Trying New Technology

With a 19% permanent reduction in funds to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho, the face of Extension in the counties will probably be changing some. The budget of the CALS is over 90% in salaries, so with the current budget crisis and pending permanent reductions in base funding, CALS administrators are looking for ways to "hack" the budget. The old method of attrition of faculty and staff may not work this time around.

The problem, for Extension, and for the CALS in general is that there are so many great programs that support so many industries and clientele groups that vary tremendously across the state that any attempt to cut a "program" generates immediate (unpleasant) consequences for the administration. The first program suggested to be cut was the Parma Research and Extension Center. The Parma R&E Center has a grape research and extension program to support the fledgling viticulture and enology industry in Idaho. They didn't like that very much and stopped the movement to close the station, forcing reconsideration of the entire strategy.

The CALS administration has made a commitment to keep at least one extension faculty person in each county, if they can! Since central Idaho counties have been largely single educator counties for many years, that won't change (probably). However, the demands on the faculty members to help in other more populated locations will likely grow, as well as the demand that their programs be more "coordinated". Not an easy thing to do when you are 1.5 to 2.5 hours apart when the weather is good!

CALS has introduced Adobe Connect and other technologies that may be able to help bridge these distances, but only time will tell if they will be accepted by the various clientele groups in central Idaho, (or even by the faculty.)

I started this blog with the idea that maybe this form of communication would permit the faculty and the clientele in central Idaho work on programming issues with less time and fuel...lets give it try, and let me know what you think, and how this could perhaps help.

We are already using a blog to help communicate information about the Horizons http://arcomoore.communityblogs.us/ community development program....Why shouldn't we share information about other programs in a similar way...