Regionalization of the Iowa State University Extension System: Lessons Learned by Key Administrators

Subject Areas : Environmental policy and management

Mary  S. Holz-Clause ¹ (Vice President for Economic Development, University of Connecticut, 304 Gulley Hall, Storrs, CT 06268, U.S)
Vikram  Swaroop Chandra Koundinya ² (Postdoctoral Research Associate, ISU Extension and Outreach, 2210 Beardshear Hall, ISU, Ames, IA 50011, U.S)
Sherry  Glenn ³ (Director of Field Operations, ISU Extension and Outreach, 2150 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011, U.S)
Jack  M. Payne ⁴ (Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1008 McCarty Hall, UFL, Gainesville, FL, U.S)

Received: 2015-08-30 Accepted : 2015-08-30 Published : 2012-03-01

Keywords: Restructuring, Administration, Regionalization of Services, Cooperative Extension System, organizational development,

Abstract :

The cyclical economic downturn in the United States has forced many Extension administrators to rethink and adjust services and programming. The Cooperative Extension System (CES), the organization primarily responsible for governmental Extension work in the United States, at Iowa State University responded to this economic downturn by restructuring its organization from county based to a regional model. This paper shares the experiences of key administrators in planning this restructuring process and the lessons learned. This experience and the restructuring processes used have implications for administrators in all organizational settings.