Date: 10/28/2015
Interviewee: Mary Weinand (Human Sciences Specialist)
Organization: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Type of Organization: Education
Location: We are everywhere for Iowans. We serve as a 99-county campus, connecting the needs of Iowans with Iowa State University research and resources.
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Des Moines County Office, 102 West Main Street PO Box 215 Mediapolis, Iowa 52637
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Des Moines County Office, 1500 W Agency Rd, Room 605, West Burlington, IA 52655
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Lee County Office, 414 North Main Street PO Box 70 Donnellson, IA 52625-0070,
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Louisa County Office, 317 Van Buren Wapello, IA 52653
Phone:
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Des Moines County, Mediapolis1 -800-914-1914, West Burlington (319) 208-5395
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Lee County – (319) 835-5116
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Louisa County (319) 523-2371
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Henry (319) 385-8126
Email: mweinand@iastate.edu
Interview Questions
1.
Tell me a little bit about this organization
Our mission is to create a strong Iowa. This message platform explains how we approach our work and what inspires us to take action. We are everywhere for Iowans. We serve as a
99-county campus, connecting the needs of Iowans with Iowa State University research and resources.
Extension and Outreach is a community-based network giving you and all Iowans access to
Iowa State University research, educational and technological resources. Our network is made possible by partnerships with federal, state and county governments.
It is our people – faculty, educators, and staff – who harness resources from the ISU colleges and campus units, as well as the 99 counties to lead programs and support efforts across the state.
Who are Extension and Outreach people? We are
• 1,000 staff and faculty in the counties and on campus,
• 900 elected county extension council members,
• 17,000 volunteers, and
• 100 county extension offices.

• Our people include the ones who staff 8 statewide hotlines where Iowans find answers to financial, legal, and family transition questions; questions about health, family, home, horticulture, and livestock issues; and personal and healthrelated teen questions.
2.
What services do you provide, and what demographic do you serve?
Education and partnerships designed to solve today’s problems and prepare for the future.
We serve all Iowans and it is what makes Extension and Outreach so unique.
3.
How do you raise client/customer awareness about your services?
We collaborate with clients where they are.
4.
What are your perceptions of the greatest barriers students in this community experience in pursuing postsecondary education?
Poverty is certainly a barrier to education and is a multi-faceted barrier with many impacts.
5.
What ideas do you have for improving our college attendance rates in this community?
I believe there is a difference between college attendance and college attainment. In the article, “The impact of community college attendance on baccalaureate attainment”, the author outlines the contradictions.
Community colleges are seen as contradictory institutions. Supporters contend that community colleges increase baccalaureate attainment by providing access to higher education for students who would otherwise not attend college, while critics argue that these institutions decrease baccalaureate attainment for students who would otherwise attend a 4-year institution. Using the National Education

Longitudinal Study, this article advances the literature on the impact of community colleges on baccalaureate attainment by estimating new models that allow controlling for pathways of enrollment while using different measures of educational expectations and correcting for college choice. Findings suggest that community colleges significantly reduce the probability of attaining a bachelor’s degree, as compared to 4-year institutions, an effect that remains after having taken into account non-traditional enrollment pathways, educational expectations, and self-selection into 2-year and 4-year institutions.
6.
What services/resources in this community are you aware of that are related to going to college?
7.
Would you be interested in being a part of the efforts to increase the college going rate in this community going forward? (Examples: Participating in a forum, attending a conference, providing a direct service, making referrals, sharing or collecting data, etc.)
Yes, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach would like to be involved in the project in any way possible.
8.
Do you know of anyone else who should be included in these efforts?
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Title:
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9.
Additional thoughts or comments?