University of Wisconsin - Extension

UW¿Extension Chancellor Kevin Reilly and Vice Chancellor Marv Van Kekerix have been named recipients of the 2002 Mary Nell Greenwood Extension Evaluation Award for administrative or program leadership in Extension evaluation. The award is presented by the American Evaluation Association¿s Extension Education interest group.

In 1997, as Vice Chancellor and Provost, Kevin Reilly instituted the University of Wisconsin¿Extension¿s Program Impacts System as a common framework for assessing and reporting the impact of programs in each of the institution¿s four divisions: Cooperative Extension, Outreach and E-Learning Extension, Broadcasting and Media Innovations, and Business and Manufacturing Extension. Marv Van Kekerix became Vice Chancellor and Provost in 2000 and has assumed leadership for the initiative with continuing support from Reilly.

¿Establishing and maintaining an evaluation system in an institution as diverse and large as UW-Extension is a challenge,¿ said Mary Crave, the current leader of UWEX¿s Program Impacts initiative. ¿The vision, resources, and guidance that our Chancellor and Vice Chancellor provide for the Program Impacts system is critical in helping us develop a culture of accountability. This is a case of administrators backing up their vision with the resources we need to make it happen. Extension Evaluation specialists across the country recognize that commitment and the role it plays in helping all Wisconsin extension educators articulate the value of their programs.¿

In response to learning he received the award, Reilly said, "Thanks to the great work of extension colleagues on campuses, in county offices, and at other locations throughout the state, we've made real progress on impact evaluation. And I believe we are increasingly recognized nationally as leaders in the field.¿

¿This truly is an institution-wide effort,¿ added Van Kekerix. ¿The success of the effort is an indication of our faculty and staff¿s dedication to excellence.¿

According to Crave, Extension has developed several evaluation resources, including:

• An evaluation framework

• A set of principles to guide impact assessment

• Professional development resources, including training materials and workshops.

• Personnel, including evaluation specialists, web designers, and editors.

• A standardized reporting process that is integrated into other program reporting systems

• An integration of impact evaluation into special funding awards, such as cross-divisional grants and diversity program pilot grants

• A web site that provides tools, background information, evaluation resources and a data base of Program Impact Reports

• Sponsorship of nation-wide evaluation workshops, the first three of which served 147 extension administrators from 35 states.

The award is in honor of Mary Nell Greenwood, a former Cooperative Extension director at USDA. It will be presented at the AEA annual conference in early November in Washington, DC.