Funding
After extensive fact finding, public input, and analysis, we have defined four primary issues that must be addressed for University of Illinois Extension to meet its obligations and achieve its potential. These issues are investing in establishing a minimum local presence, upgrading information and communications technology, improving professional development and training, and subject matter expertise. While much can be accomplished with existing resources, current funding levels are not adequate to meet the important priorities articulated within the recommendations of this report.
Based on public input and our evaluation a high priority must be placed on local ownership and quality of programs with emphasis on youth/family and agriculture. Local ownership and program quality depend on the quality and expertise of professionals in the local office. We recommend a minimum Extension staffing of two Educators, a secretary, and a support worker in each local Extension office, with one Educator focused on youth/family. This recommendation requires the addition of a youth Educator and conversion of the Unit Leader to an Educator position at each of the 76 local Extension offices. A State investment in this minimum local presence, which requires an addition of a youth/family Educator at each of the 76 local Extension offices, is estimated to cost $3.8 million annually. This recommendation cannot be achieved within existing resources.
Modern information and communication technologies will be necessities of the 21st-century information age. Access, speed, and accuracy will be essential, and computer technology will be the platform. Illinois is a leader in this field, and the competitive advantage must be maintained. We recommend that Extension continue to build on its strong commitment to using state-of-the-art digital information and communications technologies for information and program delivery and for organization communications and management. This requires that local and regional Extension offices be equipped and connected to the information superhighway and that adequate service and support are available in each of the five regions and on campus. The State should consider investing $670,000 annually to secure modern information and communication technologies for U of I Extension.
The quality of U of I Extension programming depends upon continual assessment, evaluation, and improvement. High-quality professional development should be provided for local Extension professionals, subject matter experts, members of local Councils, and volunteers. While every level of the system must be involved with professional development and evaluation, specific experts and leadership are required. To secure the ongoing capacity to provide professional development and training programs for more than 150 subject matter specialists, 260 local Extension professionals, 1,600 local Council members, and 16,000 local volunteers, the State should consider investing $230,000 to provide leadership for systematic professional development and evaluation for all staff and programs.
Subject matter experts are the content foundation of U of I Extension. The information quality and problem-solving capacity of Extension are dependent on these subject matter specialists. Since 1987, Extension has lost nearly 45 percent of its subject matter expertise to budget reductions and reallocations. Reinvestment in subject matter expertise to the level of the CES 2000 Blueprint is critical. This minimum level of subject matter experts is outlined in Table 1. This is an addition of 22 subject matter experts to the current system. To secure the minimum subject matter expertise concluded to be necessary for minimum effective program scope and quality in the four core program areas, the State should consider an additional annual investment of $1.3 million.
Currently, funding for core programs is composed of 26 percent federal support through the USDA, 34 percent from the State of Illinois through higher education and the University of Illinois, 20 percent State of Illinois funds matching local funds through the State Cooperative Extension Service Trust Fund, and 20 percent local funds, including county government general fund appropriations, property tax revenues from Extension levies, and local volunteer gifts and grants. The recommendations do not address a significant change in the pattern of federal funding from that experienced in the first half of the 1990s. Projections of reduced federal funding for Extension during the next five years range from 10 to 30 percent. Most of the federal funds coming to Illinois are invested in subject matter experts. Any reductions in federal funding of magnitudes not experienced to date would necessitate changes in the scope of Extension or an offset from other sources of funds.