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Dr. Ivory W. Lyles |
Although Extension is part of the higher education system in Arkansas, we are unique in that we do not charge or receive tuition revenues for our programs. Over the past several years, we have dealt with increased financial pressures due to inflation, a smaller percentage of state funding and flat federal support. In an effort to strengthen services that support Extension’s mission, we have turned to cost recovery.
We began our cost recovery efforts in 2004 by convening a committee to evaluate Extension’s fee-for-service pricing in effect then and to determine if there were any Extension programs, new or existing, for which we should be charging a fee. The Cost Recovery Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Wally Goddard and Nita Cooper, conducted an in-depth study and developed several excellent recommendations. The committee’s comprehensive report is posted on Administration’s webpage, and I encourage everyone to read it.
I want to emphasize that all funds generated through cost recovery go directly back into the programs from which they are generated; none of it goes to administration.
Our cost recovery efforts have been very successful. Here are some examples of our cost recovery success:
Agriculture
• County agents charge a $10 per person registration fee for the Pesticide Applicator Training sessions conducted in their counties. Five dollars of every $10 collected stays in the county checking account and is used for county-related PAT expenses. The other $5 is sent to a central account with Financial Services. The funds in this central account will be used to purchase the more expensive items for use with county PAT programs, such as laptops, LCD projectors and projection screens. There is a $10 per person charge to set up testing dates (exams are administered by the State Plant Board) and for video training.
• Commercial and noncommercial applicators must pay a $25 per person registration fee at the recertification sessions conducted by Ples Spradley. We also initiated a charge of $15 for individual exam study kits sent to commercial and noncommercial applicators.
Community and Economic Development
• Fees from the Income Tax Schools cover all direct expenses and approximately 80 percent of salary and fringe benefits for the program associate.
• Tuition from LeadAR participants amounts to more that $50,000 per year. This will increase with the next class as tuition is increased to $2,200. This tuition estimate does not include the dollars raised locally to support the seminars. Locals raise money to provide meals, facilities, etc.
• Dr. Wayne Miller charges outside organizations for economic impact studies to recover costs. A committee is currently studying the possibility of charging a subscription fee for online access to some of Wayne’s information.
• The success of the VisionWorks program depends on cost recovery. A countywide VisionWorks program will cost $25,000. Several locations will be needed to cover direct expenses and the cost of a full-time program associate.
• As Community and Economic Development launches its new effort in Leadership Development, we will likely have to establish a fee to cover costs. Since this will be a countybased program, we will share revenue with agents.
Family and Consumer Sciences
• FCS has started cost recovery programs for two of its Marriage, Parenting, and Family Life programs. They are currently selling “The Best of Best Care” and have collected $495. They are also selling “Parenting Journey Maps” and have collected $2,761 to date. Additional sales of both of these products are anticipated.
• FCS charges $85 per participant for ServSafe Training, which covers the costs of training materials, travel and supplies necessary to conduct the training sessions. These fees also allow FCS to assist with the costs of in-service training for its agents in the area of food safety.
4-H Youth Development
• The 4-H Center programs, 4-H RES-Q and 4-H ExCEL, have traditionally operated on a cost recovery basis. These programs are supported through many partnerships, which provide money as well as crucial in-kind and indirect support. The remainder of the programs’ budgets is provided through user fees. This fee-based portion of the RES-Q and ExCEL budgets is essentially the portion involved in our cost recovery efforts. The percent recovered varies from year to year. Approximately 90 percent of the ExCEL costs were recovered in FY 2003, while 100 percent was recovered in 2004 and 2005. The RES-Q cost recovery for FY 2003 was approximately 84 percent, while 2004 was 74 percent and 2005 was 84 percent. The balance of the costs not recovered by participant fees has been recovered primarily through grants and contracts.
Support Units
• The print media center has built a very competitive price schedule for print jobs that covers the cost of personnel, material, utilities and equipment maintenance and replacement.
• By bringing in additional revenue, through cost recovery, the print media center has been successful in acquiring and maintaining state-of-art equipment and material that enable it to effectively support Extension’s educational programs.
• The media production center’s price structure supports the costs of materials, supplies, equipment and personnel necessary to provide high-quality products on time.
• The County Fair Management program was redesigned to meet standards required by the Livestock and Poultry Commission. Information Technology charges $250 per year for the program’s purchase and support.
• Through marketing efforts, approximately 1,200 copies of the horticulture CD have been sold. The revenue generated is returned as cost recovery to Communications and Marketing, Information Technology and Horticulture.
• Communications and Marketing provides editing, proofing and graphic design services to state agencies and University of Arkansas System campuses at a competitive price that recovers all personnel, equipment and material costs associated with the outside services.
Thank you for your outstanding efforts in cost recovery and for all you do for Extension and for the citizens of Arkansas.
– Ivory W. Lyles
New Starting Salary for New County Agents
Beginning January 1, 2006, the starting salary for new county agents with a master’s degree was increased to $35,000. The purpose for the increase is two-fold.
“We want to make Arkansas more competitive so that we can attract strong candidates at the county level,” says Dr. Ivory W. Lyles, associate vice president for agriculture-extension.
Secondly, the increase rewards county agents who have pursued a higher degree, which in turns benefits the level and quality of local program delivery.
“Extension touches the lives of Arkansans most effectively at the local and county level,” says Lyles.
By increasing the beginning salary of starting county agents, Extension is strengthening its educational program at the point where it makes the greatest difference in the daily lives of its constituents.
The salary increase will impact county agents with master’s degrees who have ten years or less tenure. County agents who hold bachelor’s degrees are encouraged to enroll in and pursue a master’s degree.
– Bob Reynolds
Dr. Goddard Recognized for Work in Field
Dr. H. Wallace Goddard, professor - family life, was recently named a “National Council on Family Relations Fellow.” This honor is bestowed by the National Council on Family Relations and recognizes a select group of professionals for enduring contributions to the field of family studies through a career of teaching, scholarship, outreach, professional service and leadership. Dr. Goddard’s new title brings a great deal of credibility to the work being done in the field of marriage, parenting and family life in our state.
– Lynn Russell
Dr. Gardisser Honored by National Agricultural Aviation Association
Dr. Dennis Gardisser, professor and associate department head, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, received the William O’Marsh Safety Award from the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) in December. This award is given for significant achievements in safety, safety education or an outstanding operational safety program, according to an association spokesperson. He has also won other NAAA awards, including the 1999 Agrinaut Award and the 1993 Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award.
– Lamar James
Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) Program Receives Congratulations for Fiscal Year 2005 Program
The Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) program received a congratulatory letter in late December from the SW Regional Director of the Food Stamp Program in Dallas. The letter stated, “We have reviewed it (FSNE yearly report) and want to compliment Arkansas for an outstanding job this past year.” The letter goes on to recognize that more than 60 percent of those reached were actual food stamp recipients. The letter acknowledged that not only did the program comply with and conform to program guidance rules and regulations, but that there were “documented impacts of knowledge gained and intent to change behavior, both of which help food stamp families move toward food security.” The letter also stated, “Arkansas meets the requirements of FSNE and has a very strong program.” The work that Family and Consumer Science agents are doing through the FSNE program with the support of district and state faculty is making a tremendous difference in the lives of Arkansans. The concluding statement on the letter sums it up very well, “We wish you continued success.”
– Lynn Russell
Rural Life Conference Celebrates Golden Anniversary
The 50th annual Rural Life Conference is scheduled for February 10 in Caldwell Hall auditorium on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) campus. Registration begins at 8 a.m. in the lobby of Henderson/Young Hall (business building) with the opening session at 9 a.m. The conference theme is “50 Years of Enhancing Rural Living: One Vision, One Mission and One Direction.” Preregistration is requested of everyone even though the conference is free to farmers, the general public and retirees. The cost to professionals and agency personnel is $50 for those registered before January 13. After that date and onsite, registration is $75. To preregister, contact Beverly J. Cotledge at (870) 575-7200, e-mail cotledge_b@uapb.edu or fax (870) 575-4678, or Brenda Seuell at (870) 575-7197 or e-mail seuell_b@uapb.edu.
– Carol Sanders, UAPB School of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Human Sciences
Change at the Plant Disease Clinic
Dr. Steve Vann recently moved to the Little Rock State Office to begin a new Urban Plant Pathology Program for Arkansas. In the meantime, Cooperative Extension hired Sherrie Smith as the new plant disease diagnostician in the Plant Disease Clinic at the Lonoke Extension and Research Center.
Sherrie earned the master of science in plant pathology from the University of Arkansas working on soybean diseases. Prior to returning to college, she worked as a certified nurseryman in Missouri for several years and as a forestry technician/seasonal educator for the George Washington Carver National Park for one year. Her experience in Missouri included field diagnosis of ornamental and nursery problems as well as identification and eradication of exotic plants. She has extensive experience with soybean seed pathology and advanced training in laboratory diagnostic techniques for Asian Soybean Rust while in Arkansas. Sherrie is looking forward to continuing the upgrades to the Plant Disease Clinic, its excellent history of diagnostic service and working with all county extension staffs.
– Rick Cartwright
Carol Scaramuzza Honored With Retirement Celebration
The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service honored veteran FCS/4-H agent Carol Scaramuzza with a retirement celebration on January 3. That was Carol’s last official day as an employee of the Division of Agriculture and the Jefferson County Extension office. A large group of 4-H leaders and 4-H members prepared snacks for the gathering along with members of the county Extension staff.
Carol now looks forward to getting her home ready for sale and a new home built with her husband, Frank, near Lakes Catherine and Hamilton at Hot Springs.
Don Plunkett, interim staff chair for Jefferson County, states, “We know we can’t replace Carol, but we are now looking for someone who will dedicate 150 percent of their time to educate youth and adults the way Carol has done.”
– Don Plunkett
Armenthia Willis Retires After 31 Years of Service
Armenthia Willis, EFNEP program assistant, Jefferson County, retired after 31 years of service. A retirement reception was held in her honor, December 17, 2005, at the Jefferson County office.
Armenthia began her Extension career on April 22, 1974, as a program assistant in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in the Desha County office. In 1982, she transferred to Jefferson County, where she worked for 16 years.
Armenthia has one son, Elmoreo Brewer, and eight grandchildren. She is now living in Memphis, Tennessee, where she plans to work part-time at the Tennessee Extension Service.
– Vanessa Woods
New Grants and Contracts - November 2005
| Project Title | Award Amount | Principal Investigator | Granting Agency |
| TCE/Analysis for Fruit and Vegetable Crops | $38,168 | Dr. Ron Rainey | Texas Agriculture Extension Service |
| AFRC/Faulkner County Tree City USA | $13,991 | Bill Dodgen | Arkansas Forestry Commission |
| Wide Area Rice Survey | $26,537 | Richard Cartwright | State Plant Board |
New Grants and Contracts - December 2005
| Project Title | Award Amount | Principal Investigator | Granting Agency |
| Crawford County "Up in Smoke" | $46,270 | Audrey Duncan | Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Tobacco Prevention and Education |
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© 2006 |
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
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