Western Extension Directors Association
Strategic Directions
The membership in the Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) is open to the 1862
Extension Directors and 1994 Representatives of the Land-Grant Cooperative Extension
organizations in the following states and territories: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. WEDA works on
mutually beneficial programs and organizational issues in partnership with USDA-National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities (APLU), as well as other regional and national organizations.
Mission: The Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) mission is to advance Land
Grant College/University Extension in member states and territories in the Western Region to
assist in meeting the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century by:
 Facilitating stakeholder input on critical issues;
 Creating a voice on national issues for the West, including the insular areas;
 Fostering the next generation of Extension programs;
 Mentoring and developing Extension leadership and professionals; and
 Developing collaborative structures for efficiency and effectiveness.
Vision: WEDA is a leader in advancing the impact of its members and partners to improve the
social, economic, and environmental quality of life in the West.
Values and Operating Principles:
Value
Respect
Operating Principle
Member institutions vary greatly in size and capacity; however, we
value each institutions capability and respect their contributions. We
will work to assure that all Land-Grant Institutions in the West have
an active voice in WEDA.
Diversity
We advance inclusive, supportive, professional environments in which
to live and work. We value diverse peoples, thoughts, and approaches
to addressing issues of importance in the West.
Partnerships
We pursue and support national and regional partnerships that help
advance the goals of WEDA and the success of Extension programs in
the West. We foster cooperation with many regional and national
groups including but not limited to NIFA, APLU, and the Western
Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors.
Vital Communities
Our member’s Extension programs focus on helping to create vital
sustainable communities in the West, which includes healthy people,
strong economies, and sustainable environments.
Research-based
Our programs and activities are based on scientific research, best
practices, and other credible sources of knowledge.
Goals and Strategies:
Goal 1: Maximize the effectiveness of Extension as an organization in its role as the
primary non-credit education delivery system of Land-Grant institutions. This includes
but is not limited to reaching out to diverse and changing populations, acquisition and
management of human and fiscal resources, evaluating and marketing impact and
outcomes, and advancing the professional capabilities of Extension faculty, staff, and
administrators in the West.
Strategies:
a. Seek internal stakeholder input on approaches and organizational issues that
enhances the mission and role of Extension as an organization in the West.
b. Identify and prioritize internal organizational issues and challenges important to
Extension in the West, paying particular attention to the changing populations and
economies in member states/territories.
c. Foster regional and national multi-state cooperation and collaborations by
prioritizing Extension’s strategic roles, and facilitating approaches and actions
that address organizational issues important to Extension in the West, and which
may have national application.
d. Engage the appropriate expertise from Universities in addressing priority
organizational issues in the West.
e. Actively encourage the recruitment, hiring, professional development, and
mentoring of faculty, staff, and administrative leaders who reflect the diverse
cultures in the West to assure their success with Extension.
f. Create a mentoring and support system for new Extension Directors in the
member states/territories.
g. Identify and/or create opportunities that encourage the professional development
of Directors in member states/territories.
Goal 2: Provide a national and regional voice and visibility for Western Extension
Directors and Western issues through a well functioning, supportive professional
association.
Strategies:
a. Appoint members to participate in multi-state, regional, and national meetings and
committees including those with NIFA, APLU, and other identified priority
internal and external groups.
b. Develop WEDA meeting agendas that accommodate discussion and debate on
national and regional issues of importance to the West. Develop and
communicate with appropriate groups the implications, alternatives, and
consensus positions of WEDA.
c. Advocate nationally and regionally for resolutions, positions, and issues which
advance best approaches and practices for WEDA members.
d. Provide for efficient and effective administration of the WEDA’s business,
committees, programs, and activities.
e. Create a welcoming environment and encourage participation from all LandGrant Extension programs in the West including 1862s (states and territories) and
1994s.
f. Contract with an Executive Director (ED), financially supported through Western
state and territory assessments, and work with that person to prioritize, plan,
manage, and account for the ED’s office and resources (time and fiscal) in support
of the WEDA and national priorities.
g. Maintain a repository for documents of WEDA.
Goal 3: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of high priority Extension programs in
the states and territories of the Western Region. Assure that parity is reached or
exceeded for diverse audiences through Extension programs in the West.
Strategies:
a. Seek external and internal stakeholder input to identify and prioritize major issues
important to people and communities in the Western states and territories paying
particular attention to address the needs of diverse audiences.
b. Identify and prioritize Extension’s strategic roles in meeting the needs of diverse
and changing communities in the West.
c. Plan, coordinate, and/or foster regional cooperation and collaboration of multistate Extension programs, and multi-state multi-function (Extension, Research,
and Teaching) programs.
d. Strengthen Extension’s capacity to deliver relevant, effective programming.
e. Foster internal and external partnerships which increase available resources, and
enhance the value and impact of Extension programs in the West.
f. Engage the appropriate expertise from the whole University in addressing priority
issues in the West.
g. Identify and share program and funding opportunities that support the
development and delivery of Extension programs for the diverse populations in
member states/territories.
h. Support and encourage scientifically based assessment of Extension programs
which identifies consistent benchmarks against which progress can be measured.
i. Actively recognize outstanding Extension programs and employees in the West.
WEDA Standing Committees: WEDA will conduct its work and advance its goals
through the following standing committees:
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is made up of the WEDA Chair, Chair
elect/Secretary, immediate Past Chair, the Western representative to the ECOP Executive
Committee and, as a non-voting ex-officio member, the WEDA Executive Director. The
Executive Committee, through the Chair, executes the established programs of the Association
and provides oversight for the activities of the Association.
Western Extension Leadership Development Committee (WELD): One member is appointed
by each Western Extension Director to plan a two year leadership development experience for
professionals in program delivery roles who are interested in enhancing their leadership skills.
The committee meets primarily through conference calls and during the on-site workshops for
WELD class members.
Western Middle-Managers Committee: One member is appointed by each Western Extension
Director to plan a summer conference for Extension professionals serving in middlemanagement roles. The committee meets primarily through conference calls and during the onsite annual conference.
Western Regional Program Leadership Committee (WRPLC): One member is appointed by
each Western Extension Director. The committee works with the WEDA to identify and provide
leadership for advancing multi-state programs, and addressing operational and organizational
issues of importance to the West. WRPLC may appoint special committees and/or task forces
with membership internal and external to WRPLC to assist with its work. WRPLC also conducts
the selection process for the Western Extension Awards of Excellence.
Resolutions Committee: WEDA will annually appoint a resolutions committee of up to three
Directors to provide special recognition and thanks to those who accomplish special tasks and
assist with WEDA operations.
Nominations Committee: WEDA will annually appoint a nominations committee of up to three
Directors to identify and present to WEDA people to fill the various regional and national
committee and liaison appointments.
WEDA Liaisons and Task Forces: WEDA may appoint special committees, task forces,
and/or work groups to advance WEDA’s goals and/or to manage specific activities for the
Western Extension Directors.
Other Related Regional and National Committees: WEDA appoints liaisons to a
number of National and Regional committees that advance the program and organizational goals
of WEDA and the National Extension System. They include:
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Western Rural Development Center Board (WRDC)
Western IPM Committee and Western IPM Center
Western Multistate Review Committee (MRC)
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (W-SARE)
First Americans Land-grant College Organization and Network (FALCON)
Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and its committees including:
o ECOP Executive Committee
o ECOP Programs Committee
o ECOP Personnel Committee
o ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee
o ECOP Leadership Advisory Council
o ECOP Marketing and Communication Committee
o ECOP Measuring Excellence in Extension Committee
o ECOP eXtension Finance Task Force
o ECOP Strategic Opportunities Task Force
eXtension and its committees including:
o Governing Board
o Director’s Council
o Fund Development Advisory Committee
o Communities of Practice Proposal Reviewer Pool
o Progress Review Panel
o Professional Development Steering Committee
DOE Energy Advisory Group
REE Energy Advisory Group
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National Extension Award Review Panel
National 4-H Council, National 4-H Congress, 4-H Directors Working Group, and 4-H
Military Partnership Network
Journal of Extension Board (JOE)
Federal Partners: In addition, WEDA cooperates with our Federal partners including but
not limited to the:
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National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and its various Boards,
Councils, and Commissions including but not limited to the:
o Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA)
o Board on Human Sciences
o Council on Engagement and Outreach (CEO)
o Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity (CICEP)
o Office of Urban Initiatives
Other Regional Partners: WEDA seeks to develop supportive working relationships with
other partners including but not limited to the:
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Western Governor’s Association (WGA)
Western Interstate Region of the National Association of Counties (WIR-NACo)
Council of State Governments – West (CSG-West)
Criteria for prioritizing issues:
We will work on issues:
 that are important and recognized as such by the public;
 in which there is an opportunity for high impact;
 if they are supported through adequate resources;
 in which we can add significant value;
 if they advance the values and goals of WEDA
Approved 2/7/07
Revised 11/8/10