Extension Updates

To assure that all of you are kept up to date on a regular basis, the three regional directors and the state Extension Administration Office provides bi-weekly Extension Updates. This forum is for all Extension announcements, so if you have something to distribute, please forward it to Lori Bates with FOR EXTENSION UPDATE noted.

August 27, 2014

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


Greetings all,

Fall is in the air. I saw the snowflakes from atop Grays Peak, my lawn did not need mowing this last weekend, and I’m checking out my green and gold duds for the Rocky Mountain Showdown this Friday. The students have also arrived; classes started Monday. While construction is still in full gear across campus, the animal science building is complete and the Lory Student Center had sections open. You can check out Lory’s progress at www.sc.colostate.edu/follow-the-renovation.aspx.

Lory Student Center renovations

This weekend we also celebrate Labor Day. Thank you to each of you for the contributions you have made to strengthen the communities you work in and the people you work with. Enjoy your weekend.

Ram Tour 2014

The Office of Engagement, OnlinePlus, and CSU Extension partnered with the VP External Relations to offer the second annual CSU faculty overnight bus tour August 14-15.

On August 14, the tour stopped in Adams, Park, and Chaffee counties, meeting with CSU Extension agents and partners at a variety of sites including 3CE (Westminster), the Fairplay-Valiton Hotel, and the Hutchinson Ranch (Salida). After an evening reception at the Salida SteamPlant Event Center for faculty and CSU alumni, the following day included a stop at Royal Gorge (Canon City) and a closing stop at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. CSU Extension staff who participated in planning and presenting at the tour stops were JoAnn Powell, Janet Benavente, Thad Gourd, Deb Lester, Kurt Jones, Bill Nobles, and Tommy Covington.

Faculty reported enjoying the tour and the opportunity to learn what CSU Extension and Colorado State Forest Service are doing around the state. “I see concrete CSU engagement in various areas,” said one, and “We really appreciated the opportunity to come to know a bit more about our new state and to experience first-hand some of the very exciting initiatives fostered by CSU,” said another. Thanks to all the CSU Extension staff and local partners who made this trip possible!

Ram Tour 2014

Changes – County Director Webinars

This series of webinars, sponsored by your regional directors (RDs), are specifically for county and area directors (C/ADs). Anyone is welcome to attend.

  • August 28, Thursday, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
    Extension Professional Development Organizations and Opportunities
    http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/colodac
  • September Webinar moved to September 18
    Professional Scheduling and Leave
  • October’s Webinar - October 16
    Kathy Wolfe will join us to discuss professionalism

To find previously recorded webinars go to the CSU Extension home page, click faculty & staff resources. At the top of the next page, click Employee. Scroll down to Professional Development Webinars.

AmeriCorps

If you are considering participating in the AmeriCorps Grant process or need more information, please contact JoAnn Powell, Claire Dixon, Laurel Kubin or your regional director by September 4. As the RFP for this grant will be released around October 1 and Extension’s initial response will be due about three weeks later; it is important that we get interested parties to the table and talk about projects and processes. Colorado AmeriCorps is focusing its new engagement on raising high school graduation rates. If Extension moves forward with a grant application, Serve Colorado is looking for us to implement no more than two research-based interventions that will improve these rates. In logic model fashion—the RFP will ask us to discuss the present situation (need), describe the planned intervention (what the AmeriCorps members will do), and to describe the change in attitude, behavior or condition we expect as a result of the intervention. It will also ask us to identify the potential counties where members will be placed and the partners they will be working with. If you want more background on AmeriCorps, check out this information—www.ext.colostate.edu/news/What-Is-AmeriCorps-Applicant.pdf or visit the Serve Colorado website at: www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/LtGovGarcia/CBON/1251625402805. I am also surprised to learn how many former AmeriCorps members Extension now employs, ask around for some firsthand information on the benefits and value.

Fiscally, county offices would provide workspace and equipment, travel, and operating support for AmeriCorps members. Local Extension staff would provide supervision and training to ensure members were successful in their roles. The grant would provide members with a monthly living allowance and an educational stipend when they finish their term of service. If AmeriCorps members are without health insurance, basic coverage will be required. Periodic, statewide or regional training would be offered to our staff and the AmeriCorps members to ensure we meet project goals, are comfortable in our roles, and build member capacity. A program participation fee will also be required from participating counties to support program management and reporting functions, estimated at $3-5K/per member. Serve Colorado recommends one full-time AmeriCorps manager per 10 members. Cost to counties may be similar to summer intern positions. If you are interested in learning more and/ or taking the next step, please connect.

Director’s Administrative Council and the Program Leadership Team

Both groups met last week; highlights include:

DAC

  • Claire Dixon described the new online New Staff Orientation. The 12 topic training will be delivered as a pilot this fall with current staff; offered to new staff beginning in 2015. The online training will complement the current face-to-face new staff orientation.
  • Bruce Bosley presented the Extension & Agricultural Experiment Station Policy on Pesticides 8/20/14.The goal of the policy is to minimize environmental hazards of pesticides and associated hazardous materials for CSU Extension and research employees who use or recommend pesticides as part of their job responsibilities. The policy is being reviewed by staff in the Agricultural Experiment Stations. DAC voted and approved the policy.
  • An invitation for use when asking people to serve on local search committees has been developed. It emphasizes CSU and Extension’s commitment to diversity.
  • DAC discussed forming a task force to address salary increases, salary compression, the annual salary exercise, historical Extension salary practices, etc. Lou will convene the task force and DAC chose the following members:
    • Front Range Region – Claire Dixon, Adrian Card, Tim Aston, Curtis Utley
    • Peaks and Plains Region – Robin Young, Amy Henschen, Devin Engle, Ron Meyer
    • Western Region – Eric McPhail, Glenda Wentworth, Darrin Parmenter, Jackie Marquez
    • Ex-officio members will be the regional directors, Jessica Fuentes, Judy Barth

PLT

Performance Appraisal Committee

There have been recent requests for a review of the performance appraisal documents and process including 360 reviews. Judy has volunteered to convene a group. So far, Erin Post (Adams), Jacki Paone (Jefferson), Jennifer Wells (SE Area), Dennis Kaan (Golden Plains Area), and Travis Hoesli (Grand) have volunteered to serve. Additional volunteers, especially agents, are invited to join the group—contact Judy directly if you are interested. The first step will likely be an organizational survey on the performance appraisal process and forms.

Front Range Searches and Vacancies

  • El Paso County 4-H agent—The search did not result in an offer. The search committee is reviewing the position announcement and advertising plan. The position will be re-advertised in September.
  • Larimer County 4-H agent—Interviews will be held August 21 and 22. Negotiations are underway.
  • Denver horticulture agent—The search committee is being assembled and the position announcement updated.
  • Broomfield horticulture—Micaela Truslove resigned effective August 21, but will not be going far. Micaela has accepted a position with the Colorado Department of Ag to work on the Emerald Ash Borer program. The Broomfield position will initially be filled as a non-student hourly. If you know a good candidate that can help Holli get through the season, please call her.
  • Office of Community & Economic Development—Welcome to Paula Mills who has accepted the project manager position.
  • Karin NiedfeldtRetired CSU Extension family and consumer agent Karin Niedfelt will be joining the Denver Extension team to provide food safety-related support this fall. Karin will be available to help answer the calls and email inquiries that are pouring in as local food production and sales heats up in Denver. Karin served 12 years as the FCS agent in Chaffee County.

Little Known Search Facts

Of the 105 Extension searches conducted from 2010-2014, 53 required a master’s (as determined by the search committee), 35 required a bachelor’s degree with the expectation that a master’s would be completed within 5 years, and 17 required only a bachelor’s degree with no expectation of completion of a master’s. So, in total, 50% of the searches required only a bachelor’s degree. Of the 79 successful searches during that period, we hired 1 Ph.D., 54 master’s and 24 bachelor’s.

Biweekly Extension Updates

The biweekly Extension updates are posted and archived on our website at www.ext.colostate.edu/ext-news/. (From the CSUE main page, click on Faculty & Staff Resources, Newsletters, Extension News and Calendar Updates.)

Updated