For Release December 11, 1998
Board of Regents Approves Redesign for Cooperative Extension Serviced
ABERDEEN—The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) will be changing to meet the needs of the next century, according to a plan adopted today by the South Dakota Board of Regents at its regular business meeting on the campus of Northern State University.
After a year-long study, involving members of the State Extension Advisory Board and county extension boards, commodity groups, county commissioners, non-extension users, and extension personnel, Peggy Gordon Elliott, President of South Dakota State University (SDSU), and Larry Tidemann, Interim Director of CES, presented the recommended changes to the Regents.
"Those who responded to our survey and participated in the discussions understand that any organization needs to change," said Tidemann, "but they still believe that CES should have a presence in every county. We will continue to do that with technology and well-trained staff. Our mission is to provide science-based information, which we will do by expanding access to all the resources of the university."
Tidemann added, "The core programs of agriculture, youth development, and family will remain the same. As a result of the study, we have developed core values. CES will be responsive, excellent, accountable, credible, respectful, and catalytic. People will see a change in structure and method of delivery of services, however. We are updating with the times as we rely more heavily on technology. We are also requesting that the name of county extension agents be changed to county extension educators. That title better reflects their role as information resource and problem solver."
The plan calls for CES to expand educational opportunities by giving local access to both credit and non-credit courses. Elliott said that county extension educators will be able to combine many of the university’s resources into workshops, short courses, and certificate programs, as well as credit courses. "We think this redesign meets one of the goals of the Regents, which is to increase access to higher education for South Dakotans. We will be able to offer not just the traditional programs of agriculture and family sciences but also enough courses for an individual to meet other important educational goals. All the resources of the regental system will be available to assist communities as they struggle with economic or environmental problems, for example. This is an exciting time for CES."
Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry agreed, "The Cooperative Extension Service and all of its partners are to be commended for the work they have done on this plan. Extension is an integral part of the land grant mission of SDSU. With this plan we preserve the traditions while meeting the needs of a new time." The plan will be forwarded to the Legislature in January.
All proposed changes should be in effect by 2001.
For more information contact: Larry Tidemann, CES, SDSU, (605) 688-4792.