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Hi.
I'm Ken White, Vice President for Utah State University
Extension.
This year marks the 100th anniversary
of the Smith-Lever Act, which provided funds
to establish Extension Outreach activities
at land-grant universities.
USU is a proud member of the land-grant system.
The mission of USU Extension is to extend the university
through research-based non-credit education programs,
to improve the lives of individuals, families,
and communities throughout Utah.
Extension program areas include 4H and youth, home and family,
finance and consumer life, business and economics,
agriculture and natural resources,
gardening and food, and nutrition and health.
USU Extension is part of a national extension network,
and has served Utah for more than 100 years
with great success.
What makes Extension unique as compared to other organizations
is that our faculty and staff live, work, and shop, and raise
their children in the same urban and rural communities
that we serve.
The advantage Extension has always had,
is that we bring research-based solutions
from Utah State University into your communities.
That's how we empower people and improve lives.
Although USU Extension has always
been responsive to changing needs,
the ways we routinely deliver programs and serve Utahns
have changed very little in the past 100 years.
During the next few months, we will be taking a strategic look
at the future of Extension and what it should be.
It's important for us to position ourselves to maximize
our ability to do outreach using all
of the innovative technology available to us,
and in ways that connect with our next generation
of extension clientele.
It's important for extension to take a proactive approach
and build a new future together with our customers
and clientele.
I have assembled a team of faculty, staff,
and administrators from around the state,
to evaluate current Extension programs and services.
This team has been tasked with developing recommendations
on what the future of extension might be.
In the coming months, we will be requesting input
from all of our partners and constituents
from around the state, to help us formulate a plan.
We want your ideas on how we can create an Extension
service of the future, that has positive impacts, relevance,
and sustainability for the next 100 years.
We have created a website that will
keep you informed about this very important project.
Please visit extention.usu.edu/visioning.
I believe in Utah State University Extension
and look forward to working with you as we
formulate our future together.
Thank you.
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