Serving Georgia

A Guide to the New UGA Extension Program Delivery Model

Where we are

• A 23% budget reduction since 2008• 239 total state-funded agents – 113 Ag agents – 36 Family Consumer Science agents – 90 4-H Agents

• Minus 88 agents, 19 specialists• Many specialists now teach part-time• Minus 7 administrative positions

How did we map our course?

• Extension Review of County Operations • Steering committee• Stakeholder surveys, listening sessions• Deliberations• New structure design• Staffing patterns developed

New structure features

• Tier system of delivery• Area special agents • Maximizing resources• Streamlining administration

Service tiers

• Tier 1 - basic 4-H program delivered through school systems. No physical Extension office.

• Tier 2 – office with one employee; basic service for lab tests, information on available training; access to publications, online resources; core 4-H programs.

• Tier 3 – adds to service available a Tier 2, a shared agent with a neighboring county.

Service tiers

• Tier 4 – adds to Tier 3 service, a full-time, county-based agent.

• Tier 5 – adds to Tier 4, two or more agents with one serving as county coordinator.

• Tier 6 – adds to Tier 5, a full-time coordinator with multiple agents funded through various sources. Has programming in all three program areas.

Tier assignment sample criteria

• Farm-gate value of agriculture • Population of school-aged children• Access to other services• Local funding and support

YOUR COUNTY

• ASSIGNED TIER• SERVICE OFFERED • HOW TO ACCESS• LOCATION, STAFF CHANGES

Special agents, programs

• Commodity agents– Blueberries– Vidalia onions– Peaches

• Program agents– Nutrition– Energy– Radon– Weatherization

Available to everyone

• Online resources– Educational programs– Publications– Fact sheets– eXtension