This insert to Keeping Up addresses issues related to the IANR Spires and our associated Extension Action Teams. This month focuses on the meaning of Scholarship in Extension. More…
Scholarship of Extension (part1 of 2)
One of the more frustrating experiences for faculty with interest in an Extension focused career is the lack of clearly recognized outcomes and measures of those outcomes that define Extension “Scholarship”. That frustration is often compounded by those involved in promotion and tenure decisions that may know good extension scholarship when they see it, but are poorly equipped to define what it is. Even more frustrating are those review processes that measure Extension scholarship by outputs and not outcomes.
Monroe and Hochmuth (2011) define “Scholarship in Extension is a product of excellence in program development, implementation, and evaluation.” University of Wisconsin – Extension defines scholarship as “a particular approach to educational programming that is: a) creative intellectual work, b) reviewed and affirmed by peers, c) added to our intellectual history through its communication and d) valued by those for whom the work was intended (http://www.uwex.edu/academic-affairs/scholarship.html). McGrath (2006) states that “Scholarly engagement could distinguish Extension by … increasing the probability that we will generate credible evidence of impact.” Ken Smith, in his article, Scholarship: Shout About it (2004) shared examples of Extension scholarship where:
• Educational products became the national standard for…;
• Educational resources were adopted by educators in various locations throughout the county (recognition and use by peers);
• Biological Defense educational initiative that reached every naval unit in … (reaches all members of targeted audience);
• 4-H community arts program that established partnerships for sustainable implementation and community involvement.
The underlined phrases represent examples of scholarship that should be clearly defined and implemented into the promotion and tenure process for UNL Extension faculty.
So how do you document Extension Scholarship in your eARFA? Stay tuned for some of our own ideas on the components of Extension scholarship and possible measures that one might highlight in an eARFA (next Keeping Up).
McGrath, D. M. (2006), The Scholarship of application. Journal of Extension [On-line], 44(2) Article 2FEA8. Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2006april/a8.shtml.
Smith, K. L. (2004). Scholarship: Shout About It. Journal of Extension [On-line]. Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2004august/comm1.shtml
Monroe, M. C. and G.Hochmuth. (2009). Scholarship in Extension Program Development: The Role of the State Specialist. University of Florida Extension Publication #FOR 123. Available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FR/FR17900.pdf . 7 pages.