needs rather than considering years of service. This considers that individuals will move through different stages at different rates and provides guidance into how people later in their careers may be supported to contribute most productively to the long-term success of the Extension organization. In addition, a career stage approach may more effectively account for prior experience when people transition to other positions within or from outside the Extension organization. A summary of respondents identifying with specific career stages, as well as the definition provided in the survey is included in Table 7.
Table 7 Breakdown of respondents from different Land-grant institutions by career stage.
Land-Grant Types
Career Stage
Definition
All
1862
1890
1994
Employee is entering the profession, attaining foundational skills, and learning about the organization. Employee is accepted as a member of a professional community and able to independently contribute expertise to problem-solving and program development. Employee actively serves in leadership roles within Extension and professional associations. Employee plays a key role in shaping the future of the organization through innovative ideas and original concepts, or sponsoring promising people, has a distinct competence in several areas of expertise and regional and/or national reputation, catalyst for positive change.
Early or Entry
11.88%
11.71%
6.94%
33.33%
Colleague
36.83%
37.09%
34.72%
33.33%
Counselor
28.82%
29.10%
33.33%
4.17%
Advisor
18.72%
18.38%
22.22%
20.83%
Other
3.76%
3.72%
2.78%
8.33%
Number of Question Responses
1012
914
72
24
Respondents selecting “other” rather than identifying with a specific career stage indicated they served in
Academic position outside of Extension
Community educator (general, Family and Consumers Sciences Educator in individuals, families, and communities, Nutrition)
Departmental oversight or supervisor
Late in career or pre-retirement, phasing out and encouraging others to step up and assume leadership roles
New to Extension with previous career experience elsewhere
Part time (Program assistant, retired)
Pesticide safety education program
Pursuing education for a new position
Support roles (administrative assistant, clerical support, program development and assistant, support staff, paraprofessional)
12
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