Capacity & Commitment

Because Iowa State University Extension is designed for engagement and service at all levels, it has immense capacity to anticipate and meet the needs of its constituents.

Extension is well integrated throughout Iowa State and has a close relationship with the academic colleges, centers, and institutes of the University. The Extension staff includes a Vice Provost for Extension and Outreach, who reports to the Provost of the University, as well as an Associate Vice Provost and an administrative cabinet of staff officers (marketing, personnel, finance, foundation), program directors, and area directors.

Iowa Extension programming is coordinated with the USDA Cooperative State Research and Extension Education Service (CSREES) plan of work. Plans of work are targeted toward opportunities, issues, controversies, and problems facing public education that have been brought into focus by societal needs. A committee of state and field staff that reports to the appropriate program director coordinates each plan of work.

Extension maintains an office in each county in the state and five area offices. County extension education directors (CEEDs) with academic backgrounds in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, or youth education staff the offices. CEEDs administer the county office and work closely with the nine elected ISU Extension county council members who have public oversight of extension programming within each county. Other staff assigned to each county may include field specialists and program assistants in agriculture and natural resources, families, 4-H youth development, community and economic development, and business and industry.

Iowa is divided into five extension areas, each supervised by an area extension education director (AEEDs). AEEDs supervise the CEEDs, help coordinate programs with county extension councils, and co-supervise field specialists with program directors. AEEDs are responsible for operations in their areas and report to the Vice Provost for Extension.

University Extension has six program units, each headed by a program director. Most of the program directors have faculty appointments; some are associate deans within their respective colleges. Program directors are charged with statewide program leadership and co-supervise field staff along with the AEEDs. Program directors report to the Vice Provost for Extension and Outreach.

Continuing Education and Communication Services (CECS) provides development, production, and delivery services; technology resources; and management and administrative support for off-campus educational programming and citizen access to Iowa State’s research and knowledge assets. CECS strategies and operations are influenced by the Extension program directors, each of the institution’s colleges, and the Regent’s outreach committee.

Distance education course enrollments show continued growth, averaging 25 percent increases over the past three years. Gross enrollment conference fees handled by CECS have averaged more than $5 million over the past three years. CECS manages the more than 3,000 Extension publications in print and produces daily radio broadcasts and several television segments monthly. CECS manages more than 55,000 Web pages and their supporting content management systems.

Iowa ranks third in the nation in the value of farm commodities produced and second in value of exports of farm commodities. ISU Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources conducts educational programs and provides information for producers, agribusiness firms, farm and commodity organizations, consumers, and the general public. In 2005,129,253 Iowans participated in Extension’s noncredit workshops, conferences, field meetings, and home study programs to increase their understanding and skills related to agricultural enterprise management, natural resource protection, and value-added development. In addition, 132,936 individuals called Extension hotlines or received individual consultations to improve agricultural production and make agriculture-related industries more efficient.

Iowa’s manufacturing establishments employ 15 percent of the labor force and generate 21 percent of the gross state product. Iowa ranks fifth nationally in terms of state dependence on manufacturing. The 6,000 Iowa manufacturers, together with consulting engineers, utilities, and businesses make up the majority of the clientele of the Extension to Business and Industry (B&I) program. In 2003, B&I provided programming to Iowans from all 99 counties. Clientele consisted of more than 700 graduate engineering enrollees, 1,800 enrollees in engineering continuing education workshops, and technical assistance or education to more than 200 manufacturing companies.

ISU Extension to Community and Economic Development helps organizations and local governments develop and build their capacity to make Iowa communities better places to live and work. The program focuses on community economic development, community visioning and applications of large-scale landscape management in development, and community government and governance through formal and non-governmental organizations. Extension helps the people of Iowa search for understanding and answers that will lead to productive, healthy, and sustainable communities. Programs of the unit primarily serve local community officials and leaders, and not-for-profit organizations. Programs are offered in community leadership, community management, and community planning, analysis, and design. In 2003, 323 business entrepreneurs, 7,571 citizen and community leaders, and 2,247 government officials were trained in consumer-defined subject matter; 455 organizations were assisted or strengthened.

Iowa State University Extension reaches out to family members of all ages, providing research-based information and education to help them make decisions that improve and transform their lives. Extension offers families information about aging, childcare, consumer decisions, family financial management, family relationships, food safety, housing choices, nutrition and health, parent education, and public policy affecting families.

In 2005, 117,236 individuals participated in Extension to Families noncredit workshops, conferences, meetings, and home study programs to increase their understanding and skills and improve their lives—a 5.2 percent increase over the previous year. An additional 127,131 Iowans received targeted newsletters, called ISU Extension hotlines, or received individual consultations— a 7.2 percent increase over the previous year.

ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development programs provide opportunities for youth to develop skills they can use now and throughout their lifetime. Iowa 4-H follows the principles of experiential learning, and draws on the knowledge base of Iowa State and other institutions of higher education in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. The ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development program’s vision and mission statements clearly view youth as partners working with staff and volunteers, and as full participants in planning and working for individual and community change. In 2005, 127,426 Iowa youth were enrolled in 4-H Youth Development programs—more than 25 percent of school-age youth in the state. 4-H Youth Development programs are supported by nearly 10,700 adult volunteers and more than 1,500 youth volunteers.

Extension experienced a budget reduction of more than $6.1 million from FY02 to FY04, an amount equal to nearly 25 percent of its state base budget. This includes actual base budget cuts as well as unfunded salary increases and benefit cost increases. To counteract declining state support, Extension has become more entrepreneurial, using grants, contracts, fees, sponsorships, and gifts to support and increase its capacity to serve Iowans.

From FY98 through FY04, grant and contract support for Extension increased from $8 million to $16 million, and revenue from user fees increased from $6.8 million to $15.9 million. Grants and user fees made up less than one-fourth of Extension’s total income in FY98. In FY04 these two categories made up more than one-third of Extension’s $82.5 million annual budget. In addition, in FY04 Extension added nearly $1.4 million in gifts to the funding mix. Continued growth is expected in these categories. Entrepreneurial success has allowed Extension to expand to meet Iowans’ increasing demands for services, despite significantly reduced state funding. For every dollar a county spends for Extension programs, local citizens gain the benefit of $3.08—46 cents in federal funds; $1.03 in state funds; and $1.59 of adult volunteer time. Other states continue to look to Iowa as the model for entrepreneurial extension funding.

An example of engaging with external communities is Extension’s effort to share effective programs of engagement and service with other countries. Extension has hosted many visitors from Russia, China, Mexico, Holland, and Germany who want to learn about the Extension system and international engagement. Extension grant proposals have been funded to carry out educational programs in Holland, Mexico, and China.