New Talking Points for 2009 budget

Additional funding for eXtension will:

• leverage and grow existing and new corporate and private industry partnerships.

• leverage other grant and contract funds

• change the Cooperative Extension workforce to provide better educational programs and information for Americans.

• expand current communities of practice identification and growth at appropriate levels

• allow repackaging and repurposing by changing curriculum development practices

• establish a legacy "archive" for an aging Cooperative Extension workforce

From 2007/8 Letter

• eXtension will create a direct, 24-7 link from consumers to university-based extension and research experts throughout the United States, not just those within a consumer's own state or community. (Local extension professionals will, of course, continue to be available for face-to-face follow-up.)

• eXtension will harness the latest research from America's land-grant universities and colleges, aggregating knowledge that at present is dispersed across the country.

• eXtension will stand out in the online information marketplace because its content will be reviewed by nationally recognized scientists and extension specialists and follow consistent standards to ensure that the educational materials are valid, concise, and easy to use.

• Through eXtension, the Cooperative Extension System has the opportunity to serve its existing customers more effectively and extend the university system to new audiences, who will undoubtedly find the rich and diverse knowledge of benefit in both their personal and professional lives.

• Beyond these direct public benefits, eXtension will provide extension professionals in over 3,000 county locations with critical up-to-the-minute intelligence, data, and materials. This will enable these professionals to spend less time searching for and packaging information and more time in direct consultation with the public. Enhanced client outcomes will result.

• Although eXtension will be a universal point of entry into the Cooperative Extension System the content will be framed in such a way as to reinforce state and local identities. There will also be direct links to resources and professionals at state and local offices and users will be able to receive assistance that is customized to their needs and interests.