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Dr. Ivory W. Lyles |
We are about to celebrate 100 years of 4-H in Arkansas, and as we reflect upon our past, I believe we are extremely well positioned to impact a greater number of Arkansas young people than ever before. I believe that when we succeed, Arkansans will know that Extension connects Arkansas to its future in a way that no other institution in the Natural State can.
You see, Arkansas has a major challenge confronting it. During the last five years, all of the universities and colleges in Arkansas graduated only two individuals who were certified to teach physics – only two. During that same period, our colleges and universities graduated 3,500 physical education majors.
While I have no problem with physical education, I think this comparison highlights a major imbalance in Arkansas’s education. If the imbalance is not addressed aggressively, the future prospects for Arkansans and the state’s economy are not good.
That’s why I’ve appointed and am chairing a committee of Extension employees whom I’ve challenged to find ways to adapt the educational programs and resources we already have, particularly in 4-H, to grow an enthusiasm for and an awareness and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics among our young people and their parents.
The committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, September 26, at the state office. During that meeting we learned about Arkansas’s STEM coalition, which is focused on improving the level of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At a recent STEM conference, attended by more than 400 people, national and state speakers focused on the importance of STEM education in improving the economy and quality of life for Arkansans. Arkansas’s per capita income is at 77 percent of the national average. If the state was at parity, Arkansans would have earned an additional $2.4 billion this year.
Jerry Adams, corporate leader for economic development with Acxiom Corporation, joined our committee at our first meeting and said that just playing catch-up is not enough. If we continue increasing the income of Arkansans at our current rate, we will be at only 60 percent of the national average by the time we reach the current national average.
I asked Extension’s STEM Committee to think beyond our normal way of operating to find new and innovative approaches to supporting STEM education throughout Arkansas. STEM education is needed at all levels, K-16. During our first meeting, the STEM Committee identified three areas where we might focus our efforts.
As the STEM Committee continues its efforts, you will learn more about the potential for each of us to become involved in supporting and becoming an integral part of the STEM coalition. By supporting the coalition’s efforts through all of our programs, primarily through 4-H, we can improve the interest and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics among Arkansans, and in doing so, we will help improve the quality of life and potential income for all Arkansans.
As I close, I issue an invitation for anyone who would like to join the STEM Committee, who was not originally asked, to contact me by e-mail or phone, and we will be glad to get you involved in this new committee.
- Ivory W. LylesHonorary and Memorial Gifts
The following memorial gifts were recently received in support of programs and funds within the UA Cooperative Extension Service. This list covers gifts deposited August 1-31, 2007.
• Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award for Professional Excellence
In memory of Lynn Russell
Darlene Z. Baker
CES Leadership Development
Dorothy and Randy Hall
Merritt and James Royal
Honorary or memorial donations may be forwarded to the Development Office, Cooperative Extension Service, P. O. Box 391, Little Rock, AR 72203. To ensure that proper notification is sent, please also include in whose honor or memory the gift is made and the mailing address of the person to receive the notification.
- Merritt Royal
Arkansas 4-H Day With the Razorbacks
Join Arkansas 4-H at the Arkansas Razorbacks Homecoming Game as part of the Centennial Celebration. The tailgate party will be held on the patio of the Agriculture, Food and Life Science Building on the UA campus. It will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. with the kickoff of the Florida International Game. Hot dogs, burgers, chips and drinks will be served. For more information, please contact Sarah Harrison at 501-671-2352 or SHarrison@uaex.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Counselors
As you know, it is the policy of Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be discriminated against in regards to the terms, conditions and privileges of employment. To effectuate assurance of this policy, Cooperative Extension has appointed individuals as Equal Employment Opportunity Counselors to serve as a bridge between employees and management and to resolve equal employment opportunity problems on an informal basis.
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Lyles has appointed the following individuals to serve as EEO counselors:
Gerald Alexander - Hempstead County
Vickie Hall - Hot Spring County
Celia Boon - Benton County
Dianne Cunningham - Monroe County
Easter Tucker - Little Rock State Office
Shawn Payne - Phillips County
Sharon Lillard - Independence County
Phil Tacker - Little Rock State Office
Alberta James - Little Rock State Office
I, along with Dr. Lyles, would like to thank these individuals for their service in this important role.
- Barbara Batiste
$22,870 in Internal Grants Awarded
Five grant proposals were awarded a total of $22,870 for FY08, as part of $53,029 over three years, during this year’s round of the Associate VP’s Internal Innovative Grants Program. An outside review panel composed of former Extension employees and other related organizations with grant experience met and selected this year’s winners. These five innovative programs were selected from the 15 applications requesting more than $208,415, which were received in the FY08 Associate VP’s Internal Innovative Grants Program competition. Funded projects focus on a variety of innovative programs ranging from training youth about financial management to addressing dust and odor emissions downwind from poultry farms to a program using an audience response system in teaching to incorporate more audience participation in the learning process.
Many of the innovative projects involved partnering with others to makethe proposed programs stronger. Projects focused on a different way of doing business and/or targeting a different audience than traditional Extension programs.
Those selected for funding in this year's round and their funding amounts were:
Project summaries from each of the funded projects will be posted on the Associate VP’s Internal Innovative Grants Program web site in the near future. The grant awards were effective October 1, 2007. Reviewer’s comments were sent to all applicants to aid them in future grant applications.
Congratulations to each of these faculty members on their innovative projects.
- Judy Robison
Almost $200,000 Awarded Through Associate VP's Internal Innovative Grant Program
Since its inception in FY05, $198,811 has been awarded to worthwhile internal innovative grant programs through the Associate VP’s Internal Innovative Grants Program. The last round of competition, whose successful applicants are listed in another article, joined the 22 previously funded projects and their principal investigators. Funds to support this effort are dedicated from the indirect cost recovery account of the Associate Vice President - Extension as a reinvestment of resources in the future success of the organization.
Many of the previous recipients have also been successful in securing additional outside funding and support of their programs as a result of their innovative grants. Extramural funding support has been as varied as the programs themselves and ranges from traditional grant funding, such as that
Amy Simpson, Clark County, received from Ross Foundation to continue and expand her Clark County 4-H NatureMapping Program, to the financial contributions by the Washington County Judge over and above the funds awarded in the Educating Newly Relocated Rural Washington County Residents and Those Considering Moving to the County About Farming in the County, Rural Services and Beaver Lake grant to help support Johnny Gunsaulis and Michelle Steele, Washington County county Extension agents, in their development, production and distribution of CDs to newly relocated residents of Washington County to help educate them about Washington County farming, services and resources.Susan Mathews Scott, Mike Hamilton and Rick Thompson used their Horseweed: Wanted Dead NOT Alive grant to serve as a springboard in their efforts with others in successfully addressing a newly resistant weed causing problems for their producers and were able to garner industry support for the implementation of their program. They also made regional and national presentations and received state and national recognition for their efforts.
Steve Jones, Dr. John Jennings and Dr. Wayne Coblentz produced an Interactive CD for Equine Education, which they are now selling to outside groups. They are generating more resources for their continued programming efforts.
MaLinda Coffman, Fulton County, created a successful nutrition and fitness summer program called Camp Fit and Fun in connection with her internal grant. It has now expanded to other counties and had youth choosing this outstanding educational program over sports and other camps this past summer, when there was a conflict with dates. Additional financial and in-kind support for the program has come from county agencies, financial institutions, corporations and schools. A 50- 70 percent correlating increase in 4-H enrollment has been seen during the same time period that Camp Fit and Fun has been in existence.
Because of the work of Debbie DeRossitte and Earlene Brecheen with the 4-H COnnection Project, continuing support is available for schools across the state to use the 4-H project books that Debbie and Earlene linked with the curriculum standards for the career clusters for the experiential learning activities in the state-mandated Career Orientation classes. The continuing support is in the form of the Arkansas Department of Education authorizing schools to use Carl Perkins funds for the purchase of the 4-H project books for the Career Orientation (CO) classrooms. These same agents have presented the program regionally and nationally and have received national awards for their efforts.
The Shifting Financial Attitudes program team secured external support through partnering with Blevins East Lab, who developed an educational computer program for their use as a class project. The computer program features interactive animation which is coordinated with the program's NASCAR-style theme. P.I.s LaVetta Davis and Alberta James and the other agents on their implementation team received further external support in terms of financial contributions from local banks and other financial institutions to support their multi-county programming efforts. The University of Arkansas Community College at Hope hosted the summer camp portion of the program and provided marketing services for the program. The Shifting Financial Attitudes team has also presented the program nationally.
Rebecca Thomas in Grant County has received commitments from local supporters for supplying the wood needed for one of the experiential learning activities done in connection with her Grant County School Environmental Program: Teaching Respect of Nature While Building Mental and Moral Development. She also reaped dividends from the local school district in its support of her program by their willingness to provide transportation for program participants in another program in addition to immense good will.
These are a few examples of the 22 projects funded during the first three years of the program. Five more are joining their ranks this year with FY08 funding. A complete listing of all projects funded and the P.I.s will be on the web site in the near future.
Through the Associate VP's Internal Innovative Grant Program, Extension is fostering innovative programs and securing additional external resources to support our educational efforts. Dr. Ivory W. Lyles has repeatedly expressed that the reinvestment of his portion of the indirect cost recovery in this program is producing huge dividends for the organization.
More than a quarter of a million additional dollars have been reinvested in an assortment of other internal grant programs over the last four years from the Associate Vice President - Extension's indirect cost recovery funds. These have been in the form of Resource Management Internal Grants, Multi-County FCS, ANR and 4-H Internal Grants and Administrative Program Enhancement Grants awarded as a result of grant proposal submissions.
- Judy Robison
Arkansas Iota Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi Well Represented at National Conference
Eight members from the Arkansas Iota Chapter attended the Epsilon Sigma Phi National Conference held at Charleston, South Carolina, September 11-14, 2007. The Arkansas delegation had a great time and was very well received presenting at the conference.
Those attending were Terrie Treadway, Lafayette County Extension agent - family and consumer sciences and Alpha Iota Chapter president, presenting a poster session about the Delta Hope and Arkansas Hope nutrition education/physical activity project; Easter Tucker, associate professor - nutrition, recipient of Chapter DSA award; Dr. Martha Ray Sartor, Delta District associate director; Allisen Penn, assistant professor - leadership development presenting pre- conference and concurrent sessions on the Arkansas Faculty Leadership program; LaVetta Davis, Hempstead County Extension agent - family and consumer sciences, and Candace Carriè, Ouachita County staff chair, presenting a poster session on the 4-H Shifting Financial Attitudes program; Becky Reynolds, Little River County Extension agent - family and consumer sciences, presenting a poster session on county collaborations to build a walking trail as well as teach nutrition and healthy living programs; and Robbie McKinnon, Pike County Extension agent - family and consumer sciences, presenting a concurrent session on fostering community-based, innovative and fun programs to address reversing obesity trends.
- Terrie Treadway
Walk Across Arkansas Is Under Way Once Again
The Walk Across Arkansas eight-week walking period started September 30 and goes through November 24. Recognition and prizes will be given to the winning teams at the conclusion, but you can keep up with the weekly top mileage teams by clicking on the Walk Across Arkansas link off the UAEX homepage at www.uaex.edu. The previous week will be posted by Friday of the following week.
- LaVona Traywick
Your Computer, the Freedom of Information Act and Litigation
Mark Hagemeier, associate general counsel for the University of Arkansas System, presented some eye-opening tips at the September faculty conference. Mark has permitted a portion of his presentation to be included below with updates concerning our GroupWise environment.
Arkansas has one of the broadest Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] laws, passed with the intent of allowing the governed the opportunity to see what their government is doing, with certain exceptions. When we receive a FOIA request, the University generally has three days to respond. One of the most dangerous areas of these requests is e-mail from/to your workplace GroupWise account. E-mails will be turned over, if requested.
It is University policy that you do not have an expectation of privacy on your workplace computer. Follow Mark’s tips to keep only appropriate e-mails:
1. If you don’t want it to appear in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, don’t press "SEND."
2. Have a personal e-mail deletion procedure to get old e-mails off your system.
a. When you delete e-mail, don’t forget to empty the trash (Mark referred to this as doing a hard delete). In GroupWise, you can select all the messages you wish to delete, right click and select "Delete and Empty" or you can highlight the e-mails and press the Delete key, then right click on the Trash folder and select "Empty Trash." [Actions/Empty Trash from the main menu will also work.]
b. E-mail is backed up every night, including the trash folder. Make it a practice to empty your Trash folder every day before leaving the office.
Information stored on your workplace computer may become an issue in litigation. If a computer could have discoverable information, the General Counsel’s Office will send out a litigation hold letter, which prohibits you from deleting or changing any information on that computer. Destroying data, called spoliation of evidence, once the hold letter is received, is much like throwing away the exonerating DNA sample in a murder case. The legal consequences of doing so are severe.
- Mark Hagemeier and Nina Boston
Grants and Contracts
| Project Title |
Award Amount |
Principal Investigator |
Granting |
| Native Food Plots for Wildlife of the Southeast | $25,000 | Jon Barry | University of Tennessee |
| Gaining New Ground: Arkansas Women in Agriculture Sub-State Regional Programming | $9,000 | Ron Rainey | Arkansas Women in Agriculture |
| Techno Teen Camp | $1,000 | Brad McGinley | Arkansas Community Foundation |
| Beef Quality Assurance | $1,150 | Tom Troxel | Arkansas Beef Council |
| Wheat Verification | $105,195 | Jason Kelley | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Wheat Disease Management | $22,756 | Scott Monfort | Wheat Promotion Board |
| Wheat Disease Management | $3,000 | Jason Kelley | Wheat Promotion Board |
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Total Awards |
$167,101 |
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© 2006 |
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