Our Mission
Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs, and opportunities.
In This Issue
MSU institutional accreditation
Iowa State provides new curriculum on molecular technology
Strasburg named chair of Department of Food Science and Human Nutrtion
Michigan Walk of Fame accepting nominations
MAEA kicks off fund-raising campaign
Current county partner reports needed for legislative visits
Changes in transmittal processing and MAES staffing responsibilities
Urban Extension COnference Nov. 6-9, 2006
Possibilities for involvement in issue identification process
Although it has been a month since Fall Conference came to a close, I continue to reflect on how important this meeting was for me. I have sought out and enjoyed a variety of opportunities to meet with our staff and stakeholders over the past eight months, yet the opportunity to address the breadth of our organization at one time and place was fantastic. I was so pleased to be able to share with you the tremendous strength of our organization by featuring some of the stories and the people I have encountered in my visits. Thank you for joining me at my first Fall Conference and for taking the time to listen to me and to our colleagues. Many people worked hard to make this conference a success and I am grateful for all of their contributions. Within the next two weeks, you will be able to review highlights of Fall Conference and find copies of the handouts from the corporate meeting at the Fall Conference portal page.
I am pleased to confirm that we will be holding Fall Conference next year in Grand Rapids at the Amway Grand Hotel and the DeVos Place. The dates for next year’s conference will be Oct. 10-12. By holding the conference in Grand Rapids, I hope to accomplish several objectives. First, this will give us all a chance to learn about some of the innovative programs our staff have developed in Grand Rapids and surrounding communities. We will resurrect the “workshop on the road” format that was employed several years ago when conference was held at Shanty Creek. In addition, this will help the Michigan Agricultural Extension Agents Association to prepare for their 2007 national conference, which they will host in Grand Rapids at the same facilities.
Earlier this fall, Denise Yockey met with food purchasing staff at MSU residence halls to announce an initiative that will feature Michigan grown apples in MSU cafeterias rather than depending on mealy and tasteless apples from other states’ previous crops. On the one hand, it is a bit embarrassing that this has not happened earlier, yet it also is a signal to all of us that we need to be mindful of the source of our fresh food products. This is important not just to support Michigan’s producers, but also to ensure that we have the freshest products available to us. At next year’s fall conference, we will work with conference organizers to encourage use of local food and beverages as much as possible, and I encourage anyone organizing events that include food service to do the same.
I know that I went over major organizational information rather quickly during my presentation at Fall Conference but I hope that the handouts helped and that you have had some time to digest the information. Over the next few months, I will be sharing detailed proposals with you and will ask for assistance from the associations to gather and synthesize feedback on these actions. Most important, I want to be sure that we are trying to develop policies that will recognize the productivity of our staff and programs, and will prepare us for being as effective as Michigan needs us to be in the future.
As the end of the county fiscal year nears I know that many counties are struggling to balance their budgets and that in some cases these reductions may influence our local Extension programs and staff members. I appreciate all of the hard work that our county Extension directors employ to educate decision makers about our programs and their impacts, and to help commissioners to understand the complexity of their budget options.
You may have noticed recently that the associate director positions have been posted, with a closing date for applications in mid January. Please share these descriptions with individuals whom you would like to see in these roles. We want to recruit a large and diverse pool of candidates for these positions so that we can find the individuals best suited to our organization’s needs. I also encourage you to participate in the interview process when we bring candidates to campus – either by joining us on campus or by viewing interviews and providing feedback via the internet.
I have participated in several conferences over the past few weeks, and want to share some insights from those conferences. The first of these was the “Conservation Learning Summit”, held in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The purpose of this conference was to develop a better understanding of what some identify as a declining trend by young people to show interest and concern about the condition of our natural environment. Perhaps the most poignant description of this trend can be found in a troubling book call “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” by Richard Louv. Mr. Louv is a journalist who carefully describes disturbing trends in children having less access to and fewer encounters with the natural world. A combination of neighborhood design, concerns about safety, and fascination with electronic media has led to fewer and fewer young people understanding that the food they eat comes fom living organisms or that the animals they see on television programs are real and wild. Many people at the conference were concerned that these trends would lead to fewer adults with concern or commitment to conservation of natural resources and even fewer entering the natural resource professions in the future.
Just one week after this conference, I attended the annual meeting of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges in Washington, D.C. In a presentation by Dr. Mary MacPhail Gray, I learned a great deal about the disturbing trends of increasing obesity among young people. Although there are many reasons behind the growth of youth obesity, it is hard to escape the connections between Dr. Gray’s talk and Mr. Louv’s book. If young people spend more time indoors playing electronic games, chatting on the internet, watching television or listening to stereos, they not only lose out on fascinating encounters with the natural world, but also are less active, more inclined to eat in excess and perhaps to make poor food choices. For me, it was an easy logical step to think about our youth development programs and how we might tackle both concerns – lack of encounters with nature and trending toward obesity – by promoting youth involvement in 4-H and our various after-school activities. At the same time, I think it is a good challenge for us to think about how we can keep young people active by helping them to become engaged with their natural world.
I will share some other insights from the NASULGC meetings in a later communication – there are some changes afoot that could affect how we obtain federal funding for our programs in the future, and I think it is important for each of us to understand what forces are motivating these changes.
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is appropriate to take time
to reflect on the opportunities and gifts that we receive and share with
those around us. Also, I think it is important for each of you to know
how important you are to our organization and how many people in Michigan
are grateful for what you do.
MSU institutional accreditation
MSU will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit Feb. 26-March 1 by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. MSU has been accredited by the commission since 1915. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the commission’s criteria for accreditation. More information is available at the commission’s Web site: http://ncahigherlearningcommission.org/.
For the past two years, MSU has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the commission’s requirements and criteria for accreditation as well as a special emphasis self-study on internationalization.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding the university to:
Public Comment on Michigan State University
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing and signed; comments cannot be treated as confidential.
All comments must be received by Jan. 15.
Iowa State provides new educational curriculum on molecular technology
Extension specialists have a new educational resource available about how molecular technology is being used to improve traditional plant and animal breeding and diagnose genetic diseases. It was prepared by the Iowa State University Office of Biotechnology and published by ISU Extension. The set of curriculum materials for high school-age students and adults is titled "From Mendel to Markers: Impact of Molecular Technologies on Animal, Plant and Human Genetics."
The curriculum's three modules help high school students and Extension
youth and adult audiences explore the nature of genes and the rules
of inheritance discovered by Mendel; learn how Mendel's rules and
marker-assisted selection have improved crops, livestock and disease
diagnosis; and develop a framework for evaluating ethical, social
and legal questions associated with controversial technologies
and issues.
Anyone is welcome to download a free copy of the curriculum from the Internet at: http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/mendel.
CDs or printed versions of the 227-page curriculum that are three-hole-punched and ready to be placed in a notebook can be purchased from: Extension Distribution, 119 Printing and Publications Building, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3171. Phone (515) 294-5247, Fax (515) 294-2945, e-mail: pubdist@iastate.edu
The publication number is 4H-948LDR-CD for the CD and 4H-948LDR
for the printed version. Current prices are 75 cents for a CD and
$12 for a printed copy, plus shipping and handling.
MSU
Product Center updates
MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources receives a USDA
grant
The MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources has received
a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) Rural
Cooperative Development Grant Program.
“
The grant will be used to identify small businesses in economically depressed
rural areas and train their operators in the creation of cooperatives,” says
Barbara Fails, Product Center assistant director.
The MSU grant is a portion of the $7.3 million provided by the USDA
to cooperative development centers in 22 states. The Rural Development
Program
works to increase economic opportunities and improve daily life in
rural communities.
MSU Product Center workshop will help entrepreneurs on the road to
independence
Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the food, fiber
and related industries can learn about options for expanding their
businesses
or developing new products by attending one of six workshops offered
across Michigan by the MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural
Resources.
The “Road to Independence” workshop will take place Nov.
22 in Lansing and Nov. 28 in Ubly. All sessions will run from 12:30
to 4:30 p.m. More workshops will be held in January and February
.
Co-sponsored by the Michigan Agriculture Innovation Center, the workshop
will focus on working toward business success, developing business
ideas, and the myths and realities of entrepreneurship.
To get more information or to register, visit www.aec.msu.edu/product/road.htm or call 517-432-8751
Agriculture updates
2005 harvest and storage information
Though hurricanes Katrina and Rita threatened to disrupt grain shipping on the Mississippi River and through the Port of New Orleans, less damage to grain movement channels occurred than had been first anticipated. Michigan farmers are, however, in the midst of an early harvest on a crop with low moisture levels. Though there will be little need for grain drying, mixed yield numbers and a carryover of last year’s crop have many growers considering on-farm temporary grain storage this fall. Others are leaving crops standing in the fields. Click here for information to help farmers handle current harvest challenges, including temporary storage, storage safety and adapting silos for grain storage. In addition, there is information about recent changes to the USDA’s Marketing Assistance Loan Program and information about conditions at the Port of New Orleans. Other sections deal with making decisions related to delaying harvest and a series of links related to marketing options.
MSU Animal Industry Initiative awards research dollars for 2005-06
Twelve MSU animal science research and Extension projects will receive
more than $300,000 in funding approved by the Animal Industry Coalition
for 2005-06.
Each year, state funding supports projects that are part of the Revitalization of Animal Agriculture in Michigan Initiative. The initiative, commonly referred to as the Animal Industry Initiative (AII), is Michigan’s animal agriculture research, teaching and Extension initiative at MSU.
The 12 projects were selected from approximately 40 proposals submitted to the Animal Industry Coalition addressing challenges affecting livestock producers and their industries in the state as identified by livestock industry leaders. Proposals were ranked on the basis of the issues identified as high priority by industry, MSU Extension area of expertise teams and the Animal Industry Coalition.
More than 125 research projects have been funded since AII was established
in 1996. Projects funded for 2005-06 are:
•
Industry newsletters
o Cattle Call -- Dan Buskirk.
o MSU Equine Newsletter -- Christine Skelly.
o Michigan Dairy Review -- David Beede.
o MSU Pork Quarterly -- Ronald Bates.
•
Protecting Surface Waters from Manure Contamination with Microbial
Source-tracking and Vegetative Biofilters -- Tim Harrigan.
•
Manure Management -- Natalie Rector.
•
Michigan Equine Survey: Development, Delivery and Analysis -- Mary Rossano.
•
Developing an Equine Nutrition Online Learning Experience for
Horse Enthusiasts -- Christine Skelly.
•
Efficacy of Ozonated Water Foot Baths on Papillomatous Digital
[Dermatitis] -- Ron Erskine.
•
Economic Benefits of Reduced Phosphorus Excretion in Michigan
Feedlots -- Steven Rust.
•
Optimal Livestock Diet Formulation with Farm Environmental Compliance
Consequences --- Christopher Wolf.
•
Studying Skeletal Health in a Livestock Species -- Mike Orth.
Juan Marinez received the Outstanding Hispanic Leadership Award from
Michigan Hispanic Caucus
Juan Marinez received the Outstanding Hispanic Leadership award from
the Michigan Hispanic Caucus Oct. 12. Marinez has been active in communities
across Michigan, conducting research to document the undercount of Michigan
Hispanic farms by the 2000 census. He also presents to organizations
around Lansing about Hispanic history in Michigan.
Pihlaja and Nichols Receive Doris E. Wetter Fellowship
Joanne Pihlaja |
The Doris E. Wetters Fellowship supports the Extension
mission by helping FCS educators expand their skills through conferences,
special training, and national and international travel. Established
by Dr. Wetters, assistant director of Extension for home economics,
upon her retirement from MSU Extension. Forty-nine fellowships have
been awarded since 1987. In 2005, Jeanne Nichols, Hillsdale County,
received funding for her graduate study, and Joanne Pihlaja, Gogebic
County, was helped to travel to Alaska to study native populations.
Dr. Wetters was recently honored by the National and Michigan Associations for Family and Consumer Sciences for her 50 years of outstanding service. Her Michigan friends and colleagues, past and present, want to honor this milestone in a way we know she will appreciate – by increasing the resources available in her fellowship. You are invited to share in the celebration by sending your donation for the Doris E. Wetters Fellowship to CANR Development, 408 Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039. To ensure proper credit, please write allocation code A10212 on your check. Gifts may be made by payroll deduction, as well. Contact ANR Development
at 517 355-0284 for a form. |
Jeanne Nichols |
2005 MSU Extension awards
Team Nutrition received the 2005 John A Hannah Award for Program Excellence
Patricia Hammerschmidt, program leader; Chris Flood, program leader; and Ann Guyer, associate program leader, coordinate Michigan Team Nutrition, which received the 2005 John A Hannah Award for Program Excellence.
Team Nutrition is a nationwide USDA initiative designed to motivate, encourage and empower schools, families and communities to work together to continually improve school meals and make food and physical activity choices for a healthy lifestyle. In Michigan, Team Nutrition was implemented as a partnership between MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Education.
Sen. Patricia Birkholz and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan named
the 2005 Friends of Extension
Birkholz has long been a supporter of MSUE and its many programs. She
provided strong leadership and support for reinstating MSUE and MAES
funding in the state budget in 2003. She is a role model for other public
officials follow and a true advocate for youth development and the Michigan
4-H Youth Development Program.
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) has been an outstanding
supporter, partner and advocate for MSUE programs in nutrition and 4-H
dairy for many years. UDIM nutritional staff members have collaborated
with MSUE on numerous health-related conferences and curricula development
projects. Most recently, under the leadership of CEO Nick Bellows, they
have provided more than $150,000 in direct financial support for Team
Nutrition efforts across the state.
Elizabeth Moore, Marie Ruemenapp, Elaine Bush, Jan Hartough,
Bill Robb, Mary Robb, Lela Vandenberg, Howard Wandell and Bonnie Witchner-Zoia received
the State Team Award for “Developing Community Leadership: A Guide
for MSU Extension.”
Other Epsilon Sigma Phi awards:
Bill Robb received the Distinguished Service Award.
Mark Hansen received the Meritorious Service Award.
Ben Bartlett, Sr., received the International Award.
Mona Ellard received the Visionary Leadership Award.
Lynn Harvey received the Administrative Leadership Award.
Juan Marinez earned diversity recognition.
Carroll (Jake) Wamhoff, retiree, received the Continued Excellence Award.
Mary Andrews,retiree, received the Retiree Service Award.
LuAnne Gaykowski Kozma, 4-H Youth Development specialist and MSU Museum assistant curator of folk arts, was named Outstanding Extension Specialist for 2005.
Brazier and Lange receive National Distinguished Service Award
Diane Brazier received the National Distinguished
Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Braizer has been
in Emmet County for more than 20 years. She has been the North Region’s
regional director and served as the MAE4-HYS secretary for two years.
At the National 4-H Agents Conference in 1996, Diane skillfully coordinated
the conference information booth.
Connie Lange received the National Distinguished Service award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Lange has provided 24 years of service to MSUE 4-H Youth Development programs in Branch County. Lange has displayed leadership, positive decision-making, and strong communication and teamwork skills on local, state and national levels with various 4-H activities and events.
Other Michigan Association of Extension 4-H Youth Staff awards:
Tina Flemming received the Distinguished Service Award.
Patricia Dignum received the Distinguished Service Award.
Stephanie Cluley received the Achievement Award.
Michelle Peel received the Achievement Award.
Jodi Schultz received the Achievement Award.
Patricia Dignum received the Presidential Citation Award.
Rebecca Henne received the Presidential Citation Award
Michelle Peel received the Presidential Citation Award.
Sherry Grice received the Diversity Award.
Brad Harnick received the Excellence in 4-H Youth Development Programming
Award.
Dave Thomas, Sally Wiefeldt, Michelle Hyde and Bev Przystas received
the Team Effort Award for their regional camping program.
Sara Springsteen, Neil Kentner, Deb Smith, Jim Weaver, Ramie
Peek, Gretchen Knight, Connie Lange, Janice Rajzer, Mark Williams and
Cynthia Mark received
the Team Effort Award for their Citizenship Washington Focus program.
Marilyn Rudzinski, Tina Fleming, Anne Cortser, Kathy Jamieson,
Terry Gibb, Steve Stewart, Eileen Haraminac and Frankie Wasler received the
Team Effort Award for their Great Lakes Education program.
Dr. Margaret Aguwa, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and
David Wells, executive director of the Muskegon General Osteopathic Foundation,
received the Partnership Award for their Osteo-Champs program.
Cathy McCormick, Mason Public Schools, received the Partnership Award
for the Mason Public Schools special education programs.
Diane Liepe, Beverly Przystas, Nancy Beukema, Betsy Knox, Larry
Johnson, Sherry Grice, Nancy Thelen and Sheila Smith were National 25 years of
service recipients.
National Association of County Agriculture Agents awards:
Maury Kaercher and Paul Wylie received the Distinguished Service Award.
James Mantey and Marilyn Thelen received the Achievement Award.
Michigan Association of Extension Agents awards:
Darryl Warncke and Eric Hanson received the Outstanding Extension Specialist
Award.
Jon Dahl received the 2005 Academic Support Staff Award.
Carolyn Pfeister received the 2005 Support Staff Award.
Jane Herbert, Al Gaus, Norm Suverly, Colleen Boyer and Jerry
May received
the Presidential Citation.
Michigan Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences awards:
Sally Carpenter received the Impact on Youth and Family Award.
Connie Costner received the Innovative New Program Award.
Gretchen Hofing received the Management Award.
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences awards:
Zelda Felix-Mottley received the Distinguished Service Award.
Kathy Hale received the Continued Excellence Award.
Joan Vinette received the Environmental Education Award.
Jinnifer Gibbs was the Central Region first place winner in the television
category of the communication contest.
MSUE Diversity Award
Janet Olsen, 4-H Youth Development program leader, received the MSUE
2005 Diversity Award. Throughout her 25-year career in Extension, she
has intentionally integrated issues of diversity and multiculturalism
into 4-H Youth Development. She is particularly gifted at drawing on
research and scholarship from diverse sources and integrating diverse
perspectives. Her work with anti-bullying education across the state,
for example, has been exemplary and has assisted hundreds of people
in understanding how a rejection of differences and a culture of dominance
are often at the root of bullying.
Community Resource Development Association
Kurt Schindler, Wexford County Extension director, received the Innovative
Program Award from the Community Resource Development Association.
Schindler received this award for his role with the Wexford County
Comprehensive Plan, which serves as a model for other counties in the
state.
Gale Strasburg named Chair of Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Gale Strasburg was named chairperson of the MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition effective Aug. 16.
Dr. Strasburg had been acting department chairperson since July 2004. He replaced Mark Uebersax, who had served as an administrator in the department since 1986 and was named chair in January 1997.
Steven G. Pueppke named MAES
director
Steven G. Pueppke has been named director of the Michigan Agricultural
Experiment Station (MAES) and MSU assistant vice president for research
and graduate studies. The appointment is effective Jan. 1.
Pueppke comes to MSU from the University of Illinois, where he has been
associate dean for research in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences (ACES) since 1998.
Pueppke succeeds John C. Baker, who has served as interim MAES director
for a year beginning November 2004, and J. Ian Gray, who was director from
1996 to 2004. Baker returned to his position as associate dean for research
and graduate studies for the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine at the
end of October.
Pueppke is a professor of crop sciences and director of the University
of Illinois National Soybean Research Laboratory in addition to his role
as associate dean for ACES. He also directs Global Connect, an initiative
focused on the globalization of the college’s academic, research
and outreach programs.
Pueppke said he was attracted to Michigan State for three reasons: the
strength and diversity of Michigan's food and agricultural system, the
quality of MSU's faculty and the clarity of the university's global vision.
Doug Buhler, acting associate director, will provide leadership for MAES
from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 and will work with Dr. Pueppke during his transition
to MAES director. Dr. Buhler has also agreed to continue as acting associate
director after Jan 1 and as coordinator of Project GREEEN through the completion
of the 2006 competitive grant process.
Michigan Walk of Fame accepting nominations for agriculture, business and industry category
The Michigan Walk of Fame is accepting nominations for the agriculture, business and industry category for its first inductees for two more weeks. Nominations can be made in six categories at www.michiganwalkoffame.com.
The Michigan Walk of Fame was created to honor Michigan residents, past or present, who have contributed significantly to the state, nation or world. The nomination process is free and open to all current and former state residents. A list of potential nominees is provided on the Michigan Walk of Fame Web site. The nomination deadline is Dec. 2.
The Michigan Walk of Fame will feature bronze plaques embedded in the sidewalks of downtown Lansing, Michigan’s capital city. Each plaque will display information about the inductee’s life and contribution. The first twelve inductees, two in each of six categories, will be unveiled during Michigan Week, May 20-26
The Michigan Walk of Fame is a strategic partnership between the Lansing Principal Shopping District/Downtown Lansing, Inc., the Michigan Historical Museum, and the City of Lansing.
The Michigan Association of Extension Agents kicks off a new campaign to raise funds to host the National Association of Extension Agents conference in Grand Rapids in July 2007
Left to Right: Phil Durst, Ralph Hepp, Tom Coon, Roger Royer, Jim Schiller, Ray Bollaert, Jeff Armstrong, Amy Irish-Brown, Keith Reinholt and Jody Pollock. |
The
Michigan Association of Extension Agents (MAEA) formally kicked off
a new fund-raising campaign at the MSU Friends of Extension Banquet
Oct. 11 at MSU’s Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. The funds
will be used to host the National Association of Extension Agents conference
in Grand Rapids in July 2007. Two thousand participants from approximately
45 states are expected to attend. Pre-kick off efforts by MAEA members raised approximately $150,000 of the $400,000 needed. Donors of $10,000 or more were recognized at the banquet, including: Amy Irish Brown, representing the combined personal donations of MAEA members; Roger Royer and Raymond Bollaert of DTE Energy; Jim Schiller, Greenstone Farm Credit Services; Ralph Hepp, MSU Federal Credit Union; Jody Pollock, the Corn Marketing Board of Michigan; Keith Reinholt, the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee;Tom Coon, MSU Extension; and Jeff Armstrong, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Ice Mountain is also a major donor but was unable to send a representative to the banquet. Phil Durst, chairperson of the 2007 conference, received a check representing the combined donations of these donors. |
“Hosting this conference is a great opportunity to showcase Michigan’s
diverse agriculture and food industries, and the collaborative work between
the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and producers
and commodity groups from around the state,” Durst said.
More than 35 professional development tours are being planned for attendees.
These include trips to a variety of businesses highlighting production,
processing, marketing, conservation and economic development in agriculture
and natural resources. Michigan last hosted the national conference in
1955.
Current county partner reports needed for legislative visits
As the Michigan Legislature moves through the fall session, a new round of state budget discussions is only weeks away. MAES and MSUE administrators will soon begin a new series of visits to the offices of many members of the Michigan Legislature. This will be an important opportunity to talk with legislators about our current program and research priorities, explain the issue identification process and highlight the presence of MSU in their districts. To do this most effectively, it is imperative that all counties submit county partner reports as scheduled. Even though a legislator will have received a copy of the report from the CED, having a current copy in hand provides Director Coon a chance to focus on specific programming examples. Counties are now using the new template for reports and are posting them directly to the portal. Here is the portal Web site, with the county templates, links to current reports, and background information on writing and posting the reports: http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/impact/index.html. Please contact Laura Probyn, Cindy Straus or Beth Moore with any questions.
Changes in transmittal processing and in MAES staffing responsibilities
To streamline processing of transmittal forms, the CANR, MSUE and MAES have agreed to provide signature on all transmittal forms from one office. MAES has agreed to provide oversight for this service for all three units. Because of the expected volume of transmittals, information should be sent to the MAES office at least 48 hours in advance of your deadline to allow adequate time for review and processing of transmittal forms.
Starting immediately, transmittal forms should be sent to Candace Ebbinghaus, administrative assistant, 109 Agriculture Hall.
Questions concerning transmittal routing, or the overhead calculator, can also be directed to her via phone: 517-355-0123, or by e-mail candy@msu.edu.
She most recently
served as the MAES director's executive assistant. Because of the added
responsibilities of providing oversight to the transmittal
process, her duties as executive assistant have been reassigned to Debbie
McCaffrey. She can be reached at 109 Agriculture Hall, phone at 517-355-0123,
or e-mail to debbiem@msu.edu. Please direct all inquiries and/or mail
regarding the MAES director to her attention.
UCRIHS guidelines
MSU Extension staff members have conducted program evaluations for years, but they have never had a clear guideline about when, or if, they needed to apply for approval from the MSU University Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (UCRIHS). At the same time, UCRIHS staff members have not always had a good understanding of the evaluation conducted through MSU Extension and whether it was considered research or part of program implementation.
UCRIHS is the university’s institutional review board, a federally mandated body for all universities that receive federal funding. Governmental guidelines state that all research and evaluation activities at these universities must have the review board’s approval to ensure that human subjects (those who take part in the research or evaluation) are protected from harm.
In the past, when they weren’t sure about whether an Extension study constituted research on human subjects, UCRIHS staff members erred on the side of caution and required approval to conduct studies.
Now however, thanks to the work of UCRIHS chair Peter Vasilenko and Diane Ruonavaara, MSU Extension evaluation specialist, guidelines have been developed to help clarify these matters and help educators, specialist and other evaluators decide when they need to apply for UCRIHS approval. The guidelines provide decision criteria, definitions of terms and a decision tree to help MSUE staff members distinguish program evaluation as part of program implementation from program evaluation as research.
Click here for a copy of the UCRIHS guidelines.
Save dates for the 2006 Urban Extension Conference Nov. 6-9, 2006
Extension educators and faculty and staff members who work in urban, suburban and highly populated areas, who provide administrative and program leadership on the local, state and federal level, or who have responsibilities for urban programming are invited to attend the 2006 Urban Extension Conference Nov. 6-9, 2006, in Kansas City, Mo. Participants will learn about and share Extension programs, leadership and issues related to urban areas.
More information will be available as the planning progresses. If you would like to be on the mailing list for the conference, please send your contact information to Al Black, blacka@missouri.edu.
Possibilities for involvement in the issue identification process
The Strengthening Michigan's Economy process is designed to offer multiple ways for people in various roles and locations to help us identify issues and opportunities for MAES research and MSUE educational programming during the years ahead. Tools and resources are being developed to assist with each of these stages of the process, and everything will be posted on the internal Web site: www.msue.msu.edu/issueid/. Currently there are still many notations of "coming soon," but items are being posted as quickly as possible.
Here are the various avenues for participation:
General public--Four focus groups, in locations throughout the state, gave a representative sample of residents the opportunity to identify priority concerns and opportunities. In addition, about 1,000 residents responded to a telephone survey conducted by the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research asking them to identify priority issues. Summary results will be posted on the Web site.
Commodity groups, key partners, other stakeholders--Area of Expertise teams are currently seeking input through meetings with their advisory committees and/or through targeted interviews, focus groups or surveys. They are being asked to identify specific concerns and trends and then determine priorities for MAES research and MSUE education. The reporting template for AoE team persons is now available on the Web site.
Program participants, constituents, interested citizens--A survey will be linked to the Web sites for MSUE and MAES at the state level and for MSUE county offices and MAES field stations. This will ask anyone interested to identify issues of greatest concern and to indicate levels of knowledge and involvement with these two organizations. MSUE staff members will be able to view their county results on an ongoing basis.
County Extension council members and other county residents--They will be asked to participate in at least two meetings (January through March) to learn about some of the major issues and trends facing the state, examine the implications for their communities, and then prioritize the concerns for education and research for that county. Counties are asked to consider carefully what other sectors need to be represented in these discussions beyond the county council. A video/PowerPoint and accompanying discussion guide will be provided for every county. Seven MSU faculty members will briefly identify some of the major issues and trends facing the state in these topic areas: economy, land use, agriculture, health, families, youth, communities and the environment. This information will be available to CEDs in December. Links to information about the county process and county demographic data are already posted on the Web site.
MSU faculty members (with and without MSUE and MAES appointments), MSUE specialists and program leaders--Deans in all of the colleges at MSU have been asked to identify participants for a set of five focus groups to pilot concepts for a faculty survey. A more detailed survey will be sent to all faculty members to learn about future trends and to further understand the needs and the capacity for research and education. The survey will be circulated in January, and a similar survey will go to all MSUE county-based staff members.
MAES field station advisory board members--County Extension directors should invite the advisory board members who are local residents to participate in the county discussions. In addition, they are likely to be involved in the AoE process for the respective interest area.
MAES and Extension faculty members are encouraged to seek out and participate in the appropriate AoE team discussion.
Please contact any member of the design team if you have questions or concerns: Marie Ruemenapp and Christine Vogt, co-chairs; Maggie Bethel, Bruce Haas, Scott Loveridge, Beth Moore, Doreen Woodward.
Energy fact sheets to help families conserve
In 2001, the MSUE Energy Team put together a number of energy fact sheets designed to help families conserve. With gasoline over $2 per gallon and home heating costs predicted to double, it is timely to point them out to you again. The fact sheets are great program handouts and with very little formatting will make great news articles as well.
These materials can be found at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/energy/.
New Hires:
• Christi Sovis has joined the MSUE director’s office budget team.
• Heidi Charron is the new secretary for the Citizen Planner Program.
• Katina Daniels is a program associate for the Breast-Feeding Initiative in Wayne County.
• Bonnie Kropp is the secretary in Tuscola County.
• Kathleen Fettinger is the FNP secretary for the Southeast Region.
• Joy Cousino has joined the Monroe County Extension team as a food and nutrition program educator.
• Laura Pederson has joined the Alger County Extension team as the 4-H Youth Development educator.
• Jody Maloney is the new 4-H Youth Development program associate in Ontonagon County.
Changes to Employment:
• Meagan Shedd assumed the program leader role in Family and Consumer Sciences.
• Beverly Terry assumed the county director position in Oakland County.
•
Terri Weller became the fiscal manager in the MSUE director’s office.
Departures:
• Tracie Bolton left the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) unit as an
associate program leader in August.
• Telicia Evil left Calhoun County (FCS) program associate position in
September.
• Lillian Lopez left the Berrien County (FCS) program associate position
in July.
• Janice Mitchum left the Wayne County (FCS) program associate position
in August.
• Charlotte Ojediran left a Kalamazoo County program associate position
in September.
• Denise Palmer left the Tuscola County program associate position in September.
• Amy Saxe left a (FCS) program leader position in July.
• Patricia Scruton left the Genesee County program associate position in
August.
• Lori Willis left the Muskegon County food and nutrition program associate
position in September.
• Theresa Young left the Kent County food and nutrition program secretarial
position in September.
• Sarah May left Benzie County children, youth and family program associate
position in August.
• Jack Rozdilsky left the Ingham County land use educator position in July.
• Suzanne Sprowl left the Ionia County 4-H youth development educator position
in August.
• Kate Patton left a campus program associate position in September.
• Jennifer Fettinger left an associate program leader community and economic
development position in September.
• Scott Webber left the Genesee County food and nutrition educator position
in August.
• Tina Leenknegt, Cynthia Hunt, Brenda Chodyniecki and Virginia Eschker
left St. Clair County program associate positions in September.
Upcoming Events:
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Events
AutumnFest
2005 – Celebrate
the MSU Sesquicentennial
• Nov. 19 at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education
• Three hours before kickoff of the MSU vs. Penn State game.
• Superbrunch and auction to benefit ANR Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship
fund.
Special guests will include alumni from Penn State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Penn State is also celebrating its sesquicentennial.
Highlights: superbrunch, live auction and raffle, Michigan products to sample, MSU student clubs, Sparty, MSU Pep Band, cheerleaders, miniature golf and a special walk through an MSU time exhibit.
Adult brunch tickets --- $20 ($25 at the door)
Children’s brunch tickets -- $10 (ages 6 -12)
Children 5 and under -- free
Football tickets -- $46 each
Shuttle bus to and from game -- $3 each
For more information or to request special accommodations, call 517-355-0284 or e-mail anralum@msu.edu.
Information is also available at http://www.canr.msu.edu/canrhome/anraa_calendar.htm.
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