ECOP/ESCOP JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE CHARGE
INTRODUCTION
The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP) of the Board of Agriculture, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, have directed the ECOP Strategic Planning Council and the ESCOP Planning Committee to pursue joint planning activities which better integrate ways extension and research can jointly address future national issues. Over the past three years, the ECOP/ESCOP Joint Planning Committee (JPC) has evolved in response to this directive.
CHARGE
The charge to the ECOP/ESCOP JPC is to pursue planning activities through which the research and extension systems can together address national issues of the future that improve the promise and practice of agriculture, food processing and distribution, forestry, natural resources, and human sciences. These joint planning activities are to provide a forum for (a) futuristic discussions and planning with regard to science, education and engagement throughout the research and extension systems and their clientele, and (b) the exchange of information and futuristic thought on the effective achievement of the Land-Grant mission through discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge. Further, the JPC is charged with:
- Identifying the junctures of common and critical interests in evolving societal issues that may be impacted by research and extension;
- Determining venues and processes through which to work in tandem on selected priority issues critical to shaping the future foundation of the research and extension systems; and
- Envisioning how research and extension can continue to create futures which revolutionize agricultural practices, improve food processing and distribution, strengthen families and communities, sustain natural and environmental resources, and ensure a trained, competent, competitive, and diverse workforce.
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
The Committee's roles and functions include:
- Establish a joint vision and common goals for the research and extension systems and develop short- and long-range plans to achieve the vision and goals.
- Develop and facilitate a mechanism for identifying emerging joint priority issues that research and extension might jointly embrace in their programs and budget requests through ECOP and ESCOP.
- Arrange symposia, conferences, workshops, and other forums to examine approaches for mobilizing research and extension resources to jointly address specific issues and concerns.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP
The Joint Planning Committee membership includes all members of both the ECOP Strategic Planning Council and the ESCOP Planning Committee and is co-chaired by the chairs of these two committees.