The UnHoly Obsession?

After all the recent talk about IFAS cuts and today's Gainesville Sun article about reducing undergrad admissions by 3,000 over the next four years (LINK), I have really started pondering the direction of the University of Florida. While I think most of us are agreed on the IFAS situation, I wanted to take a slightly different angle and hopefully gain some insight from some of you.

Clearly, the goal of the Trustees and President Machen is to catipult our beloved institution into the US News and World Report's top ten public universities. And, sure, I'll be the first to say that ambition is one of the most important ingredients for success. (Plus, you can't blame folks that are used to being at the top of every other poll for wanting to be at the top of this one.)

However, my question is this: By striving to be at the absolute pinnicle of the academic world, is the University of Florida lessening its overall positive impact?

If, to receive the acclaim of a somewhat arbitrary ranking service, you must drastically reduce the amount of students you educate and the services you provide, are you really improving?

Now, earlier today my colleague and I bantered about the relative costs and benefits of low student to teacher ratio, ever increasing admission standards and the supposed increasing value of my orange and blue framed diploma. Personally, I am happy to call myself a Gator, one of the proud lot who met the high (yet, still attainable) standards and benefitted from the quality of the programs and instruction (not to mention 4-H and other extension services).

The US News and World Report currently ranks UF at 49 and I didn't see but three of four land grant institutions ahead of it. Maybe I'm way off base, but the potential prestige and honor of being a top 10 doesn't make up for the loss in accessability and programs that it would take to get there.

I'm interested to see what you think...

Interesting figures and Promising Figures

This is from the esteemed President back in Oct,
"Message from President J. Bernard Machen:
October, 2007
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!
Many of you have probably heard that we face some unique financial challenges this year due to state budget cuts. While that's certainly true, I want to stress that I think we remain in a good position to move forward academically - and to continue to provide a rich and rewarding college experience.
Unfortunately, budget cuts affecting every state institution have forced us to seek reductions to UF's budget. We have already implemented a university-wide hiring freeze. A task force I appointed earlier this year is looking at many other options, including streamlining current processes, cutting UF functions and increasing revenue streams.
With that in mind, I think we have many reasons for optimism. These include:
Our faculty research awards for the most recent fiscal year are up to $583 million, an impressive 12.5 percent more than last year.
UF this past year was Florida's only university to receive two statewide Center of Excellence grants -- as well as $20 million for an ethanol pilot plant.
Last year, we received the first ever Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship award to UF, along with several other prestigious awards.
In fundraising, our 3-year-old Faculty Challenge Initiative has netted $207 million, far eclipsing the original goal of $150 million. Overall our endowment now stands at about $1.2 billion.
UF has over $750 million in facilities construction planned and funded.
Let me add that last year's twin national championships meant a banner year for the University Athletic Association, and the UAA has donated $6 million to the university to help cover our budget shortfall. We will use the money in part to continue Florida Opportunity Scholars, an important scholarship that targets students who are the first in their families to attend college. We anticipate 400 new Opportunity Scholars this year.
Also, Florida lawmakers approved the state's first-ever tuition differential bill last spring. Starting in 2008-09, UF can raise its tuition as much as 40 percent, at a maximum rate of 15 percent per year above whatever the statewide increase is. That will guarantee we can continue to hire new faculty and student advisers, which in turn will give students the top-tier educational experience they truly deserve.
There's no question we would prefer a sunnier budget situation, but I have full faith we will continue to improve and grow despite the challenges. Let's make the coming academic year a productive and memorable one.
Sincerely,J. Bernard MachenPresident"

Now I am just a dumb ole country boy, but the shortfall doesn't seem to add up to me. Jorge sent this today and it is worth good hard look...

February 21, 2008
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Bernie Machen, President
Colleagues:
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding our current budget situation as we move through the spring semester and prepare for the upcoming Legislative Session.
As I am sure you are well aware, the news across the state is not good and could potentially become worse over the next several months.
Last fall our appropriations were reduced by the state by more than $22 million. In response to this reduction, each unit's budget was reduced and we implemented other initiatives such as a hiring freeze and the creation of a campus Task Force on Cost Reduction and Efficiency. Our hiring has continued for positions supported by clinical, research, or auxiliary funding and for mission critical positions funded from state sources.
The Task Force has explored dozens of potential opportunities and has recommended several initiatives that are moving forward, including the new transcript charge, consolidation of print vendors, transitioning print publications to electronic publications, a comprehensive motor vehicle management plan, and the recently announced direct deposit/ debit card plan. We believe real revenue and cost savings initiatives were identified and their implementation will continue to be part of our overall strategy. As each new initiative moves toward implementation, we will communicate in advance to the campus.
In addition to the more than $22 million appropriation reduction last fall, we expect the legislature to reduce our appropriations by another $16 million this fiscal year. The governor has actually withheld this amount from the semi- monthly payment of appropriations to the university. The additional new reduction is expected to continue into the next fiscal year, which would mean a new recurring reduction of more than $25 million. Taken together this represents more than a $47 million dollar reduction from fiscal year 2007.
We have chosen to utilize several one-time funds to address the $16 million reduction for the remainder of this fiscal year to mitigate the impact on departments. As a consequence, we will not ask colleges and other units to return additional money this fiscal year.
As we prepare for the new fiscal year the budgetary outlook is not very optimistic. Even after we have reduced our budget significantly, we expect another round of appropriation reductions beginning in July, in addition to the reductions previously described.
At this point, I am requesting that each Vice President and Dean prepare a plan to reduce their FY09 state-funded budget by at least 6% by July 1, 2008. I do not anticipate that the reductions will be applied in an across-the-board format and each unit needs to develop a reduction plan that could support both programmatic and general reductions.
As we move through the legislative session we will gain a better understanding of the full impact to the campus, but we must prepare now for the anticipated reductions.
This continues to be a very difficult time for our entire community and I appreciate your ongoing team work and collaboration.
For more information, please see <http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction> http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction.

Anyone know what "WTF" means??
Not to slam the guy, but he went to school to be a dentist, then never pulled a tooth. My opinion is getting out of hand here. Someone please comment so I can feel in touch with my inner self.
Sean

The debate continues

Given the debate of the past few weeks re: the future of agriculture in Florida, I thought you'd be interested in this story from the Lakeland Ledger:

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2008

Fewer farms since 2003
Agriculture On Decline In Florida
Increasing age of farmers tempts many to grab off developer's bucks.

By JACK STRIPLING
NYT Regional Newspapers

Rumors of agriculture's demise may have been greatly exaggerated, but there's cause for concern about the industry's overall bill of health, according to experts.A firestorm erupted earlier this month when Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida, was quoted as saying agriculture was a "dying industry" unworthy of state investments. Machen has denied making the remarks, which were published Feb. 5 in a monthly agriculture newspaper. Even so, the ensuing controversy raises real questions about whether agriculture will play as pivotal a role in the 21st century as it has in the past.Agriculture is still a multi-billion-dollar industry in Florida, but there are some signs that point to decline. The number of farms in the state dropped to 40,000 in 2007, continuing an annual decline that began in 2003, when there were 44,000, according to state figures. Farmers, who have an average age of 57, are increasingly tempted to sell valuable land to developers rather than take their chances in the often volatile world of agriculture, experts say.While the amount of farm land may be declining, improvements in growing methods have enabled farmers to do more with less land, according to John VanSickle, an agricultural economist at UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.But VanSickle concedes the agriculture industry faces real challenges. Times have been particularly tough on Florida's citrus growers, who are plagued by the wrath of hurricanes and emerging plant diseases like citrus canker and citrus greening, he said."I wouldn't say that it's healthy, but I wouldn't say its (problems are) more extreme than we've seen in the past," VanSickle said. "There are cycles in agriculture as there are in the housing industry."State statistics paint a troubling picture for citrus producers, who by several measures are losing ground. Between 2003 and 2007, citrus production fell from 292 million boxes to 162 million boxes - a 45 percent drop. Even though production has declined, however, Florida remains the dominant player.The total production value of oranges, for instance, was $1.2 billion in 2006, which accounted for 67 percent of the American market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."At our lowest peak, we're still producing two-thirds of the oranges in this country," said Terence McElroy, press secretary for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.While Florida may lead the nation in orange production, some analysts are concerned the U.S. agriculture industry is losing market share to foreign competitors who employ cheap labor.The world's leading producer of oranges in 2005 was Brazil, which more than doubled Florida's production with more than 18 million metric tons of oranges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.POLK LEADS STATE(Polk leads the state's citrus-producing counties with 86,398 acres of commercial groves as of 2006, the most recent USDA data. It also led the state in production for the 2005-06 season.)Dennis Olson, senior policy analyst for the Institute on Agriculture and Trade Policy, traces the agriculture industry's problems back to the early 1990s and the passage of the North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA). The agreement, and subsequent efforts to deregulate, removed congressionally set price minimums that had prevented the value of agricultural products from plummeting, Olson said.Additionally, the agreement ended a policy that had restricted farmers from developing on all available land. Absent such restrictions, farmers overproduced and drove down product prices below the cost of production, Olson said."I think (agriculture) is dying because of these failed policies," he said.Sales figures, however, only tell part of the story, according to UF economists.A 2008 UF study placed the agriculture industry's total economic impact at $59 billion in Florida, when one includes the money spent by manufacturers that support the industry through equipment and supplies.The study itself indicates IFAS' continual efforts to prove its worth in the state.The institute, which has roots going back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, was designed to conduct research that would help improve agriculture across the state. With extension offices now spread across all 67 Florida counties, IFAS has an annual budget of $300.4 million and employs more than 2,300 people who are supported by state money and grants.(IFAS includes the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, the world's largest research facility devoted to citrus.)OUT OF TOUCH?Despite its long history and sprawling presence in the state, IFAS is undervalued, according to some faculty in the institute. And while Machen contends he didn't forecast the doom of agriculture in a public statement, there are a number of faculty who now say they see Machen as out of touch with the land-grant mission that created UF and IFAS.Actually, Machen has publicly backed major initiatives that rely on the institute's expertise. He was a major supporter of building a new center to fight infectious diseases that plague plants as well as humans. The institute also has a real presence in the university's alternative energy research, which Machen has called a key priority.But when it comes to the inventions UF is pushing into the marketplace, UF has focused mostly of late on biomedical research and technology."Is ag bio, other than energy, right now a very big part of the investment portfolio? No, it's really not," said David Day, director of technology licensing at UF.UNIVERSITY MOVES UPThe technology research that's helping UF to secure big grants and contracts is also in part what's helping to propel the university upward in national rankings.Machen has made moving UF into the top 10 public universities the over-arching goal of his presidency, and the trustees who approve his bonuses largely grade Machen on his ability to improve numbers that matter to U.S. News & World Report.While reaching for the top 10 may sound good to trustees, the intense focus on rankings is exactly what has some IFAS faculty on edge. A faculty member, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, called Machen's focus troubling."What we read in the paper is that Machen wants to move UF into the top 10 Ivy League type of situation, and one doesn't get into the Ivy League by increasing yields of wheat per acre or solving citrus greening," the faculty member said. "(But) what is the use of being in the Ivy League if the ivy has some disease that pathology can't cure because it's been liquidated?"Faculty may be increasingly less inclined to publicly criticize Machen, and IFAS leaders aren't talking either.Jimmy Cheek, the senior vice president of IFAS, and his second-in-command, Joe Joyce, both refused to comment for this story.

From the Polk Ledger

Are You Going to Take It?
Contributed by Kevin Bouffard - Posted: February 8, 2008 6:27:06 PM
The citrus industry along with other Florida agriculture sectors is buzzing about the impact of pending budget cuts at the University of Florida, which some maintain will hit the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) disproportionately.
Farm & Ranch News in Tampa fanned the flames when it quoted UF President J. Bernard Machen as saying "agriculture is a dying industry in the State of Florida" and "not worthy of the investments being made by the Legislature" at IFAS.
Machen denied those statements in a Thursday letter to publisher George Parker.
"I am writing to let you know I never said the things about agriculture that Farm & Ranch News attributes to me. I am appalled Farm & Ranch News refuses to retract the information even though the error was pointed out," Machen wrote in the letter provided to me by the university. "Agriculture is a very important part of our economy and IFAS' main objective has been, and continues to be, to support Agriculture in every way possible. We are particularly concerned about the citrus industry and its challenges."
The article goes on to say Machen intends to cut 200 to 300 faculty from the IFAS faculty, which spokesman Steve Orlando also denied. No decisions have been made on specific cuts, he said.
However, the article actually understates the budget cuts IFAS faces. It says Machen is considering "$25 million (or more) in potential budget cuts" at UF by March.
In reality the university has to cut $50 million from its current budget, Orlando acknowledged, and it faces a similar cut in its 2008-09 budget.
A Tuesday memo from IFAS head Jimmy Cheek also uses the $50 million figure for the current budget. Cheek said he didn't expect a final decision until spring.
The IFAS faculty feels it will be targeted for a disproportionate share of the budget cuts, according to one source who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job. The source also heard the cut would amount to $25 million, and he added that the IFAS share would be $5.1 million.
Orlando wouldn't discuss how much of a budget hit IFAS would take.
Jay Clark, president of Florida Citrus Mutual, said growers are worried the cuts will affect citrus research efforts, particularly on battling citrus greening. He noted the pending cuts come on top of cuts IFAS already took in this year's budget earlier.
"It would be an even bigger impact than that $5 million" on the citrus industry, Clark said.
The concern at IFAS also is high, my source said. He wondered if Machen hasn't already decided "we don't need to be a land grant university anymore."
Cue Robin Reece (stay with it at least 1 minute).


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» FL Cattlemen Concerned About IFAS Budget Cuts

From AgNet Online....

» FL Cattlemen Concerned About IFAS Budget Cuts: "February 8, 2008
FL Cattlemen Concerned About IFAS Budget Cuts
Filed under: Cattle, Florida — Randall @ 7:25 pm
Many in Florida agriculture are concerned about the pending cuts to many areas, including funding for UF/IFAS. I had a chance to chat with the Florida Cattlemen Association’s EVP Jim Handley, and their President Larry Rook, about this widely discussed issue. http://www.agnetonline.com/audio/cattle/02-08-08%20FL%20Cattlemen%20Concerned%20about%20IFAS%20Budget%20Cuts.mp3)"

Dr. Daryll Ray's Ag Policy Blog

Dear Class VII,
I subscribe to a weekly publication from The University of Tennessee's Ag Policy Analysis Center (APAC). Dr. Daryll Ray usually writes on global ag policy, the commodity markets or most recent the Farm Bill but the weekly email I read this evening was very different than usual. To me it represents the basis and foundation of what we are tasked with doing and learning in the Wedgworth Program. I challenge each one you you to take time out of your busy day and read what he has written. Afterwards think about what we experienced in Miami and what we are planning to experience in the months to come. Look at the difference a group of leaders like us can make when we get together and fight for a cause using creative capitalism. Maybe even the latest cause of the IFAS budget cuts. Please read what Dr. Ray has written and take it to heart and maybe even think about subscribing to Dr. Ray's weekly article. I'll give you a hint its about the worlds richest computer geek, Bill Gates and his latest comments at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
The link to the most recent article is:

http://www.agpolicy.org/weekcol/391.html

Respectfully,
Clay Archey

Agriculture is Mobilizing

I wanted to let the class know that from what I have seen in the past days, information on the IFAS issue is being quickly disseminated throughout the Ag community - I have constantly been bombarded by e-mails on this topic the past week. Further, we had a meeting yesterday at the corporate office with about 20 DUDA working family-members present and one of the topics of discussion was the funding of IFAS and the budget cuts. This meeting included representation from all of our business units, representing various segments of the Ag community. I am confident that those present at the meeting will take the issue back to their locations throughout Florida and the U.S., to their local industry groups, contacts, etc. We will just keep gaining supporters who will bring the disproportionate cuts to the forefront of discussions.

What is IFAS and why do we care?

IFAS Facts
Introduction
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research and extension. Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida ’s climate and agricultural commodities, IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida.
IFAS is the research and development center for Florida ’s agricultural and natural resources industries that have a $97.8 billion annual impact.

History
While the University traces its roots to 1853 and the establishment of the state-funded East Florida Seminary, UF/IFAS traces its roots to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established the land-grant university system. On July 2, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law what is generally referred to as the Land-grant Act. The new piece of legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont granted to each state 30,000 acres of public land for each senator and representative under apportionment based on the 1860 census. Proceeds from the sale of these lands were to be invested in a perpetual endowment fund that would provide support for colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts in each of the states. The establishment of Florida Agricultural College at Lake City in 1884 under the Morrill Act marked the beginning of what became the College of Agriculture of the University of Florida in 1906.
Read a history of the federal legislation relating to land grant institutions. See land grant institutions timeline.
Florida ’s governing body for higher education created the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in April 1964, by reorganizing UF’s College of Agriculture , School of Forestry, Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Cooperative Extension Service into a single unit. Today, UF/IFAS includes extension offices in each of the state’s 67 counties, 13 research and education centers with a total of 19 locations (including demonstration sites) throughout Florida, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, the School of Natural Resources and Environment, the Center for Tropical Agriculture, portions of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant Program, and the International Program for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) offers students an education that results in knowledge and skills for employment, productive citizenship and life-long learning. With 23 undergraduate majors and 53 areas of specialization, the college is an educational leader in the areas of food, agriculture, natural resources and life sciences as they relate to human resources, the environment and communities. Graduate and doctoral degrees are offered in every department and school.
The college enrolls approximately 4,800 students, including more than 1,000 graduate students. This student body is among the most diverse of the agricultural and natural resources colleges within land-grant institutions in the nation. A majority of CALS students are women, 30% are minorities, and 9% are from international origins. Known for its student-centered focus, the college prides itself on educating society-ready graduates. In addition to the Gainesville campus programs, the college offers baccalaureate degrees, professional graduate degrees and teacher certification courses at IFAS Research and Education Centers. Distance education, via interactive video conferencing, videotape and the World Wide Web, are also offered.
Through productive partnerships with private business, industry and research organizations, CALS students enjoy superior internships, and graduates benefit from outstanding employment opportunities. Students gain a global perspective through a variety of study abroad programs, and they participate in research and development projects with premier faculty researchers.
Off-campus Programs
Recognizing the specialized needs of nontraditional students, CALS established Bachelor of Science degree programs at IFAS education centers in Apopka, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Homestead, and Plant City. Degree programs include agricultural education, entomology, food and resource economics, geomatics, golf and sports turf management, landscape and nursery horticulture and natural resource conservation. Students must have an associate’s degree to enter these off-campus programs, which are partnerships with local community colleges and our sister state universities.
For additional information, see http://www.cals.ufl.edu.

School of Forest Resources and Conservation
Graduates qualify for membership in nationally recognized professional organizations such as the Society of American Foresters, and qualify for listing on several federal civil service employment registers. Graduates find meaningful professional careers in public and private organizations responsible for the use and management of natural resources.
Graduate degree programs include Master of Forest Resources and Conservation, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Additional information is available on the web at http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/.

School of Natural Resources and Environment
The School of Natural Resources & Environment supports the University of Florida’s commitment to academic, research, outreach and Extension programs in ecology and environmental sciences. Bringing together faculty from eleven different UF programs, SNRE educates tomorrow's environmental leaders and supports the critical research and public outreach that addresses today's environmental challenges. Undergraduate specializations include Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Policy, Environmental Policy and Business, and Environmental Education.
The master's and doctoral degrees in Interdisciplinary Ecology promote interdisciplinary thinking in natural resources and the environment. Additional information is available on the web at http://snre.ufl.edu/.

College of Veterinary Medicine
The College of Veterinary Medicine is jointly administered through the university’s Health Science Center and IFAS. Support from UF/IFAS includes resources for large animal disease research, undergraduate instruction and veterinary extension. For additional information, see http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/.

Academic Department List
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural Education and Communications
Agronomy
Animal Sciences
Entomology and Nematology
Environmental Horticulture
Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Food and Resource Economics
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Horticultural Sciences
Microbiology and Cell Science
Plant Pathology
Soil and Water Science
Statistics
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Research
The UF/IFAS research mission is to invent, discover and develop knowledge to enhance the agriculture and natural resources of Florida . Faculty members pursue fundamental and applied research that furthers understanding of natural and human systems. Research is supported by state and federally appropriated funds and supplemented by grants and contracts. In new awards of grants and contracts, IFAS research received more than $68 million in 2005-06.
The Florida Agricultural Experiment Station administers and supports research programs in UF/IFAS. The research program was created in 1887 by federal legislation known as the Hatch Act, a follow-up to the 1862 Morrill Act that established US land-grant universities. The research programs support approximately 350 full-time equivalent faculty members in 16 academic departments on UF’s Gainesville campus and at 13 research and education centers around the state.
For additional information, see http://research.ifas.ufl.edu/.

Extension
The 1914 Smith-Lever Act provided federal support for land-grant institutions to offer educational programs to enhance the application of useful and practical information beyond their campuses through cooperative extension efforts with states and local communities.
UF/IFAS Extension provides Floridians with life-long learning programs in cooperation with county government, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Florida A & M University. The wide breadth of educational programming offered in each county responds to the local needs of residents, schools, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and industry.
Programs promote sustainable agriculture, teaching environmental stewardship, understanding of food nutrition and safety, consumer and parenting skills, and providing leadership for youth development through programs like 4-H.
By partnering with local government, advisory committees, concerned citizens, commodity groups and the youth of Florida, UF/IFAS extension creates an important link between the public and research conducted on campus and at 13 research and education centers.
Solutions for Your Life is the Web site of UF/IFAS extension, making IFAS faculty expertise available on-line under such categories as lawn and garden care, family life and consumer choices, agriculture, community development, the environment, and youth development. The web site is focused on providing timely and relevant solutions. The url is http://SolutionsForYourLife.ufl.edu
See most recent county reports.

Facilities
In addition to facilities on the University of Florida campus and Extension offices in each of Florida’s 67 counties, IFAS has 1,255 buildings, 3,190,448 gross square feet, and 16,591 acres throughout the state. These facilities are used for teaching, research and demonstration:
16 on-campus academic departments and schools
13 Research & Education Centers (REC) located throughout the state
Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain)
6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments
6 locations with off-campus undergraduate degree programs.

Human Resources
Because the number of employees is constantly changing, the following "snap shot" of IFAS full-time equivalent employees was based on June 30, 2007, payroll information.

On Campus
Off Campus
County
Total
State Supported



Faculty
363
176
272
811
Staff
623
428
22
1073
Totals
986
604
294
1884
Grant Supported



Faculty
167
55
28
250
Staff
164
55
11
230
Totals
331
110
39
480
In addition, volunteers in the previous year worked the equivalent of 672 full-time employees.
* OPS stands for other personnel services and is a classification for part-time and temporary employees, including students.

Accountability
UF/IFAS uses customer surveys, public hearings, teacher evaluations and other methods to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the state. As part of Extension’s ongoing efforts to improve program quality and information delivery, each year volunteers and staff in eleven counties survey customers about their satisfaction with services provided. Whether the customers attended workshops or demonstrations, called on the phone or dropped by the office, nearly all said the information they received was up to date and accurate, delivered in time to be useful, relevant to his or her situation, and easy to understand.


Alumni
Total Alumni Agricultural & Life Sciences 17,926
Forest Resources & Conservation 1,956
Natural Resources & Environment 414
Note: 544 alumni live overseas.

Wow!! What a week!

Is anyone else "decompressing"? That was some week we just had. I was going back through everything and it just continues to hit me with how much we really did over the week. "Oh, yeah we went there," and "oh, yeah we heard about this or that." Just so much crammed perfectly into Hannah's inch deep by mile wide trench, and orchestrated like a finely oiled machine. I personally had a very educational and productive Seminar II as well as some great times beyond that. I hope everyone had a safe and smooth travel back home and best wishes to Adam and family for the Baby Basford, Owen. Hey Sylvia, now you really know that our class is the best. Come on up to Tally with us.