006). More than 450 community and state meetings involving more than 12,000 citizens were held during the needs identification process. An additional 17,000 citizens participated via 115 localized community surveys conducted in partnership with community agencies and organizations. In total, more than 30,000 citizens were directly involved in needs identification.

After soliciting citizen input at the county level county extension education directors worked with their publicly elected, nine-member extension council to prioritize four to seven needs. Program directors completed a similar process with state-level stakeholders. Needs were filtered to determine priorities according to fit with mission, vision, values, frequency counts, federal requirements, and program balance. Statewide project committees of staff were formed around each priority. Committees continually update the input, outcomes, and impact of each priority.

University Extension initiated a comprehensive Futuring Initiative in Fall FY03. A committee of Iowa citizens and University staff was appointed by the Vice Provost to assess the environment in which Extension operates and major tendencies for change in this environment; develop a vision for the future of Extension that is consistent with the new environment and the traditional mission of Extension; prepare a roadmap and guidelines for change that are consistent with the evolving environment and the vision and mission of Extension; and establish priorities for change given the vision and roadmap and the tendencies in our environment.

The committee held hearings to ask Iowans what they wanted from ISU Extension. The resulting report, widely vetted in FY03 within Extension, was also shared with external and internal partners and Extension county councils. Based on related comments, an implementation plan was provided by Extension administration in fall FY04. The implementation plan also was widely vetted and discussed. Task forces were appointed to define specific implementation actions; they reported in early summer FY04. The actions to achieve implementation began in early FY05.

Iowa has 100 ISU Extension county councils, each with nine elected council members, serving the 99 counties in Iowa (one county has two councils — East Pottawattamie and West Pottawattamie). Since 1992, more than 80 Extension councils have passed a county referendum that locks in the tax levy rate and provides for an annual increase of the maximum dollars available for Extension programming. Passage of the referendum requires a simple majority of those voting, and passage is required only once. Since 1996, these referenda have enabled Extension councils to increase annual base county funding of Extension programs by more than $4.8 million. Iowa voters have made it clear that they value and support ISU Extension’s educational programs.

County councils, which govern their county offices, came together in early 1997 to create the Iowa Association of County Extension Councils (IACEC). The association facilitates county councils acting in concert on issues of statewide significance and provides an additional avenue for interaction with local and state decision makers.

The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) counsels, advises, and evaluates Extension programs. The council has been a key and consistent link between Extension administration and Iowa citizens. Extension administration has clearly found these views of significant value. Click here for specific examples.

Citizens for Extension (CFE) is a network of Iowa citizens who care about their county and state, and want to strengthen the local presence of ISU Extension—a “booster club” for Extension in each county. County CFE groups work locally to influence ISU Extension programs and policies by learning what Extension can do for the county and hearing and celebrating local success stories. Members have the opportunity to learn and develop skills in working with local and state decision makers. The strength of each CFE is in the coming together of citizens in each county. This strength is supported by a statewide advisory group that acts as a link between the activity in the counties and Iowa State University and Extension, bringing consistency and communication in the sharing of both concerns and successes.

Extension has a number of partnerships with state and local agencies and NGOs. Examples of how Extension works with and meets the needs of the constituencies they represent are available at following websites.