Extension Update: Staff Development Archives
A new resource tool to help educate staff about working with decision makers is now available on our web site.
The National Association of County Agricultural Agents developed the resource following a national meeting that focused on "Working with Decision Makers." As a result, the organization received funding to develop this tool from the Joint Council of Extension Professionals.
This "no frills" information is a simple collection of documents that provide the reader with strategies when working with decision makers.
Cooperative Extension staff from throughout the state enjoyed a full day of workshops and activities on May 17th at our annual conference at UNH. Outstanding speakers and entertainment by the Extension Chords were key factors in making our day of learning, laughter, and recognition a memorable one. Highlights included the awarding of the fourth Maynard & Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship to Deb Maes, the introduction of new staff, informative and humorous presentations by Rebecca Rule, John Aber and Maynard Heckel, recognition of Debbie Cheever's Presidential Award of Excellence and recognition of staff for their years of service and dedication to UNH Cooperative Extension. Another highlight of the day was the unveiling of two new awards - Performance Beyond Expectations awarded to Tim Fleury and Pam Doherty and Professional Courtesy awarded to Sam Stoddard and Gillian Hodges. Thank you to the Conference Planning Committee for organizing and leading the event: Bob Edmonds (chair), Deb Russell, Rick Alleva, Faye Cragin, Sharon Cowen, Siobhan Craig, Collette Janson-Sand, Debbie Luppold, Carl Majewski, Frank Mitchell and Mary Tebo.
Click here for more conference photos.
Last month, Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor with WSBE, led an inservice for our staff on team effectiveness. This was a follow-up to the workshop she held for us last fall. Resources including her PowerPoint presentations, academic papers, a team assessment tool and book notes are now posted on the Team Effectiveness section of our web site. Contact Nancy Franz if you'd like to borrow the video of Dr. Druskat's presentation.
Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor with the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, will share her research on effective teamwork at an inservice January 13 from 1-3 pm.
Topics staff asked Dr. Druskat to cover include successful cross functional (interdisciplinary) teams, energizing established teams and engaging all team members. The workshop will use all of the Cooperative Extension PicTel sites, already reserved for this session.
Sign up using the form on our Intranet, or for more information, contact Associate Director Nancy Franz at nancy.franz@unh.edu
A professional development opportunity for law enforcement, educators and service providers addressing hate crimes and bias takes place Wednesday, August 11th, at the Memorial Union Building on the UNH campus. Highlights include speakers Frank Amoroso, director of Community Relations Services for the Justice Department, New England Region, and Andrew Tarsy, New England Executive director, Anti-Defamation League.
Panel representation includes Sam Chan, Laotian Community, Richard Haynes, NAACP Portsmouth, Ben Guiliani, director, Migrant Workers Group, Mosses Sebunya, Muslim Community and Adam Solender, Jewish Federation of Greater Manchester. The event runs from 9-2 p.m. in the Granite State Room of the MUB, and a $10 fee due at registration covers coffee, snacks, lunch and parking. To reserve a space, call Durham Police at 868-2324 or UNH Affirmative Action at 862-2930 by Friday, August 6th if you plan on attending.
UNH Cooperative Extension Inservice offerings for the next year (September 2004-August 2005) are now available for registration by all Extension staff. Register by using the on-line form by August 27th.
Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor with the UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics, and Associate Director Nancy Franz will share their thoughts about “Ensuring Successful Work Teams” at an inservice set for September 13th at the Merrimack County Office.
Those attending will discuss:
* Why work teams are needed
* Elements of successful teams
* Effective team leadership
* Effective team “followership”
* Building the emotional intelligence of teams to enhance success
* What this means for Extension work teams
To learn more, check out Vanessa’s article on “Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups” in the Harvard Business Review (March 2001, Vol. 79 Issue 3, pg. 80) or Nancy ’s article on Work Teams in the Journal of Extension (April 2004). Sign up for this inservice using the on-line registration form.
The RFP for UNH Cooperative Graduate Assistantships is found at http://www.ceinfo.unh.edu/common/documents/gradstud.pdf. Proposals are due March 2nd to Nancy Franz. The Leadership Team will review the proposals and announce funded proposals in mid March. This program provides a great opportunity for meaningful interaction between Extension Educators, specialists, graduate students and faculty. I look forward to your participation in this aspect of our strategic plan for university engagement.
Coalition building is an exciting and effective community intervention based on collaborative problem solving. A workshop set for May 4th, for all who work in communities, including all Extension educators, addresses principles of success in creating community change through coalitions. Discussions will center on coalition building barriers, strategies for coalition success, and maintaining activities and success. The presenter, Tom Wolff, PhD., authored From the Ground Up! A Workbook on Coalition Building and Community Development. Contact Charlie French, 862-0316 for more information. The training takes place at UNH Cooperative Extension's Hillsborough County Office (Goffstown) from 9:30-4 pm. The $45 fee covers training, lunch, and helps offset Dr. Wolff's costs. Sign up using the on-line registration for inservices under Professional Development on our web site.
There is plenty of room in this in service but staff need to register soon - an insufficient number of registrants may cause cancellation. It's an important topic as we head into the future!
Cynthia "Mil" Duncan returns to the University of New Hampshire this spring as founding director of the Carsey Institute for Families and Communities. Seeded by a $7.5 million gift from alumna and television producer Marcy Carsey, the institute will serve as a center for faculty in the social, behavioral and health sciences conducting research on individuals, families and communities.
Widely recognized for her research on rural poverty, Duncan was a sociologist at UNH for 11 years before leaving to become director of the Ford Foundation's Community and Resource Development Unit in 2000. At the Ford Foundation, she was responsible for a team of national and international leaders in the community development, youth and environmental fields and a $70 million annual grant program.
The Carsey Institute will support faculty and student researchers developing cross-disciplinary projects that contribute to national discussions about policies affecting families and communities. It will provide a bridge between UNH faculty and northern New England communities and institutions.
Thank you to all staff who completed the online staff inventory for the Plan of Work process. The results are available on our internal web site at: http://cecf1.unh.edu/staffinventory/index.cfm
I also extend my appreciation to the staff members and campus partners who helped interpret the gap analysis data including the staff inventory. From this process, the following themes were identified for further exploration at the January 13 Plan of Work Caucus:
Financial planning and management
Civic participation and community network development
Parenting
Healthy lifestyles
Career/workforce development
Youth in out-of-school time
Land use
Water quality
Support for agricultural producers and related industries
Economic viability of small businesses
Thanks to those of you who accepted an invitation to participate in the caucus. The event will help us more clearly delineate our programming for the future.
Cooperative Extension staff can enroll in a new graduate course conducted by interactive television and Blackboard courseware for spring semester. The course, entitled "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds," focuses on service learning around school-based nutrition and fitness assessment. Students may register for two, three or four credits as HHS 798I or Nurs 894. Extension Specialist Collete Janson-Sand assists with the course. For more information, contact Tamara Martin
Coalition building is an exciting and effective community intervention based on collaborative problem solving. A May 4, 2004, workshop, for all who work in communities, addresses the principles of success in creating community change through coalitions. Discussions will center on barriers to coalition building, strategies for coalition success, and maintaining activities and success. The presenter, Tom Wolff, PhD., authored From the Ground Up! A Workbook on Coalition Building and Community Development. Contact Charlie French, 862-0316 or charlie.french@unh.edu for more information.
The training will take place at UNH Cooperative Extension's Hillsborough County Office (Goffstown) from 9:30-4:00 pm. The $45 fee covers training, lunch, and helps offset Dr. Wolff's costs. Sign up by using the on-line registration for inservices under Professional Development on our web site.
The University of New Hampshire Staff Professional Development Grant Program provides funds to attain new skills or knowledge that enhances a staff member's performance or eligibility for promotion and be of specific benefit to the department and university. Professional, Administrative and Technical (PAT,) Extension Educator (EE) and Operating Staff (OS) are eligible to apply for awards not to exceed $750.
The grant committee meets four times each year to review applications and award grants. Applications for the second quarter of the year are due Monday, December 1. Information and grant applications are on line at http://www.unh.edu/hr/pdfs/staffdev.pdf or contact Pat Stuart at 862-2208.
The current issue of the Journal of Extension (JOE) continues to offer excellent resources. Click on http://www.joe.org/index.html to read the latest in Extension work, including "Assessing Extension Internal Organizational Needs Through an Action Research and Learning Process" and "Women's Retirement: Beyond Issues of Financial Security."
JOE expands and updates the research and knowledge base for Extension professionals and other adult educators to improve their effectiveness. In addition, JOE serves as a forum for emerging and contemporary issues affecting Extension education, and the latest issue is no exception!
There is still time to sign up for the November 20 inservice, "Revenue Generation - Secrets of Success for Cooperative Extension Professionals." The inservice takes place in Boscawen from 9:00-3:30. There is a small registration charge and lunch is included. Materials on grant writing will be available. The program features staff from the Office of Sponsored Research, the UNH Foundation, and a panel of Extension professionals who use grants effectively. Contact Charlene Baxter to register and add your name to the on-line inservice registration list.
All staff with an interest in financial literacy should reserve May 14 for the first NH Conference on Women and Money. Co-sponsors include the Treasurer of the State of New Hampshire and the NH Commission on the Status of Women. UNH Cooperative Extension is involved in planning this conference. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Here’s a suggested online resource from Holly Young and Peg Boyles. If you haven’t yet checked out http://www.visualthesaurus.com/desktop/index.jsp, it is well worth a look! Visual Thesaurus is a word book for people more comfortable with pictures (and spatial relationships) than with words. That said, Visual Thesaurus also is a treat for those of us who delight in studying shades of meaning and the relationships among words.
To take the program for a test drive, click on ONLINE EDITION at the top of the page and then in the upper left corner of the screen, type in a word. (For example, if you type the word TOP, nouns and verbs synonyms for TOP appear. Then you can click on any of those to further refine the search.)
On another writing note, most of us at one time or another have felt misunderstood, patronized or downright insulted by a piece of writing. Just as likely, most of us—however unwittingly—have probably written words that insulted or showed profound misunderstanding of some of our readers.
Cultural, gender, ethnic, racial or other forms of bias can creep into a piece of writing when the writer fails to root out his or her unexamined assumptions. Merely supporting facts with research-based evidence may not go far enough. For example, a reader may perceive a fact sheet as biased if the writer doesn’t demonstrate awareness of the moral implications underlying the facts, or fails to note that research into the same issue used the same facts but reached a different conclusion.
Poor word choice, the tone of the prose style, or the writer’s attitude toward his/her intended readers can also reveal bias. Bias emerges in subtle forms the writer may not detect, but sensitive readers grasp immediately.
If you’d like a piece of writing reviewed for bias (or any other purpose), take advantage of the coaching service for Cooperative Extension writers—call or email Holly (862-1564) or Peg (225-5505).
Program Leaders approved the following procedures to ensure full participation in staff professional development opportunties.
Inservice Participants
Staff who sign up for an inservice and can’t attend must directly inform the presenter as soon as possible. This may result from a schedule conflict, change in employment status or for personal reasons such as health problems. Please show the same courtesy you would expect from colleagues who sign up for your programs. A last minute change of mind, such as "I'm too busy,” isn't an acceptable conflict. You are expected to honor the commitment to the best of your ability. You are also responsible for participant costs if you don’t inform the presenter soon enough to make necessary adjustments. Your registration fee or other costs won’t be refunded if you don't inform the presenter about your absence from the program in a timely manner. Program Leaders will note chronic “no show” practices in performance appraisals, which will be considered poor performance.
Presenters
Check your inservice registration list on our web-based system as you approach the time of the inservice. Don’t depend solely on the initial registration process in the fall to ensure participation in your inservice. Since conditions for inservice participation often change for the participant and the presenter send an e-mail confirming inservice details. The e-mail also acts as a reminder and method of confirming participant participation. Ask for a positive confirmation to your e-mail. Please take into consideration that some registrants may not respond to your communication because they are no longer employed by Extension, have health problems or are otherwise incapacitated. If you suspect or experience a chronic “no show” registrant, contact your Program Leader so the issue can be addressed.
The FY04 Inservice Calendar has two additional inservice offerings. Use the online form on our web site for details or to sign up. The workshops are:
Coalition Building from the Ground Up – May 4, 2004
Coalition building is an exciting and effective community intervention based on collaborative problem solving. This workshop will address the principles of success in creating community change through coalitions. Discussions will center on barriers to coalition building, strategies for coalition success and maintaining the coalition's activities and success.
Group and Consensus Building
This is a year-long (7 session) course in facilitation and building group consensus. Sessions introduce the art and craft of leading groups through interactive lecture-discussions, readings, videos and practice. Sample topics are group process, a facilitator’s role, neutrality, the art of recording, design planning and the process to fit group goals, tools to build group consensus, group conflict resolution, participatory designs for dialogue and much more. Space is limited. A commitment to six out of seven of the sessions is critical.
Additional Location: North Country - Berlin Nov. 20, Dec. 17, 2003, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 18, April 15, May 6, June 17, 2004 (snow date), 9-3 pm, Woodlands Credit Union, Community Room, Berlin. The facilitator is Charlie French.
The inservice sign-up deadline is today, so take time to register at http://cecf1.unh.edu/inserv2/signup/inserv_signup_home.cfm.
Based on the results of the ITDE Training Needs Assessment Survey, ITDE classes aren't scheduled through the Inservice Calendar this year. Training classes are available, as needed, to groups of staff members with a common need. Details of the plan are found at http://ceinfo.unh.edu/cragin/common/documents/ITDEN703.htm#TO_One .
If you have any questions or concerns about Inservice sign-up, contact Bob Edmonds or Deb Russell.
Charlie French, Judy Bush, Charlene Baxter and Nancy Franz will attend the Community Development Society Conference at Cornell University July 20 - 23. Co-sponsors are the Community Development Society and Cornell University's Community and Rural Development Institute.
The conference is part of the continuing effort by the Community Development Society to provide leadership to professionals and citizens across the spectrum of community development. The conference theme is "Community as Place." Participants will collectively explore the relationship between community development and community sustainability. With a focus on "place," participants will explore different perspectives on the intersection of natural, built and cultural environments. Participants will discuss and learn about resources and approaches that foster community development.
The Conference features multiple tracks covering areas such as Community Vitality, Economic Development, Extension, Environment, Practice, Research and Graduate Studies, Social and International Issues, Urban Issues, Telecommunications, and Faith-based Community Development. Mobile workshops will go into the local community for first-hand experiences in community development. Reports back to Extension staff will follow from the four participants from New Hampshire.
A reminder that many program development and evaluation resources are available in our internal web area under "Program Planning & Evaluation Team". Posted are a Logic Model Word template and color Logic Model poster: http://cecf1.unh.edu/ppet/index.cfm?fuseaction=committee.resources. Also provided are numerous links to a wide variety of related resources: http://cecf1.unh.edu/ppet/index.cfm?fuseaction=committee.links. Contact Lisa Townson or Seth Wilner is you have questions about any of these resources or to suggest others that should be included.
It's time to submit in-service and other training offerings for the October 2003 - September 2004 year. This information was sent via email on June 5th to specialists and others who normally conduct in-services. Please refer to that email for detailed information for your request. Remember, this is a year to develop the POW and some program areas are offering fewer in-services to allow time for needs assessment and POW development. We hope to increase our efficiency this year by using PictureTel for more trainings. If you have questions or concerns, contact Bob Edmonds. If you misplaced the June 5th e-mail, contact Deb Russell. We hope to have the professional development offerings ready for Web registration by the end of July. A notice with more information will be sent at that time.
Cooperative Extension staff from throughout the state enjoyed a full day of workshops and activities last Tuesday during our annual conference at the Courtyard by Marriott in Concord. Outstanding speakers and entertainment by the Extension Chords were key factors in making our day of learning, laughter, and recognition a memorable one. Highlights included the awarding of the second Maynard & Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship to Jeff Schloss; the formal introduction of Paul Bonaparte-Krogh and Nancy Franz; informative and motivational presentations by Lew Feldstein, David Butler, and Ann Weaver Hart; recognition of Judy Bush's Presidential Award of Excellence; the announcement that the 4-H Foundation of NH met its Centennial fund raising goal of $100,000; and recognition of Ed McAllister for his years of dedication and service to UNH Cooperative Extension. Another highlight of the day was the unveiling of the new "face of New Hampshire". Thanks go to the Conference Planning Committee for organizing and leading the event: Bob Edmonds (chair), Cheryl Smith, Faye Cragin, Tina Savage, Suzann Knight, Deb Cheever, Lynn Thurber, Tim Fleury, Bob Craycraft, Siobhan Craig and Holly Young.
Applications for UNH staff professional development grants are awarded four times each year. Applications for the fourth quarter of the year are due on June 2. Information and grant application materials can be accessed on-line at: http://www.unh.edu/hr/pdfs/staffdev.pdf
UNH Cooperative Extension and Maine Cooperative Extension will co-sponsor "Meeting the Needs of Children, Youth and Families in a Media Age" May 30 from 9-4 p.m. at McConnell Hall on the UNH campus. Dr. Michael Rich, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, will speak on "Media and Child Health: Peril and Promise." Various media-related workshops will be held throughout the day. The $40 fee includes lunch and refreshments. To register or for more information, contact Karen Blass at 679-5616, (800) 248-6672 or karen.blass@unh.edu. Enrollment is limited.
The NH Dept. of Corrections Family Connections Center hosts a video-conference, "Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise," June 18, 11:30-3 p.m. at UNH in Durham. Promoted by the National Institute of Corrections in conjunction with the UNH Family Studies Dept. and UNH Cooperative Extension, the video-conference identifies the problems and greatest needs of incarcerated parents and caretakers with regard to their children, the problems and issues that put children of prisoners or former prisoners at risk, and evidence-based approaches to supporting and building on the strengths of these children. To attend, contact Kristina Toth, the Family Connections Center program administrator, by May 14 at frc@together.net.
CIS has added to and changed its computer training offerings since we published our ITDE newsletter. Please note the following changes. The Photoshop classes on May 16 & 23 will use Photoshop version 7, rather than 6. The following new offerings have been listed:
Word 2002 (XP) - Level 1 June 13
Word 2002 (XP) - Level 2 June 20
Word 2002 (XP) - Level 3 June 27
Adobe Acrobat Version 5 - Level 1 June 25
Word Training - Note that these use the current version of Word, which is or will be on all Extension computers. The cost for each of these is $79. To register, click on http//www.cistrainingcenter.unh.edu/
During the Evaluation In-Service Training on March 6, the need to address organizational barriers to evaluation was voiced. A follow-up "Evaluation Barriers" session has been scheduled for this purpose on June 18 from 9:00-1:00, in the Merrimack office. We'll use the Chadwick Consensus Building Model to create a system that nurtures evaluation and minimizes obstacles. More information will be provided to participants of the March 6 session but all staff are welcomed to attend. Contact Lisa Townson or Seth Wilner to sign-up or if you have questions.
Extension Educators and PAT employees are eligible for professional development leave. Such leave is a benefit of UNH employment but considered a privilege rather than right. Leaves are granted to eligible professional staff members only when established criteria are met. Each application is judged on its own merits and availability of funding. The development of any requests should fully involve both the employee and her/his supervisor. Further details can be found in the online UNH Policy Manual at: http://usnholpm.unh.edu/USY/V.Pers/E.htm. The Application for Leave of Absence is posted in the protected area of the UNHCE web site under Policies and Procedures: http://ceinfo.unh.edu/cragin/admin/nonsecure/LOA.pdf
As the Northeast faces severe fiscal and economic distress, our communities...especially rural communities...must build capacity for community and economic development. In preparing to address these capacity-building needs, Cornell University is hosting a Community and Rural Development Institute on July 20-23, as part of the annual conference of the Community Development Society. The institute is designed as an opportunity for Extension Educators in the Northeast to meet with community development professionals, practitioners and scholars from across the country to explore best-practice case studies and thinking. Posted for further information is a conference overview and publicity flyer. Visit http://www.cds2003.org/ for full conference details and online registration.
Volunteers from seven County Advisory Councils returned home Wednesday night from Washington, DC, concluding another successful trip to attend the National Leadership Seminar. This annual event is sponsored by the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). The seminar included visits to Capitol Hill on Wednesday where our delegation met with Senator Judd Gregg and Congressman Jeb Bradley in their offices (see photo), and with legislative assistants in Senator Sununu and Congressman Bass' offices.
Attendees this year were Jack Potter, Belknap County; Maria Callahan and Tara Durgin, Cheshire County; Marcia Poulin, Hillsborough County; Jamie Robertson, Merrimack County; Carolyn Buskirk, Carroll County; Harmony Anderson, Strafford County; and Brian Jervis, Rockingham County. Holly Young was group leader. Paul Bonaparte-Krogh also attended and participated in a separate track on advocacy training.
Karen Bennett is representing the northeast region on the advisory committee for the "National Web-based Learning Center for Nonfederal Forest and Range Lands." Newly established by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), it will be a virtual natural resource education center, providing interactive on-line experiences for forest and range owners. One goal is to increase the capacity of Extension Educators through prepared presentations, continuing education courses and certificate programs. Hosted at the University of Tennessee, the center's initial program development started through a Request for Proposals call to the states seeking the development of educational modules on forest, range, wildlife and aquatic resources. Bennett will travel to Tennessee in January where the committee will determine which modules to fund. To learn more about the center see: http://web.utk.edu/~fwf/proposal.html
Penn State's World Campus now offers opportunities to earn graduate-level credits in Community and Economic Development on-line. A 13-credit graduate Certificate is available on-line. A 25-credit Master's degree is available through a combination of on-line and resident courses. Four 3-credit courses are available, and one field experience paper, all of which can be applied toward the master's degree in community and economic development. These highly interactive courses are taught by resident Penn State faculty and take place in an exciting virtual classroom filled with students from around the globe.
This is a great way to pursue your educational and professional goals without relocating or interrupting your career. Details of the program are available at: http://cedev.aers.psu.edu. Registration for the on-line courses is available at: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/cedev/index.shtml.
""Dynamic Modeling,"" an online self-paced graduate level course taught by Professor Bruce Hannon, will be offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign January 21-April 1, 2003.
Dynamic modeling is a process of scientific thinking and extending our knowledge, aided by a machine. It allows one to formulate and revise scientific hypotheses and theories using logic and evidence and is a truly interdisciplinary skill. In this course, participants will learn the utility and power of dynamic modeling and simulation as research, teaching, and business tools. They will learn how to develop a computer model of their choice using the modeling tool STELLA. For further details about the course (CPSC 368), to learn more about dynamic modeling, or to register online for the self-paced online course, visit the course Web site at www.dynamicmodeling.uiuc.edu or the Academic Outreach registration site at https://www-s.continuinged.uiuc.edu/ao/registration (choose CPSC department and CPSC 368 course).
This course is offered by the University of Illinois Office of Continuing Education Division of Academic Outreach, in partnership with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. For further information about Academic Outreach credit and professional development offerings, contact Brenda Pacey, Program Director, at bpacey@uiuc.edu.
Mark your calendar for the Community Development Academy (CDA): Building Communities from the Grassroots. The week-long training (March 30-April 4, 2003) is sponsored by Cooperative Extension-SNHC, and will be held at the Inns at Mill Falls in Meredith. This professional development experience is recommended for all new Extension Educators and those newly working with communities. The educators who attended in 2000 agreed they gained a wealth of rich experiences . Training topics include:
* The action planning process
* Assessing the community accurately
* Community-based development concepts
* Working together effectively through networks and coalitions
* Impact Assessment: Measuring Outcomes
* Leadership in today's world
* Tools needed to support community success
* Involving people and volunteers
* Plus much more….
Tuition is $195 and there are lodging/commuter options. Some partial scholarships are available. Registration must be submitted by mail or fax by January 1, 2003 to Judy Bush at 796-2271 or judy.bush@unh.edu. You can link to the brochure from our website under Community Development News.
Specialists who met June 4 asked for an inservice system which allows inservice offerings to be made throughout year. We now have in place a "dynamic" system for accepting new workshops, trainings and seminars at any time. This won't replace the annual call for inservice programs. The annual compilation of inservice offerings is necessary for staff to plan their year in advance.
If you wish to add an inservice offering to the calendar during the year, follow this procedure:
* With approval of the appropriate program leader, send the information about the inservice in the standard format to Sharon Ross, who will post it to the on-line inservice calendar.
* Include a brief description of the inservice for the bi-weekly update. This will let Extension staff know there is a new inservice available for on-line registration.
* The inservice presenter will then be able to check the on-line system for their attendance list.
This isn't an alternative to the annual comprehensive inservice list available each August. Timely submission of inservice offerings will be expected from specialists when the call goes out in July. This addition to our system will allow for scheduling quick response inservices or to capture opportunities not available during the regular inservice solicitation period.
Reminder for inservice presenters: You now obtain your registration lists directly from the online system. On our web page go to "Administration", then "Professional Development" and click on "FY 02-03 Inservice." Under "Individual Course Registration" select the appropriate title for the list of those attending. Since people can sign-up at any time, you will need to check the listings periodically.
The FY 2002-03 Inservice Calendar is available at http://cecf1.unh.edu/inserv/signup/inserv_signup_home.cfm
You will need to sign in to our secure area.
Registration will again be done electronically. On the sign-up form, indicate your name, e-mail address, campus/county address and program area. Check the boxes next to the programs you wish to attend, and click on "submit." This will send your selections to your program leader/supervisor via e-mail and will also register you for the courses you selected. You will receive a confirmation that your selections have been approved. Please submit your selections by August 23.
Note to support staff: Select "administration" as your program area, then print your completed form and give it to your supervisor for approval. Be sure to also submit the form electronically to be registered in the courses you have chosen.
The UNH Summer Catalogue offers over 350 credit courses and 150 non-credit workshops. This is a good opportunity to take advantage of a pilot program introduced by UNH Human Resources for non-credit courses. New this summer, the fee structure for full-time employees is as follows:
* 50% of non-credit course tuition is paid by USNH
* 16.6% of approved, job-related course tuition is paid by HR
* 16.7% of approved, job-related course tuition is paid by the department
* 16.7% of course tuition, plus any course fees, is paid by the staff member.
The complete Summer Session catalog is available at: http://www.learn.unh.edu/summer or request a printed copy by calling 862-4234. Non-Credit Tuition Assistance forms are available in the Registrar's office and Human Resources.
In response to department requests and positive feedback, a second presentation of Street Smart From 9-5®, will take place Friday, April 26. In partnership with University Police, the Office of Human Resources invites you to participate in this unique training opportunity. Street Smart From 9-5®, is a program developed in response to the increasing demand for practical solutions to the problem of workplace violence. You will learn to prevent violence from happening, to intervene effectively when it does occur, and learn to promote an atmosphere of respect, service and safety in their workplace. This is an in-depth, full day program, scheduled from 8-4pm. The program class size is limited to 30 participants. Mark your calendars and register for April 26 for this opportunity. The course fee is $25. Contact Christina VanHorn, Office of Human Resources, 862-0519, to register or questions or email Human Resources at: UNH.HR.POD@unh.edu. There is a maximum number of 30 participants.
The Marketing Team's in-service scheduled for Thursday, April 11, has been changed to Friday, April 12, at the Boscawen office. The workshop is shaping up to be a great informational, hands-on session focusing on how social marketing applies to all Extension program areas. If you've already signed up, please note the date change. If you're interested in signing up, contact Holly Young.
A large number of staff, plus all Program Leaders, participated in a very successful 2-day Logic Model in-service this week, conducted by Lisa Townson and Seth Wilner. The Logic Model is a program planning model being adopted by Extension nationally. It provides a process for identifying a program's inputs, outputs, and outcomes, including the evaluation methods for determining impacts. This model gives us the needed tool to immediately begin designing high priority programs that produce impacts. If you missed this essential training, follow-up opportunities to learn about the model will likely be offered through program area meetings or other workshops. Contact your Program Leader, Lisa or Seth if you have questions about the Logic Model.
The UNH Office of Intellectual Property Management is offering a workshop for UNH faculty and staff on February 20, 9:30-11:00 in the Environmental Technology Building. Space is limited and registration is requested. Contact Sharon Blake for a copy of the announcement.
Applications for the next session of the Northeast Leadership Development (NeLD) program are being accepted. NeLD is sponsored by the 13 northeast states and provides a forum to build a network of individuals who have the potential to provide leadership for Cooperative Extension in the future. Participants are selected based on their leadership potential, motivation to explore change, willingness to take risks, receptiveness to feedback and ability to fulfill commitments. Participants must agree to participate in three, 4-day seminars (starting May 2002), implement a leadership development plan, and complete a leadership change project. A NeLD brochure is available at: http://ceinfo.unh.edu/cragin/Common/Documents/NeldBRO.pdf. The application package is available at: http://ceinfo.unh.edu/cragin/common/documents/NeLDAP.pdf Applications are due February 1 and must be approved by and submitted through your Program Leader. The Leadership Team will make final selections.
When you register for an in-service training, your attendance is planned for and expected. Specialists and facilitators count on it and plan for the number of registrants. Food and supplies are purchased for those signed up. Of course, there are instances when an urgent situation may prevent someone who is registered for an in-service to attend, however, please keep in mind that if you sign up, then your attendance is expected. As a courtesy and professional responsibility, please let specialists and in-service planners know if your plans change. Any associated costs resulting from "no-shows" who don't attend in-services for which they are registered will be passed along to the registrant.
Penn State's World Campus now offers an exciting opportunity to earn graduate-level credits in community and economic development online. Four 3-credit courses are available, and one field experience paper, all of which can be applied toward a master's degree in community and economic development. These highly interactive courses are taught by Penn State faculty and take place in an exciting virtual classroom filled with students from around the globe. This is a great way to pursue your educational and professional goals without relocating or interrupting your career. Details of the program are available at: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/cedev/index.shtml.
A workshop on CSREES competitive grants, grantsmanship and proposal writing will be held on October 18 in Syracuse, New York. Hosted by Cornell University, this one-day workshop begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m., at the Hotel Syracuse. The registration fee is $100 before Sept. 20. Late registration is $125. Additional information and registration form are available at: http://www.cals.cornell.edu/ofr/usdanriworkshop-revised.htm
Barbara Hunter, Marilyn Sullivan and Deb Maes recently attended a three-day training in Washington, D.C., on financial fitness. The conference was sponsored by Neighborhood Reinvestment to support affordable housing groups across the United States. Back in New Hampshire, each will be working with a local housing group in Laconia, Concord and Littleton, to use current Extension curriculums to provide financial education to individuals and families interested in home ownership and asset management.
Several minor revisions to the Extension Educator Promotion Procedures were approved during a recent joint meeting of the Promotion Committee and Leadership Team. The complete procedures are posted in the protected area of our web page under "Policies and Procedures" and can be printed as needed.
There are still a few spaces available for the Building Community Through Public Deliberation workshops being held on April 16 & 17 and April 18 & 19. Anyone interested should contact Karen Watts at 862-5046
Staff can still sign up to attend "Building Community Through Public Deliberation," April 16-19 at The Inns at Mills Falls, Meredith. The first two days are the Public Policy Institute; April 18-19 is an Issues Framing Workshop. You'll learn to moderate deliberative discussions of public issues and gain expertise in dealing with local and community issues. Call Karen Watts at 862-5046 or Judy Bush at 225-5505 for information and registration materials.
Family Development educators and staff will meet Monday, March 26, at the Belknap County Extension office in Laconia. A number of staff will have just returned from the CYFAR Conference and will provide an update. The meeting will begin at 9:30 and conclude by 3:30. Bring your lunch or plan to order pizza or sub/salads.
Following last year's Outcome Measurement I program, this new program goes into greater detail, providing participants with an examination of how outcome measurement works, and how to develop appropriate instruments to collect and analyze data. It's scheduled for May 3 from 1:30-4:30. We will purchase a downlink license only if there is sufficient interest. Contact Ed McAllister to register for this training.
Twenty staff recently completed the first non-credit Program Evaluation course designed specifically for Extension. Taught by Dr. Michael Kalinowski from the Dept. of Family Studies, the course was very successful in teaching basic evaluation design, implementation and analysis. During the course each participant created an evaluation instrument intended for use in evaluating an existing program. The course will be offered again this fall but only if there is sufficient interest. The class meets once per month from Sept. to Dec. for a half day. Contact Ed McAllister NOW if you have interest.
There is still time to sign up for The ABCs of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Science and Application on-line continuing education course offered by East Carolina University in cooperation with Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Find information, including the syllabus, at http://www.ecu.edu/usda/ Questions? Contact Kathy Kolasa kolasaka@mail.ecu.edu East Carolina University's Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management is also offering a one credit (advanced undergraduate/graduate) on-line course which builds on the continuing education course (HESC 5005). Visit http://www.ecu.edu/usda for information and links to registration.
Twenty staff just completed the Extension Program Evaluation course offered this semester. This first effort to provide staff development through a formal course was quite successful. Each participant ended the course having developed an evaluation instrument they intend to administer and use to collect outcome and impact data. If you were unable to participate but would be interested in an evaluation course next fall, please inform Ed McAllister.