Applied Research and Extension
Program Councils and Program Work Teams

Initial Announcement of Program Work Team Formation

On May 16, 2001, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) established 34 new extension and applied research Program Work Teams (PWT's)-involving literally hundreds of faculty and staff, extension educators, and external stakeholders.

"The Program Work Teams will provide an unprecedented and much desired opportunity for stakeholder and extension educator input to the direction of the applied research program supported by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. It is our desire to use federal formula funds administered by CUAES for the greatest positive impact on New York citizens. PWT's should help us meet that goal," according to Dan Decker, Director, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station.

As core units of the new enhanced program development structure and process adopted by CCE and CUAES, PWT's will help identify statewide program needs and opportunities. "The Program Work Teams provide the mechanism through which faculty and extension educators connect with stakeholders in identifying issues, studying needs, creating educational materials, and designing learning experiences that address these issues and needs," according to D. Merrill Ewert, Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension. "

These PWT's reflect a shared commitment, providing a point of connection at which citizens, researchers, and educators collaborate in helping people and communities learn together in ways that solve local problems," said Ewert.

The PWT's will plan and coordinate many of the multidisciplinary extension and applied research programs that will address needs over the next two to three years. Program Work Teams will report annually to one or more of five new Program Councils (PC's)-the second piece of the new program development structure, as described in Cornell Cooperative Extension's Committed to Excellence strategic plan.

"Without question, the enhanced program development process is the foundation of our Committed to Excellence plan. The plan is a response to concerns raised by some of our stakeholders; they saw the need for us to more closely link the research from campus with the programs developed in local communities. The PWTs do that," said Ewert.

The Program Councils-representing agriculture, youth, community vitality, quality of life, and environment-will advise the directors of CCE and CUAES on program directions, gaps, strengths, and investments. Councils will receive reports from PWT's and other existing applied research and extension programs, and will counsel the directors on how resources might be better focused to improve the accessibility, responsiveness, accountability, and excellence of extension and experiment station efforts.

All of the approved Program Work Teams will be funded for $4,000 annually for either two or three years.

Click here for a complete listing of approved PWTs and their co-chairs.  Those having interest in a specific PWT should contact one of the team’s co-chairs for more information.  Click here to view the approved PWTs’ originating petitions.

Questions regarding Program Work Teams may be referred to Michael P. Voiland, Assistant Director for Research and Extension for CUAES/CCE, at 607-255-2552 (mpv1@cornell.edu).

ATTENTION: On September 20, 2001, a new PWT was approved by CCE and CUAES. The new team, called the Family & Community Food Decision Making PWT, will be co-chaired by Ardyth Gillespie, Associate Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell, and Helen Howard, Extension Educator, CCE of Tompkins County. We welcome this new team to the fold of PWTs, and offer best wishes and success to the co-chairs!