AMES, Iowa — Stronger families, increased family financial capacity, economic development in communities and youth who are productive citizens, effective leaders, and literate and prepared for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – Iowans identified these as priority community needs that Iowa State University Extension and Outreach should address with educational efforts.
In a statewide needs assessment survey conducted by ISU Extension and Outreach at the end of 2013, clients, partners and stakeholders were asked to identify priority issues for which there were appropriate educational solutions. Assessments were conducted regionally across the state and by ISU Extension and Outreach program areas.
ISU Extension and Outreach is weighing the assessment results against finite resources as the organization continues a strategic program planning and budget process to fine-tune the educational programs and services it will provide.
“At the heart of our portfolio are programs fundamental to our agriculture-based cooperative extension system and long-term partnerships,” said Cathann Kress, vice president for Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University. “To that we add programs that respond to the needs assessment, we strategically initiate educational programs that integrate a broader reach of university resources, and we address emerging opportunities for educational solutions.”
Having Iowans express priority needs is important to ISU Extension and Outreach. Kress said what Extension and Outreach helps people do for themselves, achieves the greatest results. “Extension and Outreach is about people and education is our mission,” she said. “We’re focused on feeding people, keeping them healthy, helping their communities to prosper and thrive, and turning the world over to the next generation in better shape than we found it.”
To learn more about ISU Extension and Outreach’s program areas and educational offerings, visit www.extension.iastate.edu.