COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES
GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR
PROMOTION AND CONTINUING STATUS
FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PERSONNEL
Revised February 2001

Foreword

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has three distinct major responsibilities: teaching, research, and extension. There is an emphasis on teamwork and integration of these functions, often utilizing an interdisciplinary collaborative approach. In addition to the normal University purposes, CALS follows provisions of the Hatch Act in 1887 which established the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 that founded Cooperative Extension.

The college uses university, college and unit-specific criteria for promotion and tenure or continuing status and the position description of each faculty member to guide advancement decisions. In CALS, each faculty member's position description reflects the relative responsibilities (percentage of effort) assigned to teaching, research, Extension and service in relationship to the unit's mission and strategic plan. This position description is part of the promotion and tenure or promotion and continuing status dossier.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences defines teaching and research in two ways to encompass both our campus-based faculty and our off campus faculty. We use the term "outreach" to mean teaching and research directed at off campus audiences. We also use formal and non-formal descriptions for teaching, so the term "teaching" applies not only to traditional classroom sessions, but also to field trips, field days, workshops, and other activities.

Examples of activities in each of these areas that may be considered in evaluating faculty are listed in Appendix A. CALS endorses The University of Arizona Promotion and Tenure and Promotion and Continuing Status Guidelines. These guidelines were used in formulating our guidelines and criteria and are appended to this document as Appendix B.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Mission Statement:

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences stimulates learning through exploration and discovery to enhance agriculture, the environment, our natural resource base, family and youth well-being and the development of local communities. We accomplish this mission by the integration, dissemination, and application of knowledge in the agricultural and life sciences. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences accomplishes this mission by the teaching, discovery, integration, dissemination, and application of knowledge in the agricultural and life sciences.

GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PERSONNEL

Criteria are listed below for the Cooperative Extension agent and specialist ranks. In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), each faculty member has a position description which is reviewed and updated as appropriate, and which reflects the relative responsibilities assigned to teaching, research, extension and service activities in relationship to the unit's mission and strategic plan. This position description provides the context for evaluating a candidate's success in meeting performance expectations for promotion and/or continuing status. Both formal and non-formal instruction are defined as teaching by CALS, including classroom sessions, demonstrations, workshops and distributed learning. Research/creative activities may be basic and/or applied and may include the use of innovative approaches and new technology. (See Appendix A for examples of specific activities in each area.) The requirement of excellent performance and the promise of continued excellence necessary for the granting of promotion and/or continuing status includes compliance with relevant University and Board of Regents policies. The University Handbook for Appointed Personnel (UHAP) provides more information on the promotion and continuing status process.

Cooperative Extension programs involve information delivery, educational programming and problem solving research or creative approaches to problems. Agents and specialists are expected to demonstrate professional competence and growth as determined by standards of achievement for Cooperative Extension personnel. The degree and experience requirements are specific to the subject matter discipline required for the position and type of position (i.e., agent or specialist). Specialists are required to have an earned doctorate or other terminal degree and agents an earned masters degree.

The Extension Specialist is the primary source for knowledge and technical information in his/her discipline. Within the subject matter, this person provides statewide program leadership and works collaboratively with county extension agents through applied research, training, appropriate direct teaching of clientele, and interpreting, assembling and preparing educational materials for statewide extension programs for youth and adults. The Specialist coordinates with public agency representatives, Extension, Experiment Station, and University faculty in conducting an educational and problem solving research program.

The Extension Agent's primary purpose is to provide educational programs for clientele to help them solve their own problems and improve the quality of their lives. He/she develops extension programs that address priority needs and conducts training, problem-solving research, and other educational methods throughout the assigned county(ies). In addition, the Agent plans and conducts programs with statewide emphasis in collaboration with other Extension Agents, Specialists and University faculty as appropriate.

Appointment to Assistant Agent/Assistant Specialist

Appointment to Assistant Agent/Assistant Specialist is made on the basis of past achievements and future promise. The position gives an individual the opportunity to develop potential and to demonstrate effective educational programming, problem-solving research and creative solutions to problems. The quality of the educational programs and the candidate's record is weighed in the evaluation of the individual's potential for identifying clientele needs and establishing priorities for outreach programs. The candidate must show a capacity to obtain resources for programming. This might include the soliciting of funds and materials to conduct a program, or putting together teams with appropriate expertise. An ability to effectively utilize research findings, education programs and problem solving is also important. The person is expected to have demonstrated skill in oral and written communications and have publications which may be disseminated through a variety of media.

The candidate must show evidence of productive collaboration with colleagues, professional competence, effective educational programs and applied research.

Appointment or Promotion to Associate Agent/Associate Specialist

For appointment or promotion to Associate Agent/Associate Specialist, the candidate must have program accomplishments which demonstrate innovation, initiative, a high level of professional expertise, and working relationships with subject-matter colleagues and clientele. The position description is to be used to discern the expectations of the faculty member.

Programs must address priority needs. These efforts must also show evidence of success in obtaining support funds and materials. The candidate must demonstrate a high level of subject-matter expertise and have recognition and acceptance among peers and clientele at the local, state and regional levels. There must be evidence of continued professional growth. It is expected that the candidate will have completed publications of various types in their assigned subject area.

The candidate should have committee responsibility in his/her unit, the College, and the University. The candidate for promotion to Associate Agent/Associate Specialist should also participate in local and national committees of professional organizations and provide service to the local community as appropriate.

Promotion to Associate Agent/Associate Specialist is typically accompanied by the awarding of continuing appointment; however, appointments can be made to this rank with or without continuing status. The University Handbook for Appointed Personnel (UHAP) provides complete information on these points.

Appointment or Promotion to Agent or Specialist

For appointment or promotion to this rank, the candidate must have a record of outstanding performance. This should include evidence of professional recognition at the local, state, and national level, and leadership in his/her subject-matter area and in professional organizations. There must be evidence of continued high quality performance in conducting educational and problem solving research or creative solutions to problems. There must be peer recognition and acceptance of publications which should be numerous and include a variety of media. Candidates must present evidence that their research has contributed to their professional discipline beyond the southwest region. Renewal and/or acceptance of major awards and grants, and invitations to review and evaluate materials from colleagues from other institutions may also be used to demonstrate high professional achievement. The candidate must have well established, collaborative working relationships with colleagues and clientele.

Extension programs, including informal and formal teaching, must address priority needs and show evidence of adaptation to changing needs and priorities. Teaching must be effectively organized to stimulate learning. Evidence of outreach teaching accomplishments will be measured by peer review of curriculum and recognition among peers and clientele of a high level of discipline expertise at the local, state and regional levels.

The candidate should have some committee responsibility in his/her unit, the College, and the University. The candidate for promotion to Agent or Specialist should also be participating in local and national committees of professional organizations and provide service to the local community as appropriate. The candidate's position description is to be used in assessing the outcomes of the identified expectations.