Cooperative Extension Service Departments
Family and Consumer Sciences Programming
Extension Financial Education Programs: The Use of Commercial Resources
Alice Mills Morrow, Extension Family
Economics Specialist, Oregon State University, August 2000
Prepared for the Federal partner, U.S.D.A., Economic and Community Systems,
CSREES.
People attending Extension programs have a right to reliable and objective
information. The reputation for being unbiased makes Extension unique and is a
characteristic to value and protect.
Participant evaluations of Extension financial education programs indicate
one major reason for attending is that Extension is not selling financial
products or services. Extension educators using resources from commercial
sources are in danger of losing their identity as "non‑sellers." Therefore,
commercial resources should be used with caution.
It is always the Extension educator's responsibility to design the
educational experience. The Extension educator, working with a planning
committee or focus group, defines the objectives and target audience and
determines the context for the educational experience. The Extension educator
reviews the resources to be used at the program and insures the materials are
appropriate considering both the program objectives and target audience.
Before selecting commercial materials and/or speakers, the Extension educator
should first find out what other resources are available. The best alternative
is often speakers and materials from educational institutions (universities,
high schools, community colleges) or government agencies not in the business of
selling financial products or services. The next best alternatives is often
professionals and materials from nonprofit agencies, such as legal aid offices
and credit counseling offices.
If it is necessary to use speakers who sell financial products and services,
a panel of professionals is preferable as it allows different points of view to
be presented. Whenever a seller is a speaker at an Extension program, she or he
must understand that the reason for the presentation is to educate.
The use of a speaker agreement form (MSWord
PDF) will help to clarify
expectations. The form page may be adapted to fit a particular situation.
Say no when . . .
A seller contacts you and suggests he or she present a workshop for you.
A seller wants workshop registrations to go through his or her office.
A seller wants the list of names, addresses and phone numbers of
participants.
A seller wants only his or her materials distributed to participants.
A seller does not want to share the stage with individuals representing
other products.
A seller offers participants a "free consultation in his or her office."
2002, Judith R. Urich, PhD., CFP, Family
Resource Management Specialist
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