Extension/engagement

Goal 

  • Demonstrate a nationally recognized model for serving the ideal of a contemporary land-grant mission contributing to societal progress in Indiana and expanding to global levels.

 

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Key Characteristics

  • Public engagement programs for positioning global sustainability of agriculture and the environment, as well as the worldwide image of Purdue agriculture for its research accomplishments.
  • Advancing public trust in agriculture and pursuit of new opportunities.
  • Raising interest in STEM education for agricultural and environmental careers among young generations by engaging with PK-12 populations.
  • Need-based and constituency-focused Extension programs, in partnership with diverse populations addressing contemporary societal issues.
  • Agile, effective and efficient responsiveness for development, execution and assessment of Extension initiatives.
  • Recognized value creation by contributions to public good that benefit Indiana and extend to national and global levels.
  • Focused international engagement with partnerships that advance societal development, fulfilling agricultural needs and aspirations around the world.

Key Strategic Initiatives

  • Create innovative, multidisciplinary educational programming addressing issues relevant to Indiana and expanding to national and international communities with programs in:
    • Big data/digital agriculture.
    • STEM education throughout life.
    • Responsiveness to current issues (e.g., urban agriculture, mental health, opioid addiction, invasive species and diseases, food safety, modern multidisciplinary farm decision-making, community and economic development, and production efficiency and sustainability).
    • International Extension (per Federal Extension guidelines as pertaining and beneficial to the United States).
  • Expand the College's reach of Extension through diversification of audiences, programming and delivery methods recognizing the social and cultural contexts of constituencies through:
    • Online introductory-to-advanced programming (e.g., Urban Agriculture Certificate, pesticide application licensing, Master Cattleman, Tree Stewards).
    • Educating new and current employees to advance their knowledge of the subject matter of their interest and corresponding skills for delivery methods.
    • Introducing Extension as a career option and identifying new audiences and opportunities for people to try Extension as a career (e.g., internships).
    • Rebranding of 4-H programs to reach PK-12 underrepresented groups and youth.
    • Contemporary communication technology to make existing and emerging resources more accessible (e.g., visual impairment, multilingual literacy and other challenges).
    • Selectively focused international Extension using emerging technologies.
  • Raise awareness of the impact of programs with evaluation, messaging and branding through:
    • Compilation and analyses of impact data from throughout the state.
    • Marketing strategy for sharing data and success stories from Extension and engagement programs.
    • Evaluating and assessing domestic and international Extension programming.
  • Promote a diverse and inclusive Extension workforce with programs for:
    • Demonstrating diversity in leadership throughout the Extension organization.
    • Ensuring that all Extension personnel complete the Navigating Difference training program and every Extension region/county completes the Coming Together for Racial Understanding program.
    • Fostering affinity groups for Extension programs and expanding DEI workshops at Extension's Professional Development Conference (PDC).
  • Engage with and cultivate donors at the state, national and global levels for increasing private funds to support the College's initiatives.