State of Extension
Virtual Winter School 2011
Beverly Sparks
Associate Dean for Extension
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010
Congratulations to……
Hill Award Winners for 2010
Dr. Judy Hibbs
Dr. Curt Lacy
Hill Fellow for 2010
• Dr. Mark Risse
Congratulations to……
D. W. Brooks Award Winners for 2010
• Eric Prostko
• JoAnn Milam
GACAA Specialists of the Year Award 2010
Amanda Ziehl Smith
Eric Prostko
Congratulations to Extend
Academy Participants
Rhea Bentley
Betty English
Denise Everson
Jessica Hill
Janet Hollingsworth
Lisa Jordan
Jule-Lynne Macie
Joann Milam
Wade Parker
Marcie Simpson
Marie Trice
Bob Waldorf
Special thanks for outstanding
leadership at national level
Lori Purcell Bledsoe (Pres-NEA4-HA)
Paul Wigley (Pres-Elect-NACAA)
Rhea Bentley (Vice Pres for Professional
Development-NEAFCS)
Jule-Lynne Macie (Galaxy IV Committee)
Tim Varnedore (NACAA National Board)
Keith Mickler (Board of Directors-JOE)
Special thanks for outstanding
leadership at local level
New/Improved County
Offices: :
Stewart County
Coweta County
Franklin County
Jasper County
Hancock County
Wilkes County
Significant Increase in
County Funds:
• Monroe County
• Bacon County
• Harris County
Serving Georgia
A Guide to the New UGA
Extension Program Delivery
Model
Driving Forces
A 23% budget reduction since 2008
239 total state funded agents
– 113 Ag agents
– 36 Family Consumer Science agents
– 90 4-H Agents
Minus 88 agents, 26 specialists/admin
positions
How did we map our course?
Extension Review of County Operations
Steering committee
Stakeholder surveys, listening sessions
Deliberations
New structure design
Staffing patterns developed
New structure features
Tier system of delivery
Areas special agents
Maximizing resources
– More efficiency/broader impact in delivery of
urban programs
– Expand and update delivery of programs via
distance technology
Streamlining administration
Service tiers
Tier 1 - basic 4-H program delivered
through school systems. No physical
Extension office.
Tier 2 – office with one employee; basic
service for lab tests, information on
available training; access to publications,
online resources; core 4-H programs.
Tier 3 – adds to service available a Tier 2,
a shared agent with a neighboring county.
Service tiers
Tier 4 – adds to Tier 3 service, a full-time,
county-based agent.
Tier 5 – adds to Tier 4, two or more agents
with one serving as county coordinator.
Tier 6 – adds to Tier 5, a full-time
coordinator with multiple agents funded
through various sources.
Special agents, programs
Commodity/regional coverage by agents
– Blueberries
– Vidalia onions
– Peaches
Program agents
– Nutrition
– Energy
– Radon
– Weatherization
Available to everyone
Online resources
– Educational programs in region
– Publications
– Fact sheets
– eXtension
Progress Report
District Directors work with
counties/employees and funding partners
in effected/lower tier counties
Communicate with employees and
stakeholders of pending changes
– Extension E-News
– Stakeholder meetings
– Mass media
Implementation-First Phase
Released list of top priority agent positions
and advertised to fill internally
Create and fill exempt employee positions
in key counties
Reassign responsibilities of agents and/or
staff as appropriate
Advertised and/or appoint individuals to
address key administrative positions
Implementation-Phase 2
Early 2011
Release list of high priority agent positions
to be filled
Reevaluate counties with need for exempt
positions and move to fill those positions
Reevaluate need for rehires
Address key administrative positions
(internally)
On Going in 2011……
Communicate with local funders and key
decision makers on the process
Communicate what changes are planned
for your county/how it will impact your
programs/your community
Special Thanks to:
So many employees for taking on significant
additional duties during the past year!
– CECs/Agents wearing multiple hats
– Specialists with additional assignments
– IT and Communications Staff for their support
across this state with reduced workforce
Special Thanks to:
Winter School 2011 Planning Committee
Program Leaders
Program Development Coordinators and
Specialists
Dr. Mary Ellen Blackburn/Marcie Simpson
Sunshine Jordan
IT staff in Athens, Griffin, Tifton,
Statesboro
Coming Up Next
Dr. Jeff Dorfman