MISSION & PURPOSE All universities engage in research and teaching, but the nation’s 112 Land-grant Universities and Colleges, including Historically Black Land-grant Universities and Tribal Colleges, have a third critical mission—Extension. “Extension” means reaching out and extending university research and resources to meet public needs through non-formal educational programs at the community level. The Cooperative Extension System (CES) engages people and communities in these educational opportunities to help them solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future where they live and work.
solve problems develop skills build a better future
people, businesses and local communities
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LGUs, HBCUs & TCUs
With thousands of Land-grant University and county-based Extension employees and over two million volunteers, CES crosses every state and U.S. territory. Working with a network of public and private organizations, CES brings science-based resources to the people and communities who need them most. The Extension Foundation was originally formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administra- tors to provide technology services for the Cooperative Extension System at a national level to publish content for the public through Communities of Practice. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Extension Foundation also provides leadership for technology adoption through initiatives funded by a grant through USDA NIFA with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence, and administering commercial systems for Cooperative Extension to use nationally. The Foundation also provides professional development opportunities to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members. Its purpose is in its mission statement: to help the U.S. Cooperative Extension make a more visible, measurable, impact on local issues. VISION To serve as a critical partner to the Cooperative Extension System and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy on national issues that result in increased system capacity, scalable programs and initiatives, and greater visibility and impacts.
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EXTENSION FOUNDATION | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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