ESCOP MEETING March 4-5, 2003 Waterfront Centre Washington, DC Visitors are welcome

Participants

Assignments and Actions:

1. Motion: Agenda, minutes of last meeting and interim actions were approved. Passed.
2. Continuation of ESCOP assessment will be discussed at the Sept. meeting
3. A mechanism for developing and voting on assessments will be drafted by Mike Harrington and others. This will be presented and voted on at the Sept. meeting for inclusion in the ESCOP Rules of Operation.
4. The Exec. Dirs. will discuss with Mort Neufville ways on how to improve communication with institutions/stations particularly on assessments.
5. Daryl Lund (ex-officio) and Daryl Nelson were appointed to the BAC Farm Bill Committee.
6. The Exec. Directors will submit nominations for the vacant appointments:
   1. ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Development Program (to replace Gary Lemme)
   2. IAS Strategic Planning Committee
   3. Chair- Food Safety Subcommittee under the Science and Technology Committee
7. Motion: Approved to use SUNEI funds to pay for the 2003 ESCOP membership to C-FAR. Passed.
8. Mike Harrington will send memo to directors to encourage participation and inform them of the new deadline to register for the Leadership Development workshop.
9. Approved to proceed with the formation of the National Advisory Committee for the NRSPs. Regional associations will be requested to submit the names of their representatives.
10. Fred Hutchinson of BRT, after consulting with Tom Payne, will share with ESCOP the ACOP summary that Al Lling prepared.
11. Eric Young and Mike Harrington will suggest a strategy for ESS participation to the development of E-Extension.
12. Motion: Change the name of the Advocacy and Marketing Committee to “Communications and Marketing” (non-substantive change). Passed
13. Motion: The NIMSS will be included the NRSP-1 portfolio. Passed
14. Motion: Approve all Executive Committee Minutes in the ESCOP Workroom

Background: The following will be presented for approval:

• Agenda - Kitty Cardwell will be included in the Thursday agenda to talk about the national lab diagnostics network.
• ESCOP Meeting Minutes: July, 2002 (http://www.escop.msstate.edu/minutes/min7-02.htm)
• ESCOP Chair's Interim Actions (September 2002 - February 2003):
  • Solicited votes from the ESCOP membership and obtained approval for the following ballots:
    • Use of $100,000 of residual advocacy funds to begin operations of the National Institute for Agricultural Security
    • 2003 ESCOP assessments equivalent to 25% of ESS assessment for advocacy efforts in 2002 that will generate approx. $100,000 for:
      • NIMSS = $30,000
      • Publications, communications and marketing = $20,000
      • Advocacy = $50,000
    • New guidelines for National Research Support Projects

  • Attended NIAS meetings and initiated process through the University of Maryland to contract IlioCo (Terry Nipp’s company) to provide program and administrative services to NIAS (Jan.-Dec. 2003). The University of Maryland had received the check ($100,000) from NASULGC. Process for procuring IlioCo’s services is in progress.

  • Followed-up on the results of the Counterfactual Study. A report will be shared at the March meeting. Contracts were extended to enable the group to share their findings also at the summer and fall meetings.

  • Consulted with Tom Payne and Richard Jones regarding the invitation for the new advocacy group to attend ESCOP and regional meetings. The firm is obligated to attend only three meetings a year (NASULGC, CARET and the JOINT COPS). However, if the meetings are in town and have no conflict with the firm’s activities, a representative may be able to attend these meetings.

  • Made the following appointments:
    • ESCOP Liaison to ECOP – D. C. Coston
    • ECOP Leadership Advisory Council – J. Scott Angle
    • ECOP Leadership Seminar Committee – Eric Young
    • All COPs Summer Planning Committee – Ian Gray and Daryl Lund
    • ESCOP Representative to ICOP – Kevin Kephart
    • Liaison to ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee – Richard Jones (a policy was made that the ESCOP Chair for the Budget and Legislative Committee will automatically be the liaison to this ECOP Committee)
    • Chair of the Social Science Subcommittee - Stephan Goetz

  • Pending Appointments:
    • ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Development Program (to replace Gary Lemme)
    • BAA Farm Bill Committee (Daryl Lund and Daryl Nelson)
    • IAS Strategic Planning Committee
    • Chair- Food Safety Subcommittee under the Science and Technology Committee

Action Requested: Approval.

Action Taken:

• Agenda, minutes of last meeting and interim actions were approved.
• Continuation of the ESCOP assessment will be discussed at the Sept. meeting.
• Appointed Daryl Lund (ex-officio) and Darrell Nelson as ESCOP reps. to the BAA Farm Bill Committee. Bobby Moser to be notified.
• Exec. Dirs. were requested to forward nominations for the other pending appointments.

Background: This committee's name was changed last year to more acurately reflect its mission. (The official name change will become effective with approval of updated ESCOP Rules of Operation.) The committee will meet later this spring to determine how it can most effectively assist the Experiment Station Section in communicating and marketing its impacts and needs. One mechanism that may be considered is to prepare two or three ways in which the Science Roadmap could be exhibited, i.e. poster display, powerpoint show, web presentation, etc. Even though it didn't get accepted for this year's Exhibit on the Hill, there are other venues where it might be displayed in some form if an exhibit were readily available.

The committee would greatly appreciate any ideas, suggestions or guidance that ESCOP members and liaisons might offer on communication and/or marketing activities that would enhance the experiment station system's support from decision makers and clientele.

Action Requested: For information.

Action Taken: Committee was requested to explore ways on how the Science Roadmap can be more effectively used and more widely disseminated. There are PowerPoint versions available (Kaltenbach and Young) that can be shared with the stations.

Background: The National Impact Writing Team will meet in Washington, D.C. March 3-7, 2003 to compose Impact 2003.

• CSREES - Terry Meisenbach
• ECOP - Paul Warner, Kentucky
• ESCOP - Ron Pardini, Nevada
• ACOP - John Hammel, Idaho

In addition, the 2002 Impact Science and Education Fact Sheets prepared last March are online at http://www.reeusda.gov/success/impact.htm. They include the following topic sheets:

• Ag and the City - Assisting America's urban areas.
• The Building Blocks of Leadership - Training and educating people to lead.
• Character Counts - Extension's 4-H has helped kids, communities for 100 years.
• Connecting the Market Dots - Markets close, new ones open and farmers have to keep up.
• Coping with Crisis and Disaster - Sept. 11 attacks spur Land-Grant/USDA response nationwide.
• Farming for Now…and Now On - Sustainable agriculture is the key to the future.
• It Only Seems Simple - Food safety is a farm-to-fork job.
• Gene Dreams are Now Reality - The benefits of biotechnology are stepping up.
• Proud Parents - Strengthening families leads to productive parenting.
• Hooked on Science - Agricultural and life sciences education prepares young people for careers in science and technology.
• Motivating Young Minds to Excel - Preparing youth to live in a changing society.
• A New Look for Foods - Scientists finesse new forms of familiar food.
• Rural Renaissance - Participating in the global economy.
• Skip the Fries, Add the Salad - Changing diets to save lives.
• Slimmer Kids - Fighting childhood obesity.
• Smart Farming - Information key to precision farming, Integrated Pest Management.
• Spanning the Globe - Land-Grant partnership enhancing international trade.
• Tackling Terrorism - Helping to guarantee homeland security.
• The Bucks: Top Fear - Creative solutions to the economic challenges of change.
• The Invaders - Land-Grants and USDA foil yield-robbers and habitat hogs.
• Not Just for the Over-30 Set - University undergraduate students prove their worth in the lab.
• Waste Is a Terrible Thing to Mind - Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Wet Ones - Protecting our nation's water quality.

FYI: Impact Assessment – Western Region

On February 12-14, 2002 the WCC 208 - Western Region Impact Statement Development Committee met in Ft. Collins, CO. and created a web based impact report entitled “Best of the West.” 128 individual state citations were included, and every state with submissions is mentioned on the web site. The web site includes pictures, links back to the mentioned states and a printer friendly format. The newly developed web site may be viewed at www.ag.unr.edu/wri/ and includes the following impact categories:

• Competitive Agriculture - Farm niches can lead to riches – new markets, new crops, and new methods help growers improve their bottom line.
  • What’s old is new again
  • Knowledge is power
  • Cash crops and cash cows
  • Who to call and what to buy
  • Not on corn alone
  • What’s a crop like you doing in a place like this?
  • No smut here
• Economic Development – Looking out for small towns – helping western communities and rural quality of life
  • Thinking Outside The Box
  • It's Never To Late To Learn
  • Keeping In Touch
  • Finding The Golden Fleece
  • Changing Over
  • Making The Connection
• Education for Life – Preparing for today’s technical world
  • Virtual Enhancements
  • Living, Learning and Internships
  • Reaching Out To Local High Schools
  • Beyond The Baccalaureate
• Fighting Disasters – Fighting disasters with knowledge and know-how – western regional universities on the front lines
  • Hay, I Need Help
  • Burning Issues
  • Escape To Loon Lake
  • Once Burned
  • Only Ewes Can Prevent Wildfire
  • Rockin’ And Rollin’
  • Flood Facts
• Food Safety – Detecting food safety problems quickly – faster is better when it comes to finding the source of food safety problems
  • Hold the Pickles, Chill the Mayo
• Good Nutrition – The key to life-long health
  • Kids In The Kitchen
  • Golden Keys To Health
  • Eat Your Veggies
  • Lessons Learned
• Lifestyles – Eating right isn’t always that simple – a dime of prevention is worth a dollar of cure
  • Got Milk? Need Calcium?
  • Bringing Research Home
  • Delivering The Dirt On Diabetes
• Waste Management – Don’t waste a great opportunity - adding to trash
  • A Clean Sweep
• Water Quality – Working to protect the west’s water and resources – agriculturalists and urbanites learn to optimize use, protect quality and conserve water.
  • More People, Less Water
  • BMPs For Cleaner Rivers
  • Reducing Livestock Waste
  • Irrigation Magic
  • Happy As A Clam

The Western Impact website is linked to the CSREES-USDA Science and Education website. In addition, the committee offered an impact writing training session at the Western Regional Joint Summer Meetings in Montana. The objectives were to train administrators on impact writing and improve the quality of the submissions to the National database.

• CSREES - Terry Meisenbach
• WAAESD - Michael Harrington
• WED - Milan Rewerts, Colorado
• WAAESD - Ron Pardini, Nevada
• WAP - John Hammel, Idaho

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

FY 03 Budget: The President has signed the Omnibus FY 03 budget bill passed by Congress. Analyses of the impact of the budget on CSREES has been distributed to the System. There has been a further 0.67% across-the-board cut in the federal budget including CSREES appropriations following passage of the budget. It is doubtful that there will be further modifications to the CSREES budget in the FY 03 Supplemental budget bill.

FY 04 Budget: The BAC requested that each section submit up to two items to be considered for the one pager that will be developed by the Blue Ribbon Team (BRT, the advocacy organization) for use by CARET (during their Hill visits). Following the guidelines suggested by the BAC, the Budget and Legislative Committee submitted the following statement:

• Food Safety and Security:
  1. Develop rapid/real time methods to detect known and emerging pathogens, naturally occurring and introduced toxic substances, and other biological and chemical agents-of-concern throughout the food and water chain.
  2. Enhance our understanding of the microbial biology and ecology of known and emerging human pathogens and our understanding of the stability of their toxic products and other hazardous substances in food ingredients and products to enable food processors to design and apply product formulations and processing treatments to inactivate or eliminate pathogens and toxins.

• Nutrition and Health:
  1. Determine the biological effects of the various active components of food on the human body, including the effects on regulation of genes and gene products.
  2. Create healthier food using conventional and molecular methods to modify food components, develop biomarkers for nutrients and phytochemicals, and enhance knowledge of nutriceuticals and probiotics.

• Environment:
  1. Enhance our understanding of earth's hydrologic cycle including the effect of decreased water availability on future land-use patterns, distribution of crop and livestock production systems, impact on wildlife and fishery systems, conflicts among competing water users, and continued development of communities.
  2. Assess the impact of climate change by developing accurate mathematical models for assessing the short and long term effects of both man-made and naturally occurring climate changes on crop and livestock systems and develop strategies to prevent losses in biodiversity and genetic resources and cope with changes that may result from altered climatic conditions.

The National Institute for Agricultural Security (NIAS) will develop a description of FY 04 budget requests so that it complements the statement developed and endorsed by the BAC. The ESCOP B/L Committee will review the request.

FY 05: The Committee will carefully monitor the response of Congress and the Executive Branch to the FY 04 recommendations and the recommendations from CSREES for FY 05 to determine if the priorities for FY 05 should be modified.

Legislative Action: The Farm Bill Committee (FBC) of the BAA has been appointed. ESCOP recommended that an ESCOP representative be appointed along with the Executive vice chair of the ESCOP B/L Committee (since the EDs for Extension and Academic Program are listed on the Committee). Chair Angle has written to Bobby Moser requesting those appointments. In addition, ESCOP has recommended an Experiment Station Director for each of the five subcommittees of the FBC: Conservation - Henry Vaux (CA, henry.vaux@ucop.edu); Rural Development - Alfred Parks (Prairie View A&M, alfred_parks@pvamu.edu); Energy - Kevin Kephart (SD, kkephart@abs.sdstate.edu); Research and Education - Bill Brown (LA, bbrown@agctr.lsu.edu); Forestry - Bruce Wiersma (ME, wiersma@apollo.umenfa.maine.edu).

Action Requested: For information.

Action Taken: A motion was made for ESCOP to pay its 2003 CFAR membership out of the SUNEI balance. It was seconded and passed. NERA will process the payment.

Background: As a follow-up to the partnership initiative that came out of the Baltimore meeting last year, a new team has been formed composed of: D.C. Coston, Lee Sommers, Mike Harrington, and co-chaired by Gary Cunningham and Pat Johnson. Successful partnerships will be the theme of this summer’s Joint COPs Meeting in New Jersey. The ESCOP Partnership Committee has not met. Possible areas that the committee can work on are (1) looking at different agencies and opportunities for funding, (2) how to overcome obstacles such as intellectual property and (3) how these partnerships can be enhanced.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The minutes of all past committee meetings and various working documents are available under the Planning Committee section of the ESCOP website.

A committee meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2003. Based on feedback from committee members, the meeting will be held via conference call.

ECOP will be providing suggestions for coordinating planning efforts through their new structure. Potential interactions include a Futuring Workshop, to be held in the Fall of 2003, and the participation of an ESCOP representative on the new ECOP Advisory Council.

Continuing the ESCOP-PC’s charge of linking planning with budget development, as a part of the 2003 Fall meeting a session will be organized to review the current 4-5 year ESCOP priority list and to identify ESCOP priorities for the future. Information gathered at the session will be compiled by the Planning Committee.

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

1. Status Review of Committees
   • Social Sciences Subcommittee
     • Incoming Chair nominee is Stephan Goetz of Penn State
     • Active in reviewing Social Science opportunities with NSF
     • Review of Science Road Map
     • Inquiry about administrative support from ESCOP for the subcommittee
   • Agricultural Biotechnology Implementation Task Force (joint ESCOP-ECOP)
     • Chair Tom Hoban
     • Web report currently being implemented
   • Rural Communities and Farm Crisis Task Force (joint ESCOP-ECOP)
     • Chair Lou Swanson
     • Folded into the Social Science Subcommittee
   • Food Safety Subcommittee (joint ESCOP-ECOP)
     • No chair currently appointed
   • Genetic Resources Subcommittee
     • No activity
   • Genomics Subcommittee
     • Currently not active
     • Randy Woodson would be willing to lead the group with suggestions for surveying current level of activity (FTE), organisms studies, appropriate role of AES’s
   • Pest Management Strategies
     • Co-chairs Eldon Ortman and Frank Zalom
     • Coordinating meetings with regional pest management centers and 4th National IPM Workshop

2. An update of the March 3, 2003 Science and Technology Committee group will be presented.

Action Requested: For information.

Action Taken: Nancy Cox and Eric Young will request CSREES to replace John Michael’s position. A new chair for the Food Safety Committee will be appointed by the ESCOP Chair.

Background:

Assessments

The Board reaffirmed its original position on the assessment issue. The Board is strong in its stance that each institution receives one bill and leaves it up to the institution to determine how it gets paid. There are likely to be a few minor errors in the database obtained from CSREES and if so these will be corrected in the next iteration. Any errors would result in minor changes in the assessment due to the use of a 3 year running average. Individual sections are to develop procedures by which assessments will be approved. This would also include a provision for notification of the membership of the outcome of any ballot similar to the process that ESCOP used.

Board Plan of Work

The Board adopted its 2003 work plan for the Strategic Plan that was approved at NASULGC in November.

Leadership Program

Efforts are underway to develop an advanced “graduate” level leadership program for agricultural and food system leaders. This program would build on the leadership training received in the current NELD and ESCOP-ACOP programs.

Farm Bill Committee

A Farm Bill Committee chaired by Jeff Armstrong at Michigan State University has been appointed. Failure to include an ESCOP member on the Committee was strictly an oversight which has been corrected.

Department of Energy

The Dept of Energy has a competitive grants program in the amount $1.4 Billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Unfortunately, only 3% of these funds are going to Universities. In most cases some sort of partnership with industry is required and it is felt that Universities are being excluded because of onerous requirements with respect to intellectual property. The Board appointed a sub-committee to inquire into this situation and see if there is some action that might be taken to increase university participation in DOE programs.

Action Requested: For information.

Discussion: There was considerable discussion on assessments throughout the meeting. The directors expressed displeasure that there was no explanation on the assessments billed by NASULGC. ESCOP should have a process for developing and voting on assessments.

Action Taken: The Exec. Dirs., in their meeting with Mort Neufville and staff, will request that communication with deans/directors be improved, specifically providing more detailed explanation on billing for assessments. A mechanism on how to deal with proposed assessments will be drafted (Mike Harrington). This will be presented, discussed and voted on for inclusion in the ESCOP Rules of Operation at the Sept. meeting. The continuation/discontinuation of the ESCOP assessment will also be discussed in Sept.

Background: C. Hefferan’s presentation focused on budget issues and future planning. On the budget, there is a 0.65% rescission in 2003 appropriation. The RFPs for NRI and new competitive programs will be released in April, with topics on: (1) animal genomics and bioinfomatics including graduate and post-grad education combined with training components, (2) human nutrition behavioral area, (3) air quality, and (4) animal and plant diseases, also in relation to homeland security.

For the FY2004 budget, competitive funding will grow, Formula Fund will be sustained and there is an increase for 1890’s, but not 1862’s. Homeland security will be included in the supplemental funding from the Dept. of Defense. There will be an increase for critical emerging issues which will be treated separately from homeland security.

On e-Government, the federal system should be available for use online by October 2003. EASE had been phased out. An alternative being explored is to expand CRIS to accommodate Extension. REEIS is now headed by Michel Desbois.

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

• Policy Board of Directors of the Board on Agriculture Assembly met on February 13 – 14, 2003. Major items of discussion included:
  • Status of system assessments
  • Advocacy efforts by FH/GPC
  • The 03 and 04 appropriations
  • The 03 NASULGC Annual Meeting
  • Food and Society
  • System Leadership Initiatives

• Assessments invoices have been mailed and several questions are being responded to. Spreadsheets on the assessments are available. The process being used was approved by the Board on Agriculture Assembly.

• The advocacy firm FH/GPC is following-up on the appropriations process and information coming from the firm is to be distributed by the respective section representatives. This system of distribution is being reconsidered and a full assembly mailfile will be made available to the firm for information sharing. Groups meeting in Washington may request brief presentation from the firm through the Chair of the BAC.

• NASULGC Annual Meeting will be in New Orleans, November 15th-18th. Committee meetings will be on the 15th, CFERR and BAA Lecture on the 16th. Sections and BAA Business meeting will be on the 17th.

• Food and Society Project. The project leaders continue to interact with agency representatives from NSF, NIH, USDA and EPA. The National Academy of Sciences will be conducting a science and education forum late April early May. The title of the forum is “Exploring a Vision: Integrating Knowledge for Food and Health.”

  Some of the topics to be considered during the forum include the potential for Agricultural research and education to address problems of food safety, Nutritional deficiencies and excesses, chronic diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer), infectious and zoonotic diseases, and terrorism.

  Some of the questions to be considered include:

  • Are food and agricultural research/education managed and conducted in a way that provides for scientific progress, incentives for collaboration, and public benefit?
  • What benefits and problems result from interactions between university, government, and industry?
  • What and where are the gaps in food production/system research and education?
  • How should universities, federal agencies, and other organizations interact to ensure needs are met?
  • What are potential national initiatives that could be implemented to begin to address challenges?

  ANTICIPATED RESULTS - The workshop will be webcast live. Shortly after the meeting, copies of presentations, with corresponding audio, will be posted on the Board’s website. A workshop summary of the forum will be prepared by a rapporteur. The publication will be a summary of what occurred at the workshop prepared in a style and format that is readable to a lay audience. The summary may contain viewpoints attributed to individual attendees or groups of attendees in the workshop. The report will not include recommendations.

• Systems Leadership Initiatives. A proposal for the establishment of a leadership institute is being developed by NASULGC for submission to the WKKF. The site will be identified through a competitive process. A Board of Directors will be established with responsibility for:
  • Site Selection
  • Program Content
  • Funding
  • Staffing and
  • Evaluation

  We estimate an annual cohort group of 20-25 to include:

  • Department Chairs
  • Associate/Assistant Deans/Vice Presidents
  • Directors
  • Graduates of other leadership programs
  • Agriculture Industry Leaders

  An extensive mentorship program will supplement a residency program of 3 one-week sessions and 12 month virtual sessions.

• Al Lingg is retiring March 31^st ;a replacement has been identified.

• The exhibit on the Hill be be on March 4th, 5-7:30 p.m. in the Dirkson Senate Building. There will be 32 exhibits.

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

• The joint APS/AASCARR meeting was held March 2-4, 2003 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington VA and in conjunction with the AHS/CARET meeting as in the past. A workshop entitled "Budget Priorities: Strategies For Making Tough Choices and Preparing for the Future" will be held in conjunction with the meeting. In addition, members will be attending the Hill exhibits on the evening of March 4. ACOP will be meeting on March 2 at 1:30 pm.
• The announcement for the 12th annual "Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences" has gone out. Nominations are due April 15, 2003. The details can be found on the USDA/CSREES web page.
• The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board met on October 9 and 10. More than half a day was spent on the future of Workforce Development and Education. As a consequence of their deliberations, a variety of recommendations were made to USDA and Secretary Veneman. It was recommended that USDA make education in agriculture a top priority and also recommended increased support for educational programs including higher education. APS will be meeting on March 4 with USDA/CSREES/HEP directors, NPLs and Deputy Administrators to seek ways to capitalize on the NAREEEAB recommendations.
• The APS will hold its first Summer Conference since the summer of 1998 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana on July 28-30. The theme of the meeting will be "CREATING VALUE: Assessing Student Performance, Faculty Performance and Outcomes Assessment for Program Improvement."
• Ian Maw has been selected as the new Director of Academic Programs following the retirement of Al Lingg. Ian will start his new position on July 7, 2003.
• The President's budget for 2004 included increases for both the Institutional Challenge Grant program and the National Needs Fellowship program. APS strongly supports these increases.
• Planning is continuing for an "Academic Summit – The Student of 2015". It is hoped that this national conference will be held in the late summer of 2004. The purpose of the conference is to generate a picture of the agricultural student of 2015 so that our institutions can begins to change curricula and programs to meet the needs of students and employers in the year 2015 and beyond.
• APS is modifying its bylaws and "Rules of Operation" to conform more closely with the PBD structure. A number of committees will be eliminated and operational procedures are being revised.
• The Joint AHS/COPS meeting is scheduled for July 20-23, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City, NJ. APS is the "planning" host of the meeting this year. The planning committee consists of the chairs-elect of the COPs and AHS and is chaired by Eric Hoiberg. The committee has meet by teleconference and has proposed "Partnerships and Integration of Programs" as a theme for the program
• APS and ES New Directors orientation on December 10-11 in Washington DC went extremely well. The new APS members that were there found it to be extremely helpful in understanding the system and the roles of all the different entities with which we deal.

Action Requested: For information.

Discussion: R. Lewis suggested that the ESS should be pro-active with the academic programs as they determine and influence the quality of our scientists in the future. The Science Roadmap mentioned the importance of a needs assessment dealing with policies on college-level academic programs. ESCOP wants to send a representative to the planning committee of the “Academic Summit – The Student of 2015”. R. Lewis will find out and contact Chair Angle if this is possible.

Background: Ed Knipling distributed the ARS budget summaries for fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004. He enumerated the management issues that ARS is dealing with:

• homeland security - with a focus on protection of assets, facilities, personnel and sponsorship of non-US citizens working in labs
• human resource – ARS will have a 10% turnover due to retirements, focusing on SY recruitment and leadership program
• E-government – interconnectivity with other agencies. NAL’s new director Peter Young is working on broadening customer base
• Infrastructure – facility construction, modernization and security modifications
• BPI – budget and performance integration

Budget Summaries ( Fiscal Years 2002, 2003, and 2004)

1. FY 2002 (Enacted) - $979 million

2. FY 2003 (President’s Proposal) - $969 million
   • Net $10 million or 1 percent decrease from FY 02
   • $94 million increase (selected program initiatives and pay costs)
   • $104 million decrease (selected location/program closures and all FY 01 and 02 Congressional add?ons)
   • Separate line item for facility modernization ($16.6 million)

3. FY 2003 (Enacted) - $1,045 million
   • Net $66 million increase over FY 02
   • Selected program initiatives (genetics, genomics, biobased products, biotech risk, invasive species, emerging diseases, environmental quality, pay costs, and Congressional add-ons)
   • No program closures or project terminations (all prior add?ons restored)
   • Separate line item for facility modernization ($119 million)

4. FY 2004 (President’s Proposal) - $987 million
   • Net $58 million decrease from FY 03 enacted
   • $99 million increase (selected program initiatives and pay costs)
   • $137 million decrease (FY 01, 02, and 03 Congressional add?ons)
   • $12 million reprogramming
   • $9 million transfer to DHS (Plum Island)
   • Separate line item for facility security and modernization ($24 million)

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The new advocacy group is now known as the Blue Ribbon Team (BRT). It is composed of 4 firms. The team’s leader is Larry LaRocco and Fred Hutchison. is the deputy. BRT prepared the 2-pager that CARET reps. gave to their congressional reps. at the Hill. BRT is working on two main goals: (1) a 5% increase in formula fund and (2) support of at least 30% of competitive grant proposals submitted to CSREES. The team would like to have (1) success stories- breakthroughs and (2) forward-looking on what would we do in research if we have more resources. Fred also proposed using CARET more effectively. They plan to conduct a strategic planning with CARET. F. Hutchison gave a few tips on how to engage key people in the process: (1) look at individual line items and make them part of the request (2) give them access to constituents, and (3) publicity in local colleges/stations’ papers is important. Send them a copy of the paper when you thank them. The team also has developed ideas on how to use the Exhibit on the Hill more effectively. These suggestions will be shared with BAAPBD and NASULGC. The URL of the webpage where updates on BRT’s activities can be found is http://www.nasulgc-bac.com.

The BRT reports directly to Tom Payne and Fred Cholick of the BAC. Requests should be coursed through the BAC. The team will continue to accommodate requests to attend meetings if they are held in Washington, DC.

Action Requested: For Information.

Background: She distributed copies of the new ERS magazine, Amber Waves. Hardcopy is available through subscription. ERS is taking full advantage of the internet technology, making publications available on the web and providing ease of access to data products. Articles are selected based on variety of factors, most important are: previously published peer reviewed research results and interests on the topics.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The ESS has approved the NRSP Strategic Plan and the document has received preliminary endorsement from CSREES. To fully implement the plan, we will need to develop the National Advisory Committee which provides general oversight of the NRSP program. According to the timetable presented in the plan, the committee has specific roles in the renewal process. To allow sufficient time for the committee to organize themselves, we will need to assemble the group as soon as possible.

The committee is comprised of:

• One representative from each of the four SAES regions, who is a current or past member of an MRC, and one from the ARD region, appointed by the regional association chair. Each region will also designate an alternate to insure representation.
• One representative from Extension appointed by the ESCOP Chair following the recommendation of the ECOP Chair.
• One representative from CSREES, preferably a National Program leader, recommended by the CSREES Administrator and appointed by the ESCOP Chair.
• One stakeholder representative, possibly a CARET representative, appointed by the ESCOP Chair.
• Two regional executive directors appointed by the ESCOP Chair. One of the executive directors should be from the same region as the chair of the committee and serve as executive vice chair to administratively support the committee.
• Officers will include a chair and chair-elect chosen by the committee from the representatives of four SAES regions.

Action Requested: For information.

Discussion: G. Cunningham commented that CSREES is currently reviewing the guidelines. In the absence of the new guidelines, reviews will be handled as in the past, with CSREES covering travel costs. NRSPs should be implemented under the multistate research guidelines.

Action Taken: ESCOP decided to move ahead with the formation of the National Advisory Committee. The regional associations were requested to nominate their representatives.

Background: The final report is not ready. The Team was invited to make a presentation at the Sept. meeting.

Background:

The goal of the e-Extension initiative, designated as an ECOP priority, is to plan and implement a national web-based information and education network. It will expand learning choices and methodologies in support of just-in-time learning by providing coordinated access to land-grant university expertise.

e-Extension will be a trusted and valued source of information for most people at some point in their lives. Users will not only have access, but success in finding qualified resources, interacting with the site, and applying the information. e-Extension offers the opportunity to make information available and useful to a broader and more diverse audience base, including large segments of the population that have not previously benefited from Extension. Audience categories include the general public, collaborating agencies, volunteers, agents and specialists, and instructional and research faculty. More specific audiences could include groups such as Spanish language populations and age-specific groups for whom language- and age-appropriate materials are developed.

A overview of "e-Extension" will be given (see powerpoint), followed by a discussion on how research could be involved in this initiative.

Action Requested: For information.

Discussion: Extension would like the ESS system to participate in this effort. Eric Young and Mike Harrington will suggest a strategy for ESS participation. Complete information can be found on-line at http://asred.msstate.edu/national/.

Background: The following letter from Dr. David Thawley, Chair, Homeland Agrosecurity Task Force, reports on actions of the Task Force:

Richard Heimsch appointed the task force in October of 2001 with specific charges:

• To recommend guidelines/policies and procedures that should be adopted across the SAES to insure that our research materials, databases, and microbial germplasm collections are secure and to reduce the probability that they will become source materials for terrorists.
• To determine the capacity of SAES both in terms of human resources and university-based infrastructure that can be brought to bear to address agro-security issues and problems that may emerge.
• To help formulate how the SAES and USDA/ARS can collectively and cooperatively work together to provide enhanced agro-security for the Nation.
• To identify research needs and opportunities in the agro-security arena and to help define research and program initiatives that may support enhanced funding for agro-security in the U.S.

I am pleased to report that the Task Force has made extraordinary progress in meeting its charges. Through the excellent work of David MacKenzie, the Task Force has made recommendations relative to site and lab security. At the Experiment Station Section meeting in September 2002, member Directors were asked to exercise due diligence by taking a number of steps to enhance site and laboratory security. A follow up survey indicated that 90% of those responding had taken steps to enhance security.

The Initiatives in Agricultural Security white paper helped to focus thinking on critical organizational, research and education needs that are faced by the US agriculture and food systems. A major recommendation of the Task Force was the creation of an entity to facilitate certain activities, a concept that has received considerable interest. The National Institute for Agricultural Security (NIAS) has been established in Maryland and application for 501c3 status will soon be requested. Dr. Heimsch appointed the task force members and the regional Executive Directors to the interim Board of Directors.

We have initiated operations of the NIAS. The ESS approved the use of residual funds to employ a part-time executive director for the Institute. In early March 2003, the NIAS Board of Directors held an organizational meeting and developed a plan of activities for this year. I am also happy to report that Dr. Stan Johnson, representing cooperative extension, has agreed to join the Board.

I am happy to report that the task force/interim Board considers its work completed. In spite of our successes, there is still much to be done. The efforts will become a part of the activities of the NIAS.

Sincerely,
David Thawley, Chair
Homeland Agrosecurity Task Force

Establishment of the NIAS

• The NIAS Board of Directors formerly convened February 2-4, 2003.
• Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation have been filed by a lawyer with the State of Maryland. The Bylaws and the Articles will be presented to the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) Directors at the Experiment Station Section (ESS) meeting in September. The paperwork for filing with the IRS for nonprofit status is being completed.
• The membership of the Board were appointed by the ESCOP Chair and include D.C. Coston, Neville Clarke, Darrell Nelson, Daryl Lund, David Thawley, Ed Mather, Eric Young, Joe Joyce, Mike Harrington, Ralph Cavalieri, Sam Donald, Scott Angle, Stan Johnson and Terry Nipp (non-voting).
• Officers were elected: D.C Coston, President; Dave Thawley, Vice President; Mike Harrington, Secretary; and Scott Angle, Treasurer. Terry Nipp was appointed Executive Director.
• ESCOP residual funds have been transferred from NASULGC to the University of Maryland, which will provide fiscal and accounting management services to the NIAS.

Management of the NIAS

• An initial Plan of Activities (POA) for the NIAS has been reviewed and approved by the Board. The Executive Director (ED) is charged to develop the POA and to proactively seek opportunities to ensure that the NIAS is self sustaining in the near future.
• The Executive Director is charged to arrange for office staff support services, which will be expand as new funding sources are established.

Activities of the NIAS

• It was agreed that the NIAS would seek to avoid competing with specific projects being developed by individual universities and consortium, serving instead to facilitate communication among these institutions and the larger university community.
• A series of specific projects were developed, which were further refined at a meeting of the BOD on March 3, 2002.

Discussion:

• OIG Security Audits
  Gary Cunningham reported that he has seen the draft report on the security audits at selected universities. As might be expected, there were problems. All universities are encouraged to work with their respective existing compliance offices including biosafety, radiation safety, chemical, hazardous materials, etc to assure that all guidelines are followed.

• Animal & Plant Disease and Pest Surveillance & Detection Network
  Kitty Cardwell, (CSREES-NPL in Plant Pathology) and Bob Smith (CSREES-NPL for Homeland Security) discussed the network concepts from the plant and animal perspectives respectively. Dr. Cardwell indicated that the intent was for each state/LGU to have digital diagnostic imaging equipment. This would facilitate high quality images that would be easily moved as electronic files. There has been some thought given to adding additional labs to cover under-represented areas. There still a critical need to involve the LGUs in the communication loop and also to get down to the level of specialists and agents as this is where any outbreaks would first be encountered.

• National Institute for Agricultural Security
  D.C. Coston distributed an agenda brief with an update on the NIAS. An organizational meeting of the Board of Directors was held on February 2-4, 2004. Officers are DC Coston president; David Thawley, vice president; Scott Angle treasurer; Mike Harrington, secretary. A plan of activities for the coming year was discussed including possible funding sources for several activities. Dr Stan Johnson, Vice President for Extension at Iowa State has joined the Board.

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

• CSREES has officially adopted NIMSS.
• Natalie and Rubie are continually working on newer versions.
• Relationship to CSREES and NRSP.
• Suggest administrative support to CSREES
• Rubie will prepare a budget for support of NIMSS for FY03. A budget of $30,000 was approved by the Directors as part of the special assessment for the SAES/ARD.
• NRSP-1 has been approached about making NIMSS a part of the NRSP-1 agenda. NRSP-1 will be undergoing an external review and renewal process in FY 04.
• Station directors can now edit participant Appendix E information (email changes, etc.) and choose who they would like to notify, if anyone. Originally, this could only be updated by the system administrators.
• Anyone performing an editing function in NIMSS is now forced to use the short forms. This will hopefully eliminate the loss of information that was happening with the long forms.
• Access the NIMSS Job Jar for further information and accomplishments.

Action Requested: For information.

Discussion: Daryl Lund provided a status report on the NIMSS. All regions are fully operational on the system and CSREES is using the system. The Oversight Committee has made a recommendation for a number of improvements to the system. The 2003 Assessment contains funds for improvements which are currently in progress. The Committee also recommended that the NIMSS be included in the NSRP-1 portfolio during the project revision. The Oversight Committee would help facilitate this transition and assist with the development of an on-going management/oversight plan. All Directors and designees are reminded of the need to assure that appendix E’s for participants are submitted in a timely manner.

Action Taken: A motion was made for NIMSS to be included the NRSP-1 portfolio. It was seconded and passed.

The All COPs meeting will be held July 20-23 in Jersey City, NJ. Eric Hoiberg is chairing the Planning Committee on behalf of ACOP. We have requested the same relative time slot for the ESCOP meeting as last year - Monday, July 21 1:30 - 5:00pm.

From Eric Hoiberg, "...the program will focus on partnership and partnership efforts across teaching, research, extension, and international. This is a change in focus from past years when the program centered on a theme and then had presenters from each COP relate efforts from their own group. This year's theme will center on process rather than content and will explore successes and failures in case study examples of partnership. I invite you once again to think about examples in your institution where partnerships across function have occurred and what lessons we can learn from them. We would like to direct our examples more to those cases where teaching, research, and extension or research, teaching, and international (i.e. examples with more than the traditional partnerships of research/extension or teaching/research) is featured. We would also like to bring in a speaker who could inspire us with a presentation on the value of partnering (if you have any ideas here, they would also be welcome)."

Sunday September 21
Dearborn, MI Ritz-Carlton
arrive and register

Monday September 22
AM Regional Meetings - agenda established by each Region
Lunch Arranged
PM ESS meeting - agenda established by Chair Scott Angle
Evening Reception-Dinner

Tuesday September 23

7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast Arranged
8:00 - 12:00 Session 1 and 2 - Intellectual Property - Current status and recommendations - Chair Ian Gray

• 15 minutes Introduction-President Peter McPherson, MSU
• 30 minutes Report of Meridian Institute -Gary Toenniessen, Rockefeller Foundation
• 30 minutes Response of SAES - John Gardner
• 30 minutes Response from Industry - DOW, Midland MI
  Break
• 30 minutes Response of Investigator - Dean Della Penna, MSU
• 30 minutes Ethics of IP - Paul Thompson, Purdue
• Discussion

12:00 - 1:30 Lunch Arranged: Musings on the Future of LGUs - Provost MSU

1:30 - 3:30 Session 3 - Planning Priorities - Chair Eric Young
(to be organized by Planning Committee - Virginia Clark Johnson, chair)

• Planning Priorities for ESCOP 5 - 10 years out
• Assessment of NRC Report on "Frontiers in Agriculture Research" - Science and Technology Committee Chair Nancy Cox
• Break Out Groups

3:30 - 4:00 Break

4:00 - 5:30 Session 4 - Accountability and Impacts - Sam Donald

• 20 minutes CSREES Accountability - Cheryl Oros
• 20 minutes OIG Audits - Station Director who has gone through one
• 20 minutes Integrated Activities - Station Director
• Discussion

Evening open

Wednesday September 24

7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast

8:00 - 9:30 Session 5 - Information Technology: Reports and Reporting - Chair Daryl Lund

• 20 minutes NRSP -1 Report - Darrell Nelson, UNL, Lead AA
• 20 minutes CSREES: What does it need for reporting? - Sally Rockey/Cindy Dickenson
• 20 minutes NIMSS: Electronic system for the MRF - Daryl Lund, Chair NIMSS Oversight Comm/Rubie Mize, NERA Admin Assistant
• Discussion

9:30 - 10:00 Break

10:30 - 12:00 Session 6 - Funding and Assessments - Chair Michael Harrington

• Counterfactual Studies Reports - Scott Angle, UMD, Chair ESCOP
• Assessments - Colin Kaltenbach, UAZ, ESCOP Rep to BAA Policy Board
• Indirect Cost on USDA Competitive Grants - Steve Slack, OSU, Chair NCRA Indirect Cost Committee
• Science and Technology Research Funding - Richard Jones, UFL, Chair ESCOP BUD/LEG Comm
• Future of Multistate Research - Colien Hefferan

Lunch on our own

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

1. ARD Officers 2002-2004:
   • Alfred L. Parks, Chair
   • Carolyn B. Brooks, Past Chair
   • Stephen Kolison, Jr., Chair Elect
   • Orlando McMeans, Secretary
   • Bobby R. Phills, Treasurer
   • Kirkland Mellad, Member-at-Large
   • Samuel L. Donald, Regional Director
   • P.S. Benepal, Ex. Officio

2. Research Symposium

   In its continuing efforts to further the mission of 1890 land-grant colleges and universities (the 1890s), the Association of Research Directors, Inc. (ARD) will host its 13th Biennial Research Symposium at the Hyatt Hotel, Atlanta, GA, March 29 - April 2, 2003. The symposium is designed to showcase research accomplishments of faculty and students in Food and Agricultural Sciences at the 1890s. Approximately 600 persons (students and faculty from the 1890s and other land-grant institutions, professionals from federal agencies, private industry, and others) are expected to attend and participate in the symposium. The primary goals of the symposium are to (1) strengthen partnerships with other land grant institutions, state and federal agencies, industry and others; (2) provide a forum for the sharing of new knowledge and information; and (3) recognize research accomplishments as building blocks for a secure future. Focusing on the theme for the Symposium of 1890 Research: Expanding the Vision, Impacting the Future, “ research papers and posters will be presented in four areas:

   1. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
   2. Environmental Stewardship
   3. Small Farms and Rural Development
   4. New and Emerging Technologies

3. Ag Day on Capital Hill

   ARD and the 1890s participated in this event which was held on March 4, 2003 in the Auditorium of the Dirksen Senate Office. The title of the 1890 exhibit was “Building Capacity in Food and Agricultural Sciences: Meeting the Needs of People”.

4. Federal Budgets
   • The FY 2003 Budget was not what we hoped for. But we did receive some modest increases and we are thankful.
   • For FY 2004, we support the budget as put forth by the system.

5. Farm Bill
   1. The 2002 Farm Bill reauthorized all 1890 accounts. Some notable changes were as follows:
      • Evans-Allen “floor” changed from 15 percent to 25 percent (Section 7203 for Section 1445 in Act of 1977).
      • 1890 Extension “floor” changed from 6 percent to 15 percent (Section 7203 for Section 1444 in Act of 1977).
      • Annual authorization for 1890 Facilities Grants Program changed from $15,000,000 to $25,000,000 (Section 7109 for Section 1447 in Act of 1977).
   2. Non-federal Matching for 1890 Formula Funds
      • FY 2003 60% non-federal match required
      • FY 2004 - FY 2007 - Increase in increments of 10% each year until 100% non-federal match is reached
      • Secretary of Agriculture may waive the requirement above the 50% level

6. Homeland Security: Needs and Role of the 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities

   Sam Donald represents ARD on the NIAS Committee.

   The roles of the 1890 institutions in homeland security will vary due to location, access, infrastructure, as well as external factors (such as nearby location of a nuclear station, oil refineries, major airport, state capital, etc.). Nevertheless, in general, the role of the 1890 institutions in homeland security is to be persistent in making sure the above as well as other emerging security needs as met and to serve as homeland security command posts/headquarters if requested.

7. ARD Website: http://www.umes.edu/ard/

8. Gold Book: Provides information briefs about ARD.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: Two significant issues to report on the Northeast:

• The NERA office was damaged by fire on January 14, 2003. Half of the office was totally lost. The office has moved to Suite 209 in the same building. The new phone numbers are 301-405-9613 or 9615 (fax is the same, 301-403-4310).
• Five candidates applied for the NERA Executive Director position. The Search Committee had narrowed the list to two candidates. Both candidates will be interviewed during the NERA meeting. The Exec. Directors and other directors who are interested to listen to the candidates’ presentations were invited. The Exec. Dirs. in particular were encouraged to be actively involved in the process and share their comments with the Search Committee. A remembrance service for David MacKenzie, former NERA ED, will be held prior to the NERA meeting. Everyone was invited.

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

1. Administrative Advisors-The NCRA has developed a virtual handbook for Administrative Advisors (http://www.wisc.edu/ncra/AAnotebook.htm) that includes detailed information on the use of NIMSS. Several teleconference training sessions were held during the fall semester for Administrative Advisors.
2. Project Numbers on Renewed Projects-The NCRA adopted the policy of having new project numbers on all projects, new and renewed. For renewed projects, a rationale can be presented for retaining the old number (a new number would make it very difficult for clientele to locate information, or the project numbers have been used historically to identify genetic material) but generally new numbers will be assigned.
3. Germplasm/Variety Release Policies and Procedures-In 1999 the NCRA conducted a survey of policies used by the 12 Experiment Stations for releasing germplasm and varieties. The survey has been updated and a summary of the results is in the process of being developed.
4. Administrative Assistant- After 7.5 years as the NCRA Administrative Assistant, Madelyn Alt took a new position at UW-Hospitals. The search for her successor has been successfully completed by hiring Nicole Nelson. She is off to a flying start by updating the NCRA homepage, developing the AA Virtual Handbook, providing teleconference-based training sessions on NIMSS, and providing invaluable assistance in getting NCRA projects into NIMSS.
5. Meetings:
   Spring - Embassy Suites, Kansas City, MO March 11 -13, 2003.
   Summer - Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN July 9 - 11, 2003
   Fall - Dearborn, MI September 22, 2003

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

Officers:
Chair: Charles J. Scifres (TX)
Chair-Elect: Greg Weidemann (AR)
Executive Committee Member at Large: Tom Klindt (TN)
Multistate Research Committee Chair: William F. Brown (FL)
Immediate Past Chair: Vance Watson (MS)

2003 Meetings:

• March 30 - April 2 - Duck Key, FL (Joint with Southern Extension Directors)
  • The SAAESD will bestow its first "Excellence in Leadership" award at the 2003 spring meeting. This award will recognize exemplary service to the SAAESD and to the Southern and National Land-Grant System.
  • The SAAESD will begin a series of issues-analyses and discussions leading to publication of white papers/reports. The first scheduled issue is "Intellectual Property," and will be presented during the spring 2003 meeting by Richard Jones.
  • Highlights of the joint Extension/Research meeting will include 1) a presentation on the National Plant Disease and Pest Diagnostic Network and 2) a presentation by CSREES on OIG Audits with followup discussions from University of Arizona administrators on the University perspectives of an audit.
• September 22 - Dearborn, MI
  (The Southern Region no longer holds a regional summer Land-Grant meeting.)

Action Requested: For information.

Background:

The WAAESD officers for 2003 are:

• Colin Kaltenbach (AZ) – Chair
• Ralph Cavalieri (WA) – Chair-Elect
• Lee Sommers (CO) – Secretary
• Sharron Quisenberry (MT) – Treasurer

The Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (WAAESD) met in Las Cruces in March 20-22, 2002 with major emphasis on site and agro-security with the request for a set of recommendation that could be used to increase security at facilities. This report was presented by Mike Harrington at the Association meeting held in conjunction with the Western Region Joint Summer Meeting in Big Sky MT, July 14-17, 2002. The association also met September 23, 2002 in conjunction with the SAES Workshop in Baltimore MD.

The association continues to work jointly with the western cooperative extension directors and academic program directors to develop integrated multifunctional multistate programs.

Upcoming Meetings:

• The WAAESD Spring Meeting will be held at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort Lihue, Kauai on March 23-26 2002. The agenda includes a major session on the ongoing OIG AREERA audits with presentations from Phil Carter (CSREES) and Tim Nesbitt (NMSU). Kitty Cardwell (CSREES) will also discuss the National Animal and Plant Disease and Pest Surveillance Network.
• Western Region Joint Summer will be held at the Otter Crest Resort, Newport, OR July 13-16, 2002.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: There were other issues discussed that were not in the agenda.

• Leroy Daugherty will extend the deadline for participation in the Leadership Development seminar. Mike Harrington will send out a memo to the directors inviting participation and informing them of new deadline.

Action Requested: For information.

Actions Taken:

1. Motion: Change the name of the Advocacy and Marketing Committee to “Communications and Marketing” (non-substantive change). Passed
2. Motion: Approve all Executive Committee Minutes in the ESCOP Workroom. Passed.

The ESCOP meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.

Background: The Board on Veterinary Medicine (BVM) uses the structure of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) with the officers and directors of AAVMC serving as the leadership of the BVM. This arrangement avoids unnecessary duplication of activities so that the initiatives of academic veterinary medicine and the research agenda of the veterinary profession are coordinated. Many members of the Council on Research of the American Veterinary Medical Association are active members in AAVMC/BVM. Current officers and directors of AAVMC are:

• President: Dr. Keith Prasse, University of Georgia
• President-Elect: Dr. Peter Eyre, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia- Tech
• Past-President: Dr. Glen Hoffsis, Ohio State University
• Secretary: Dr. Philip Kosch, Tufts University
• Treasurer: Dr. Lawrence Heider, AAVMC
• Members at Large on the Board of Directors are:
  Dr. Bennie Osburn, UC – Davis
  Dr. Timothy Ogilvie, Atlantic Veterinary College, PEI
  Dr. John Schmitz, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  Dr. Linda Cork, Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford
  NASULGC/NAREEEAB Liaison: Dr. Oscar Fletcher, NC State University

Dr. Lester Crawford, Interim Executive Director of AAVMC, became Deputy Commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration on February 22, 2002. Dr. Lawrence Heider was appointed in March 2002 to succeed Dr. Crawford. Dr. Heider began his term on May 1, 2002 and will represent the BVM as Secretary of CFERR.

AAVMC/BVM holds two formal meetings each year. Our March meeting (March 9-11, 2002) was in Washington, DC and featured a half-day session dedicated to biosecurity/terrorism issues and with the title Homeland Security - What can Veterinary Medicine Offer? Dr Karen Becker, Senior Health Advisor to the Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness in HHS was a participant. Drs. Garry Smith and Tom McGinn presented information about the implementation and use of GIS systems in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Most of the committees of the association meet during this time and they include:

• Admissions with emphasis on VMCAS (Veterinary Medical Central Application System)
• JVME Editorial Board
• Multicultural Affairs
• Academic Affairs
• Research Deans & Directors

A summer meeting of AAVMC/BVM was held during the annual meeting of the AVMA in Nashville, TN. Officers were elected and budgets were approved. The current financial situation of our organization is sound with a strong recovery made following theft of funds by a former employee. Contributing to our recovery were strong management and fiscal controls including significant staff reductions and the operation of our centralized veterinary college applications program, VMCAS.

We held a major critical issues conference, Agenda for Action: Veterinary Medicine’s Role in Biodefense and Public Health, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on November 1-3. This conference was funded by a grant from the Annenburg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. There were fifteen speakers in four plenary sessions. Three breakout sessions gave the more than 150 participants opportunities to discuss and recommend strategies for the veterinary profession to use in helping our nation combat terrorism with its significant threats to the security of our food system. There exist critical needs for veterinarians in clinical areas that are the front line of disease detection and prevention, public health & epidemiology, laboratory animal medicine, pathology, and in the basic research areas of immunology, vaccine development, and disease pathogenesis. BVM intends to work with the AVMA and other sponsors to help fund a National Academy of Sciences Study by the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources on veterinary manpower. The proposed title for the study is Research in Veterinary Science to Meet National Needs: Current Status and Mandates for the Future.

BVM is working with the Government Relations Division (GRD) of AVMA to promote passage of the Veterinary Health Enhancement Act as proposed in H.R. 1943 and S. 1836. Rep. Pickering introduced H.R. 1943 and Sen. Cochran introduced S. 1836. These bills follow the model of the National Health Service Corps that provides debt assistance or scholarships for physicians, dentists, and nurses who serve in under served areas. Veterinarians are not included in this national health program.

BVM supports the efforts of National C-FAR to double federal funding for agricultural research. We continue to support efforts to fund the NRI at the authorized level of $500M.

BVM intends to work with the AVMA and other sponsors to help fund a National Academy of Sciences Study by the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources on veterinary manpower. The proposed title for the study is Research in Veterinary Science to Meet National Needs: Current Status and Mandates for the Future.

Applications to the US colleges of veterinary medicine are in 8% higher number than last year. Other issues of importance include the use of animals in teaching. USDA has received a petition from the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights asking for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act to eliminate violations of the review of alternative provisions for use of animals in veterinary college educational programs.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The Board on Human Sciences continues to work to grow its national presence through its active Federal Relations Committee. Much of our activity has been in coordination with federal funding agencies to assist in developing programs that support the research mission in the Human Sciences. Our most successful effort to date is a program in NSF related to child health and welfare. The Board, through its Research Committee, has also taken on a benchmarking project with some financial support from USDA. The project aims to collect and compare information on enrollment, faculty salaries, grant and gift funds, and other critical data in order for the Human Sciences to better understand its impact and opportunities. The International Committee has also been active, coordinating the numerous international programs at our various institutions, with the ultimate goal of broadening our students international opportunities by having students become aware of programs at sister institutions.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) met in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on February 10-11 followed by the National Extension Directors Conference on February 12-13. The following items of discussion were highlighted during that meeting and conference.

1. ECOP Restructure - The restructure continues to evolve relative to operational procedures and task force development. ECOP will have two standing committees and three subcommittees. Budget Legislative and Leadership Advisory Council are the standing committees. Executive, Personnel, and Programs are the subcommittees. Two task forces - Diversity and Urban Programming - from the older structure will remain but be asked to develop a mission, goals, and time frame for implementation.
2. ECOP Goals - Chairman Chester Fehlis outlined six goals for 2003. They include 1) partnerships, 2) ECOP framework transition (restructure), 3) program and staffing innovations, 4) funding, legislative and advocacy, 5) communications and education technology, 6) Extension in the 21st Century.
3. Partnering – Partnering continues with other NASULGC entities through membership on the CECEPS executive board, joint sessions on engagement at the NASULGC meeting, scholarship of engagement documents, and sessions at our recent national extension directors/administrators meeting.
4. Funding Targets – In addition to an attempt aimed at helping double the agriculture budget in five years, ECOP will urge an increase of $100 million in 4-H and Youth Development support from the federal level.
5. Partnerships with CSREES – This partnership continues to be strengthened, especially as a result of the work of Dr. Mike Tate, who is on special assignment to the agency, and Dr. Carl O’Connor, who continues to lead efforts in advocacy and partnerships with other federal agencies. Reorganization of CSREES leadership has also strengthened partnership efforts. Dr. Colien Hefferan has indicated a strong desire to expand the number of IPA’s working at CSREES.
6. e-Extension – The goal of this initiative is to plan and implement a national web-based information and education network for current and new Extension clientele. It will expand learning choices and methodologies in support of just-in-time learning by providing coordinated access to land-grant university expertise. In the past year, over 350 faculty have been involved in getting e-Extension off the ground. This involvement represents 47 states and three territories. There is a lot of interest and momentum for developing e-Extension as a well developed, coordinated delivery arm for CES. There will be rough spots along the way, but it is agreed that this initiative is important for CES. It is no longer a question of “if”, but “how” and “when.” ESCOP and the ESS would be welcome to particapite with ECOP in this endeavor.

Action Requested: For information.

Background: The CARET Executive Committee Meeting of September 16-17, 2002 was excellent. The CARET members came prepared to discuss specific examples with their delegation showing the impact of the Federal dollar investment in their state. At my request, Eddie Gouge solicited all administrative heads to prepare a one-pager dealing with talking points for the CARET representatives to reference on their visits to Capitol Hill. Once again, emphasizing the impact of Federal dollars whether they be base (formula funds) or competitive grant dollars and how these dollars are making a difference in their state.

Several items continue to be discussed relative to the relationship to CARET:

• Means to keep all CARET members informed of activities. This also is related to the possibility of having a second national meeting. At this point, due to budgetary constraints in state budgets, a second national meeting has been discussed but really is probably not a viable option. Other means to keep CARET reps informed of activities through their respective administrative heads need to be developed.
• General items regarding the CARET guidelines. It is my recommendation to both CARET and AHS that we review the CARET guidelines. A committee has been put forth but has not been activitated. Items to be discussed include:
  • Number of CARET reps from each state. I would request that large states have more than three CARET reps.
  • Representation at the 1994 institutions to ensure their representation in CARET.
  • Utilizing CARET as grassroots advocacy agent. The new advocacy firm has been approached with regard to developing a strategic plan for effectively utilizing CARET as a grassroots advocacy agent. This will be further discussed and developed in the near term.
• Concept of reception for the Monday evening activities during the March meeting. There is a general agreement that this would be an excellent opportunity to interact with our stakeholders. At this time, I have approached CoFarm, which represents a professional society, who could possibly partner with us and possibly the CGA’s. This is something that will be further developed and hopefully implemented at the 2004 March meeting.

Action Requested: For information.