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What are signature programs and why do we have them?
How were they developed?
What are the current CCE signature programs?What are signature programs and why do we have them?
Signature programs are major, statewide efforts addressing widely recognized public concerns. They are exemplars of the CCE mission and our programming capability and characterized by high quality and impact. Signature programs are intended to:
- convey an accurate image of current programming and system capacity,
- provide a means for focusing effort and aggregating related program outcomes and impacts,
- illustrate the CCE campus/community partnership, and,
- serve as a basis for marketing and fund development.
Signature programs are not intended to be all encompassing. The current set of signature programs is intentionally limited and focused to provide clarity of image and communicate recognizable roles. They are not expected to be "permanent" but rather to have a reasonable lifetime of perhaps 3-5 years to be replaced or supplemented by additional emphases over time.
How were they developed?
The need for improved ability to communicate the nature and impact of our work across the system has been articulated in numerous venues for many years. About five years ago, CCE Executive Directors in southeastern NY suggested that identifying a small number of "flagship programs" was one strategy to sharpen our image, aggregate meaningful impact data, and, hopefully, attract new program resources. The concept was developed through system-level workshops and proposals but stalled primarily due to lack of an accepted mechanism for selecting appropriate programs.In June 2003 at a conference of CCE Executive Directors and members of Extension Administration, the concept emerged again under the revised title of Signature Programs. The concept moved forward under guidance of a working group of the newly formed CCE Senate, a formal organization of the CCE Executive Directors. This workgroup enlisted the assistance of program directors in CCE Administration to draft potential signature programs. These were refined through an interactive process and with different levels of faculty and educator input. At the September 2004 CCE Executive Leadership Conference, the existing drafts were endorsed for refinement and final adoption in December 2004. Those first drafts were refined as part of the CCE plan of work process resulting in updated plans in June 2006.
What are the current signature programs?
At the present time, four signature programs are being advanced. A brief description of each follows, each of which includes a link to the full text of the current draft.Enhancing Agricultural/Horticultural Business Vitality Agricultural and food industries contribute an estimated $30 billion a year to the NY economy. CCE works to enhance the vitality of individual enterprises and the collective industries through a broad range of extension and applied research programming. Content areas include farm production management, farm financial and business management, natural resources and environmental management, agricultural cooperatives and marketing, and food industry management. Priority outcomes include improved farm profitability, agricultural economic development, food and agribusiness vitality, successful new businesses, improved agricultural land use management, increased understanding of local agricultural and food issues, and community resolution of agricultural-environmental conflicts. Draft revised June 2006.
View Plan (PDF)
Connecting People to the Land and to their Environments New York has a diverse and dynamic landscape. Community-based decisions often can result in deleterious and unwelcome consequences for the local land and natural resource base. Current emphases include informed community decision making, local land use policies, sprawl and open space preservation, sustainable development, equitable access to land and natural resources. Intended outcomes include appropriate utilization of resources, strengthened ability to manage local environmental issues, increased appreciation of resources, improved decision making, expanded public participation, and sound economic growth. Draft revised June 2006.
View Plan (PDF)
Nutrition and Health Overweight and obesity problems have reached epidemic proportions in the US. Nutrition and lifestyle behaviors contribute to many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, osteoporosis and some forms of cancer. Despite our general affluence, hunger and food security remain serious problems in many NY communities. Our vision is that optimally nourished, physically fit people will live in food-secure communities. Specific intended outcomes are that individuals, families and communities will practice desired dietary behaviors, increase fitness and activity levels, increase food and nutrition and food selection knowledge, apply dietary recommendations daily in family meals and snacks, manage food budgets and related resources to address family needs, use recommended food preparation and food safety practices, increase participation in health screening, and make policy changes to promote healthy lifestyle, food, and fitness choices. Draft revised June 2006.
View Plan (PDF)
Youth Community Action Youth community action involves young people and adults working together in partnership to make valuable contributions to strengthen or enhance NY communities. These efforts have many different foci including preventing youth tobacco use, promoting youth employment, creating youth-friendly spaces, establishing healthy environments, and increasing community safety. Participating youth gain in six competency domains: cultural, personal, civic, political, cognitive, and social skills. Intended outcomes are that youth are respected as learners and teachers, that specific knowledge and skill gains are made, that youth gain positive attitudes about their ability to create desirable change, that participants aspire to continued civic and service activities, that lasting contributions are made to communities, and that adults and communities recognize youth as valued partners.
View Plan (PDF)
What happens next?
Developing and adopting signature program descriptions is only the start of a process. Numerous additional steps are needed to gain benefits of the approach. These include:
- Developing an inventory of relevant programming and applied research applicable to each signature program
- Identifying related program resources available and/or needed
- Developing marketing plans and materials
- Developing outcome/impact documentation strategies and resources
- Incorporating signature programs in annual reporting structures
- Exploring fund development opportunities
The Signature Programs work group of the CCE Senate is in the process of identifying roles and specific next steps for moving this effort forward in collaboration with the program directors in CCE Administration.
Where do I get more information?
The chairperson of the CCE Senate Signature Programs Work Group is Paul Westfall of CCE Niagara pww2@cornell.edu Rod Howe rlh13@cornell.edu is the primary contact in Extension Administration.Contact persons for the Enhancing Farm Business Vitality signature program draft are Andrew Dufresne of CCE Chautauqua and2@cornell.edu and Paul Westfall of CCE Niagara pww2@cornell.edu and Chris Watkins of CCE Administration cbw3@cornell.edu. Assistance in general business viability elements contact Doug Ververs of CCE Cayuga dhv1@cornell.edu.
Contact persons for the Connecting People to the Land and Their Environment signature program draft are Deb Grantham dgg3@cornell.edu and Rod Howe rlh13@cornell.edu of CCE administration and Tom Williams of CCE Suffolk tbw7@cornell.edu.
Contact persons for the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities signature program draft are Jeanne Darling of CCE Delaware jmd30@cornell.edu and Jo Swanson of CCE Administration jas56@cornell.edu.
Contact persons for the Youth Community Action are Bernie Armata of CCE Herkimer bma3@cornell.edu, Barbara Schirmer, State 4-H Leader bks6@cornell.edu, and JoAnne Baldini of CCE Administration jb61@cornell.edu.
