Institutional Support Institutional support was identified as a challenge through the initial interviews. This category includes funding and other resources and limited staff capacity/resources (small staff) also referenced in funding and other resources. This category also includes linkages across the Land-grant missions of Extension, research, and teaching. The subcategory that is unique to the institutional support category is organizational trust. Institutional support was identified as the top ranked challenge for the 1994 Land-grants and ranked third for the 1862 and 1890 institutions. A summary of the subcategories selected as most important by those identifying institutional support is included in Table 12. Limited staff capacity and resources was followed by funding as other issues as the top issue across all institutional types. Organizational trust ranked third for 1862 and 1890 Land-grants but appeared not to be as big an issue for 1994 institutions, ranking fifth. Linkages across the Land-grant missions of Extension and teaching appeared to be a greater concern for 1890 and 1994 institutions, while linkages between Extension and research was selected more frequently for 1862 universities.
Table 12 Challenges ranked from greatest to least based on percent responses associated with institutional support provided by Land-grant institution type.
Institutional Rank from Highest to Lowest % Responses All Institutions 1862 1890 1994
Institutional Support Subcategories Limited staff capacity/resources (small staff)
1 - 28.88
1 - 28.07
1 - 31.34
1 - 43.24
Funding and other resources
2 - 25.17
2 - 25.53
2 - 20.90
2 - 24.32
Organizational trust
3 - 16.11
3 - 16.53
3 - 16.42
5 - 5.41
Linkage across Land-grant missions of Extension and research Linkage across Land-grant missions of Extension and teaching
4- 15.16
4 - 15.36
5 - 13.43
4 - 13.51
5 - 13.06
5 - 12.92
4 - 14.93
3 - 13.51
Other (please explain)
6 - 1.62
6 - 1.59
6 - 2.99 No Responses
Number of Question Responses
1049
944
67
37
Written responses to others suggest challenges in both 1862 and 1890 Land-grants associated with bureaucracy creating challenges in allowing Extension to react quickly when needed as well as issues in spending money or getting purchases approved. One 1862 respondent noted need for “funding to support cross-campus collaboration and regional extension and research objectives to address real world societal issues.” Another respondent felt there was limited institutional support for Extension because of the ge ographic and philosophical mission- driven distance between the two entities. Concerns with “transparency and accountability” were also noted.
Three other responses related to concerns associated with politics. The comments are as stated verbatim:
Political fear negating ability to take a firm stance on science-based policies (too many extension directors refused to take the COVID vaccine. Insane).
Threats to tenure/permanent status, threats to academic integrity and freedom to research/teach what we like without political influence
Politics are interfering with science pursuits and dissemination.
19
Powered by FlippingBook