Discovers and synthesizes new knowledge

18

3

• Discovers and integrates new knowledge
• Delete “synthesizes”
• Whoever has the dollars drives the research agenda.
• Add “communicates”
• Also involves use of existing knowledge
• Add “ . . . and develops relevant application of that knowledge”
• Remove word “new”

Provides access to a tremendous network of expertise

20

1

• Provides access to a network of expertise in specific areas
• Represents a network of expertise
• Access is increasingly proprietary.
• We don’t necessarily provide access.
• Remove word “tremendous”
• Add “. . . in limited areas”
• This is not independent of Extension.

Assists in education and strengthens what can be provided to citizens both through Extension and directly to the public

18

3

• Supports education . . . .
• Add “ . . . and decision makers”
• Not achieved by every institution
• Would include other technology transfer mechanisms, as well
• Remove this concept
• Change “Assists” to “Plays a major role in”
• True but limited to specific, narrow areas
• Change “education” to “outreach” in order to further clarify

Addresses national, regional, multi-state and local problems

18

3

• Addresses global, national, regional, multi-state and local opportunities, needs and challenges
• Reverse the order:  start with local and add international
• Be responsive to national, regional, state and local problems as appropriate
• Say “Addresses appropriate . . .”
• Need clarification between regional and multi-state
• “Seeks to address . . .”
• Based on available funds

Mentors young researchers, providing a system through which a research community is maintained

18

2

• Provides a supportive environment for graduate students and new faculty, through which a research community is maintained
• We need to broaden the exposure and skill set of students.  We need to be more proactive and generate leadership for the future.
• Remove “Mentors young researchers”
• Delete “young”:  we mentor all ages.
• Currently don’t do a good job of this.
• Question whether we are successful.
• Change “maintained” to “sustained and enhanced”

Provides products that can be licensed and creates a revenue stream for colleges and universities

16

5

• Provides a mechanism for the delivery of new technology
• Change “products” to “intellectual property”:  we don’t develop products.  That inhibits the free exchange of knowledge.
• But revenue stream is not or should not be the major motivation for being
• Not considered a goal in and of itself
• It is not a business.
• Change “products” to “inventions”
• Provides technology that may be licensed and may create a revenue stream
• More of a secondary role, with products that serve public good and/or synthesize economic development
• As a secondary role, develops intellectual properties that can be licensed and copyrighted and creates . . .
• They could, but do they?  Is this their role or a side benefit?
• Sometimes – university requirement at some institutions

Integrates with CES through joint appointments

16

5

• Integrates with CES, e.g. joint appointments and joint plans of work
• This should be the case, but is not at all institutions.
• Remove this concept
• Add “ . . ., projects and activities”
• This represents one way:  we also have integration in other ways.
• Integrates with CES including joint appointments and programs
• Depends on institution

Leads and connects to international networks

17

4

• Develops and participates in international networks
• Integrates with international networks
• Remove “Leads and”
• Leading should not be a primary role.  Who leads depends upon the problem.
• Fosters international networks
• In some states

Links to graduate and undergraduate education

18

3

• Supports graduate, undergraduate and continuing education
• Links and contributes to graduate and undergraduate education
• Participates in graduate and undergraduate education
• “Links” is not strong enough.  AES is a primary participant in graduate and undergraduate education.
• Strongly supports graduate and undergraduate education
• Add “by adding experience in research”

Expands knowledge base to inform public policy decisions

18

2

• This link may be missing in some areas.
• Expands knowledge base for informed public policy decisions
• Add “ . . . in traditional agricultural areas”
• Same as the first and third above
• Provides source-based information to inform public policy decision makers
• Change “policy decisions” to “policy decision makers”
• Expands knowledge base to provide information for public policy decisions
• Objective knowledge

Links to segments of the corporate and industrial sector, acting in between the public and private research agendas

16

5

• Interacts with the corporate and industrial sector
• Unclear on the meaning – could be positive or negative
• Engages the private sector in the process of discovery and knowledge
• This is a role.  The success to which it is done is controversial.
• Collaborates with the private sector
• Delete the phrase after the comma
• Support linkages with the private sector that are in the best interests of the general public
• Links to segments of the private and public sectors, pursuing both the public and private research agendas
• Delete the phrase that begins “acting in between”:  it’s unclear

Difficulty in synthesizing the whole of the research output, because of its breadth and diversity

16

4

• Difficulty in documenting the outcomes of research
• Not clear on “synthesizing”
• Difficulty in dealing with breadth and diversity of research
• Is this an expectation?
• A challenge and not a constraint
• Issues are becoming more interdisciplinary
• Don’t understand the question
• Unrealistic to cover all

Changed and changing customer base: traditional base shrinking, overall base expanding

15

5

• Questionable whether overall base is expanding
• Changed and changing stakeholder base
• Change “Changed and changing” to “Evolving”
• May be an opportunity
• How is the customer base defined?
• A challenge and not a constraint
• Changing customer base is both an opportunity and a constraint.  An opportunity to expand spheres of influence and a constraint in that resources become more constrained.
• Better definition of “traditional base”
• Importance of agricultural production is not shrinking

Conflicts in priorities due to state and national needs and funding sources

18

2

• Add “ local”
• Money drives research/different priorities

Expectations that CES will work on the basis only of knowledge generated by their state AES or AES overall [AES needs to supply some, not all, of the knowledge required by CES]

5

15

• Some, not all
• NO!!
• Phrasing unclear – does this mean that CES can’t find always what they need in AES?  If so, it’s correct.
• Agree only with what is in brackets
• Whose expectation?  Cannot supply knowledge needed by Extension.
• Delete – AES is NOT the only source of knowledge
• Not a constraint

Full potential of integration with CES and CSREES not achieved

17

2

• Full potential of integration with CES not yet achieved
• Especially in specific examples of revitalization of marginal rural areas

Appropriate linkages are not always made, do not exist

16

2

• Change to “and do not always exist”
• Delete “do not exist”
• Does not say much/Don’t understand
• Need to clarify linkages . . .
• Appropriate partnership linkages . . .

Research agenda focused differently from work of CES

11

8

• NO!!
• Research agenda does not always address CES program needs
• Very much so
• True, but not necessarily a constraint as there are separate missions
• DELETE – not a constraint, but a reality
• Project vs. program – research agenda more focused
• Not a constraint – part of the mission of AES and CES overlaps and part does not

Inadequate evaluation of whether AES is doing what it ought to do (rather than what is done)

14

5

• Too much evaluation!!
• Evaluation is not the constraint.  The constraint is the lack of joint planning.
• It’s not that it’s not evaluated frequently enough, but rather that it could be more stakeholder-driven.
• There is considerable variation across the system.

Inability to be responsive and change directions

14

5

• B.S.!!
• Inflexible system prevents the ability to be responsive and change directions
• Change “Inability” to “Limited ability”:  major role is to conserve and perpetuate
• Mixed yes and no – the constraint is that the systems by which research is approved and administered and by which staff are hired can be inflexible
• Individual faculty can do this,, but the system is constrained by lack of flexible funds
• Limited ability to be responsive and change directions in a timely fashion (or quickly)
• Can be responsive and change directions.   The change may not be as rapid as some want.

Reluctance to share results until research is complete

12

7

• Cold fusion!!
• Growing amount of proprietary research and inability to share information
• True but not necessarily a constraint
• Improving
• Delete – results are not complete until research is completed
• Add “and published”
• Usually not true

Limited ability to support and encourage staff development to meet changing needs

14

5

• Retraining is a problem (Tenure is an issue)
• Limited resources to support and encourage staff development
• Funding constraint?
• AES conducts workshops/mentoring and staff development to meet changing needs

Inadequate communication and marketing of successes to the public

18

1

• Delete “to the public”
• Need to improve marketing efforts to reflect added value of research to the public
• Add “ . . . and decision/policy makers”
• It varies from department to department

Develops and coordinates a nationwide network to get national, regional and state information to local people

15

5

• Develops and coordinates a nationwide network to get national, regional and state education and information to clientele
• Develops and coordinates a nationwide educational network for problem solving and decision making at national, regional, state and local levels
• Develops and coordinates a network to get international, national, regional and state information to local people
• Develops and coordinates a nationwide network of national, regional, state and county education, information and applied research programs with local people
• Participates in a network to get information to people
• Cooperative Extension System develops and coordinates . . .
• Through an educational process
• Encourage CSREES to participate
•  . . . network to educate and provide national …”
• Engages partners in solving problems/Have a national network through which we engage people in solving problems
• Add “via conducting educational and outreach programming”

Identifies and meets customer needs

13

7

• Add “related to our mission”
• Addresses and meets stakeholder needs
• In conjunction with other partners
• Engage clientele to identify and prioritize needs
• Identifies and meets some selected customer needs through education programs
• Work with customers to identify and meet their needs within the resources available
• Identifies stakeholder needs
• Identifies and responds to customer needs
• Through an educational process where we can make a unique contribution
• Seeks to identify and meet customer needs
• Involves customers in identifying and meeting needs
• Attempts to identify and meet . . .

Links AES research to clientele

13

7

• Links AES and other research findings to clientele
• Links appropriate AES research to clientele
• Links scientific and knowledge-based research to clientele
• Partners with AES to get research results to clientele
• Given an issue, can begin with research interpretation or implementation and continue the circle
• As long as not limited to AES agenda
• Links some AES research to clientele
• Contributes to the linkages of AES research to clientele
• Often but not always

Sustains a network of tens of thousands of volunteers

18

2

• Engages and fosters a network of volunteers for programming
• Much more than tens of thousands
• Empowers and manages a network of hundreds of thousands of volunteers to deliver educational programming
• Remove “of tens”
• Sustains a network of volunteers
• Develops and sustains a network of hundreds of thousands of volunteers of all ages

Engages large sectors of the college and university communities

16

4

• Engages sectors of the university community
• Engage the higher education community
• Add “including beyond agriculture”
• Engages faculty from disciplines across the university with Extension programming
• Remove “large sectors of”
• Engages selected and growing sectors . . .
• Not consistently a large segment, but try to bring in more of the university
• Yes, but substantial variation
• Engages appropriate sectors of the college and communities of the university
• In many cases, CES has limited connection to university and college communities.

Draws knowledge from multiple sources

20

0

• Link with “Provides credible, science-based integrated knowledge” and “Conducts applied research”

Builds community through relationships with youth, adult development, and public and private organizations

16

4

• Change to “through leadership, educational programming and relationships”
• Improves community through partnership relationships with youth, adult, public and private organizations
• Strengthens communities of place and interest through relationships with youth, adults, agencies and non-governmental organizations
• Builds communities through relationships with people and institutions
• Strengthens communities through education and collaborative relationships
• Addressing needs through partnership with others

Offers diverse and comprehensive programming to many segments of the population

17

3

• Change “man y” to “targeted”
• Make it “educational programming”
• Offers diverse and comprehensive education programming to many segments of the population
• Delete “to many segments of the population”
• Omit – it’s covered by the one above
• Where we can make a difference
• Numerous opportunities to do a better job – have not tapped some segments

Provides credible, science-based, integrated knowledge

19

1

• Provides credible or science-based educational programming
• Add “unbiased”
• Provides science-based knowledge
• Provides credible, research-based knowledge through diverse and comprehensive educational programming

Understands and identifies emerging issues that require research and action

18

2

• Identifies and defines emerging issues that require research and/or action
• Understands and identifies emerging issues that require research and/or education
• Add “by working with stakeholders”
• Remove “Understands and”
• Identifies and understands . . .

Adapts knowledge to address local needs

20

0

• Drop or delete “Adapts” – we are assuming local advisory groups are involved actively
• Applies knowledge to address local needs
• Adapts knowledge to address stakeholder needs

Conducts applied research

20

0

• Conducts applied/adaptive research
• Change “applied” to “adaptive”
• Conducts applied and demonstration research

Rapidly expanding agenda not in sync with its resources or capacity to deliver

16

3

• Rapidly expanding agenda and the capacity to deliver are not in sync with traditional resources
• Rapidly expanding needs . . .
• Difficulty in letting go of programs
• A challenge, not a constraint
• Delete from “not in sync” on
• Not willing to give anything up

Difficulty in keeping up with and reflecting the changing composition of US population

16

3

• Difficulty in responding to the changing composition of US population
• In staffing, funding, programming
• A challenge, not a constraint – Keeping up with and reflecting the changing composition and needs of US population
• Do not understand
• Is a system constraint

Limited ability to capture funding outside agriculture due to perception of being an agricultural organization

8

11

• Add “and due to the limited resources of USDA”
• We have also limited our own vision of partners, for example forestry
• B.S.!!
• Not true in states in this group
• Cultural issue that is self-imposed
• Oversimplification of a more complex issue
• Federal problem
• Depends on the state
• Our greatest funding increases have been from other sources – we are limited in our ability to get funding in Ag.
• Issue of urban legislators not seeing larger picture.  What words do we use to tell our story?  Limited by federal formula definition.
• Delete – we are capable and are capturing funding
• Have not pushed faculty to obtain outside funding
• Linkage to rural counties provides an opportunity, not a constraint

Under utilization of full range of available educational methods and technologies

15

4

• It’s also a lack of availability of some technologies
• Due to lack of resources
• Unclear as to meaning
• Substitute “all” for “full range of”
• Have focused more technology funding on administrative functions rather than educational outreach; need to integrate teaching methods with technological tools.
• Lack of funding to better utilize . . .

Full potential of integration with AES and CSREES not achieved

14

5

• Full potential of integration with AES not yet achieved
• AES, yes – CSREES, no

Difficulty in setting priorities and focusing the agenda due to broadness of agenda and expectations

16

3

• States do set priorities, but there are various expectations from levels
• Yes, if it refers to CES as a system, not individual states.
• Not state to state, but could be on national level
• Local agenda drives program
• Broadness of agenda and expectations

Lack of rigor in evaluation of its effectiveness

13

6

• We have many good evaluation systems.  There are concerns about resources needed, moving targets and defined indicators.
• Challenge in evaluation of its effectiveness (Hard to do; desire exists)
• We object to the phrase “Lack of rigor”
• True, but is it a constraint?
• Making progress
• Relevant evaluation data available from states may be limited.  However, they have already sent volumes of data to the feds who have not been able to synthesize it.
• Difficulty in evaluation of program effectiveness
• Difficulty in measuring evaluation of its effectiveness
• Lack of clarity in anticipated outcomes
• Have extensive evaluation processes in place, but many lack rigor.

Limited ability to support and encourage staff development to meet changing needs

14

5

• It’s a constant challenge – it is the ability of staff development to lead to staff changes fast enough.
• Retraining is a problem; tenure
• Funding is the issue and tenured faculty may be a constraint.
• Depends on the state
• Extension expends extensive resources on staff development, and it is still limited by money.
• Limited resources to support . . .

Inadequate communication and marketing of successes to the public

14

5

• Including stakeholders, legislators and key decision makers
• Drop “to the public”
• Seems better than AES, though
• Ineffective communication and marketing of successes to the target audience
• Add “and decision-makers”
• May vary from state to state

Difficulty in reconciling local expectations with available resources

17

2

• Priorities are not easily set, but are done

Limited capacity to hire needed professionals in our changing environment

17

2

• It’s becoming harder to recruit top graduates.
• Localized constraints to hiring needed . . .
• Resource issue and current job market
• Unclear as to meaning
• Competitive grants almost make us look worse when dollars dry up!  Difficult to attract best employees.  Must be able to sustain progress over the long-term, to sustain infrastructure need level of base funding and then flexible funding to meet current initiatives.
• Private sector demand for qualified professionals

Provides federal funding

12

12

• Administers federal funding
• Provides conduit and oversight for federal funding
• No – Congress does!!
• Taxpayers provide it
• Administer or distribute, but not provide, federal funding
• Not enough – less and less significant
• Brokers and administers federal funding
• Through its role as a federal agency, directs federal funding to promote goals
• Congress provides funding and CSREES has various degrees of control over funding lines
• Disseminates federal funding
• Provides and manages . . .

Brokers with AES and CES to use the capacity of colleges and universities to address national issues (not just funding)

19

4

• Change “Brokers” to “Partners”
• We want this.
• Engages with partners to use the capacity . . .
• Not there yet
• Add “and international”
• “Provides leadership and facilitates action with AES and CES . . .”
• Works with AES and CES to involve and enhance the capacity of colleges and universities to address issues
• Provides leadership for the system to collectively address national issues
• Brokers with other federal agencies and . . .
• Not as much as they used to
• With AES and CES, brokers the capacity . . .
• Brokers with agricultural knowledge system to address national issues

Links the concerns and programmatic issues identified by the partnership with other agencies and organizations

20

2

• Isolated cases only
• This needs more effort and considerable improvement.  CSREES is not fighting for funding re NCRS for youth programming, grazing lands initiative, NR and conservation, funding family nutrition program, community development.
• We want this, but now no, not at all.
• We need much more of the linking – it’s very limited presently.
• Should do this – limited, declined from previous years
• Change to “identified by the partnership and customers . . .”
• We agree this is important, but a much better job to link partnership with other agencies is needed.

Defines critical national and international issues and rallies support of the partners to address them (capacity to lead)

15

8

• Drop beginning with “and rallies support . . .”
• Not enough attention to international
• The key themes are annoying.
• Synthesizes the gathered information
• Inadequate
• Defines a process for identifying critical national and international issues and mobilizes support of the partners to address them
• Works in partnership with the states to define critical national and international issues . . . (Example of how this was and could be done is water quality)
• Begin “In collaboration with partners and clientele, identifies critical national . . .”
• Give this high priority – not used as often as it should be
• Needs to be enhanced
• Identifies and defines . . .
• In past, did more of this
• We represent federal government and broker for other (state) partners.

Promotes the impact and utilization of AES and CES programs by other agencies

18

5

• To some degree
• We also connect with other federal agencies and promote interagency programs within USDA.
• Some examples, but not enough
• Change “by other agencies” to “by others” (not just agencies)
• Inadequate
• Promotes the impact and utilization of partners’ programs by other agencies
• Tried to do this, but not effective
• AES, CES and CSREES programs
• Includes marketing
• Improving
• Also includes NGO’s, professional societies, etc.
• Not sure how much interpretation is done with other agencies

Facilitates sharing of materials and information within and among states and institutions

21

2

• This is limited.
• Need to do more
• Inadequate
• Could be doing this even better
• Declining but useful role to play
• Need to do better job, need technology, need to market this capacity
• Some NPL’s do, needs to be expanded
• Leads analysis and synthesis of information for program development as a catalyst for future direction

Provides technical assistance on national regulations and policy to states

18

5

• Unfortunately true
• This is limited
• Inadequate
• Provides technical assistance and guidance . . .
• Only on program planning guidelines
• This refers only to CSREES regulations and policy
• Other USDA agencies are doing – what does this mean to CES??
• Provides administrative technical assistance . . .
• Should do more
• Provides technical expertise and oversight on federal regulations and policy related to partners’ missions
• Design, develop and implement guidelines congruent with federal law and policy to ensure efficiency and equity for program delivery
• We help interpret legislature related to REG in agriculture.

Increases public awareness of the value of AES and CES

19

4

• Should do more
• Increases public awareness of the value of the partnership
• Much more needs to be done
• None
• Inadequate
• Increases public awareness of the value of partners
• Do not do this, but would be good if they did
• “ . . . value of AES, CES and CSREES”
• Improving
• Not presently effective but needs to be a priority – refers to institutions, infrastructure, programs
• Unaware of marketing program efforts
• Cooperate to increase public awareness of the value of the state/federal partnership and their confidence in this system

Expands the AES and CES network beyond national boundaries

20

3

• There are some funding constraints re global/international integration.
• Not true
• Inadequate/do more
• Add “into the international arena”
• Limited basis, low priority
• Improving
• Other agencies more active – need to move in this direction
• International Programs staff isolated

Restricted by its status as a federal agency, accountable to the Executive Branch, Congress and federal law

22

1

• Needs more definition
• Overstated excuse

Limited advocacy role

19

4

• Limited budget advocacy role
• CSREES must represent the President’s budget – it is part of the Executive Branch.  This is a constraint with reference to lobbying in Congress, not with regard to broader advocacy.
• May be excuse
• Delete (covered by first one)
• This needs to be changed.  (Example:  ARS is a good advocate of ARS.)
• Only in legislative action
• Screen hiding behind – MCRS can do it
• Cannot lobby
• Outside the Department

Limited ability to commit the system

20

2

• Not a constraint because we are a partnership.
• Excuse – not limited ability to engage system
• Have the power to commit competitive funds
• Should not commit system
• Ask us if we want to commit!

Conservative in action, heavily dependent on legal interpretation

19

4

• Very true; no risk-taking
• May be excuse
• Delete (covered by first one)
• Add “and review”  (Example:  2001 IFAES)
• Understated
• True in some instances
• Delete “Conservative in action”
• Follow the law
• We are not conservative as other federal agencies.  We are totally flexible.

Limited ability to conduct rigorous evaluations of organizational effectiveness

16

6

• This should be a role, rather than a constraint.  CSREES does this.
• Limited inclination to conduct . . . (Need external evaluation)
• Limited staff resources
• May be self-imposed
• Limited resources to conduct rigorous evaluations of AES and CES program effectiveness
• Unclear – does this mean evaluation of their own or states’ programs?
• Disagree – consider deleting
• Limited capacity . . .
• Change “rigorous” to “simple” – Using old model of how to operate.  Simplify evaluations.
• Uneven processes for rigorous . . .
• Unclear what “organizational effectiveness” means.

Inconsistent program leadership across functions and funding streams

20

1

• Very true
• Differences in visibility of programs
• Personnel issue
• Some notable exceptions
• What does this mean?

Reticent to communicate, approaching knowledge as power and seeking to maintain control by withholding information, both internally and externally

8

12

• Communication challenges internally and externally
• We are restricted due to constraints on us in some instances.
• Internally true, externally not true
• Tabled – it it’s true, it is a constraint
• Attitude, not a constraint
• Unclear – don’t know if it’s perception or reality.
• Strike this – it is not an agency policy!!  Modify to say “Inadequate communication, both internally and externally”
• May occur due to understaffing, but an overt effort
• Maybe this is a communication issue, not a control issue
• Not deliberate – a concern, but a perception (over a long period of time)

Lacks authority of a line agency to mobilize resources; success is related to CES and AES

22

0

• Is this really a constraint?
• Not a constraint
• Delete clause after semi-colon
• But we want it to stay that way
• Underestimate ability to mobilize resources

Fewer staff with land grant experience and knowledge of the system

17

5

• Can’t bring people in to Washington, DC because of cost of living/salaries
• Rite of passage via land-grants, or advantages of cross-fertilization??  Knowledge of how system works??
• Doesn’t have to be a constraint
• Not true any longer
• ??
• Even if true, not viewed as a constraint

Inadequate resources (funding, people, other) to meet the many needs that exist

19

3

• After merger, is CSREES really functioning as it should, using resources wisely to meet high priority needs.
• Including discretionary funds to NPL’s

Ineffective use of communication technologies

19

4

• Ineffective communication (It’s not the technology.)
• Inadequate investment in communication technology
• Lack of use of communication technologies
• Lack of resources to maintain effective communication technologies
• Slow to communicate, but this is not limited by technology

Lack of clarity in defining roles of National Program Leaders

18

5

• Very true
• Lack of clarity in defining roles, desired skill sets and services to be provided by the National Program Leaders
• This is a problem.
• Limited role of NPL’s
• Must be defined!
• Unclear
• Personal expectations unreasonable
• NPL’s roles are changing – the constraint is the different expectations of the partners now.