http://collaborate.extension.org/wiki/2009_Comm_Highlights?action=feed&mode=raw 2009-11-22T11:29:25Z Wiki page as wiki MediaWiki 1.14.0 Contributors http://collaborate.extension.org/wiki/2009_Comm_Highlights/15999 2009-08-21T16:49:54Z == 3. Briefly describe your program highlights for 2009 == '''ALABAMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM''' Our primary focus in the past year has been an effort to help Alabamians deal with the economic crisis. We developed a piggybank logo and called the effort "Thriving in Challenging Times." Through a blog on our front Web page, http://www.aces.edu, we published articles submitted by educators and selected, edited, and uploaded to the public site by communications staff. Some of the articles were and continue to be republished in print and online sources such as Southeast Farm Press. This spring we collected some of the best articles, wrote additional ones, and developed a publication called "Thriving in Challenging Times: The Road Ahead," a guide to recovery stessing the themes of personal, family, and community well-being. See http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/E/EX-0084/EX-0084.pdf. We have also stressed the fact that helping people cope with challenges in their lives and learn better ways of living and working has been the hallmark of Extension work throughout its history. Our other major focus has been moving toward an updated marketing plan for Extension. In the winter, we completed an online marketing and communications survey. More than 200 people completed the survey, representing a good cross-section of the organization. Our marketing team has remained active, and we have begun offering brief (20- to 30-minute) in-service trainings using Web technology. Presenters and audience connect via PolyCom and Scopia Desktop; we show a pre-recorded segment or do the training live and finish with a Q&A session. It's taking some time for people to get comfortable responding in this format, but we are making progress. We're planning two to four of these trainings each quarter. As often as possible, we're using agents, specialists, and support staff to collaborate as presenters along with communications staff. For example, a communications specialist interviewed two county coordinators who shared some pointers for developing and maintaining strong media relations. '''NC STATE UNIVERSITY''' Here are just a few things we've done differently this year: * Because of a college budget cut, we reduced publication of our quarterly magazine to three issues in 2008-09 and two issues in 2009-10. To ensure continued communication with our stakeholders, we launched an every-other-month dean's newsletter. Our "open" rate is running about 25 percent for 16,000 addresses. * North Carolina 4-H is celebrating its centennial, and Communication Services is helping with promotional activities. One project involves creating stories for our statewide public TV network's evening news show. This has highlighted the need for us to upgrade to high definition; I'm interested in knowing if your comm unit has made the transition and how much it cost. * "The Produce Lady" is a promotional effort that takes advantage of the local foods movement. It disseminates tips on preparing local produce and other foods through segments on a statewide gardening TV show and cable access; YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/theproducelady); a Web site; recipe cards given out at farmers markets; news columns; a blog; and more. '''IFAS, University of Florida''' '''Following are a few program highlights from the past year:''' '''Reorganization of communications, external relations, and information technology''' * Continued focus in the key functions in the reorganization as follows: 1) Web-based education; 2) Integrated marketing, PR, and branding; 3) Integration, organization and dissemination of all information within IFAS and UF (R,T,E); 4) Technology, innovation, and training; 5) Professional development (Internal, assisting faculty with the application of technology); 6) Web page development, maintenance and analysis; and 7) Communication, support and innovation '''Web Communication''' * Continue work to bring all UF/IFAS Web sites under centralized management (Web Team) and distributed system (utilizing Web and IT positions institute wide). http://ifas.ufl.edu * Continue work to unify all sites using the “Solutions for Your Life” http://solutionsforyourlife.com theme where applicable. Continue the statewide SFYL marketing campaign. * Completion and continued work on virtual field days http://virtualfieldday.ifas.ufl.edu/ . All VFDs are on-line versions of the existing or proposed field day demonstrations. * Production of the annual Extension Symposium as a virtual event. Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) * New database and server are in use to host the on-line Extension publication library http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu of 7,000 documents by the publications librarian and four publications specialists and integrate this library more fully into the Extension SFYL Web site. * Continue investigating new technologies such as open journal systems (OJS), ScholarOne, and several other possible software packages for the EDIS system. Find more effective software for producing HTML and PDF versions of 7,000+ documents in the on-line library. * Since all EDIS documents must be revised/updated/recertified every three years or less, a continuing effort is made to work with departments and faculty to constantly refresh these documents. Currently we are at only 24% of the 7,000 in need of updating. '''IFAS Extension Bookstore''' * Forecast gross sales in the IFAS Extension Bookstore of about $600,000 for this calendar year. This is less than past years, which is primarily due to the national economic situation. The revenues from the bookstore fund five salaried positions as well as the introduction of a number of new products. Additionally, continued annual sales of institutional identity products is expected at about $100,000. Current inventory is more than 1000 educational product lines and more than 5,000 identity items. * The bookstore currently offers more than 100 on-line registrations for certifications, seminars, or other classes, which will retain 10% or more of all sales. * Bookstore representatives will attend between 50-60 statewide events where products will be marketed and sold. * New bookstore Web site http://ifasbooks.com and annual printed catalog of products are now available. '''E-learning Systems''' * E-learning will be a greater emphasis in this and coming years. Site is at http://icsde.ifas.ufl.edu/ and will undergo revisions, and a new portal for all IFAS distance education and E-learning programs will be developed. * At this time, the unit will provide training and support for e-learning modules in Adobe Presenter, Accordent, Articulate, Elluminate, Moodle, Polycom, Sakai and other emerging technologies. * The unit will provide support for e-learning systems for credit course delivery by faculty in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UF and non-credit course work by Extension and research faculty. * The unit will guide faculty toward the collection of revenue for e-learning modules through the bookstore, at http://ifasbooks.ufl.edu/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=IFASBOOKS&Category_Code=CEU '''OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY''' Here are some noteworthy program highlights: * A major accomplishment was the development and initiation of the weekly half-hour ''SUNUP'' television program, broadcast at 7:30 a.m. Saturdays on the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) main channel. The program, which first aired on October 4, 2008, is also broadcast throughout each week on OETA's OKLA channel. The startup effort was truly a "team endeavor." Individuals throughout the unit offered various types of expertise and assistance in the initial planning and production process. Each week, a ''SUNUP'' feature is submitted for use on ''Oklahoma News Repo''rt, OETA's evening news program and Oklahoma's only statewide television newscast, which airs from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. weekdays. * Another successful ongoing effort is the ''Oklahoma Gardening'' television program on OETA. The weekly half-hour show airs Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. The program is also broadcast throughout each week on OETA's OKLA channel. * Throughout the past year, news releases supporting programs and activities generated extensive local, state, regional and national exposure. Media relations tactics extended beyond traditional distribution of news releases. Offering story ideas and background information to media gatekeepers helped enhance existing media relationships and generate greater coverage of our programs. * Layout, design and editing efforts supported the production of major publications, fact sheets and related items throughout the year. The Web-based Print on Demand System (PODS) contains over 3,200 publication titles. Print on demand is an electronic archive and ordering system for fact sheets and other publications available without charge to counties, faculty and staff, who can order hard copies through a password-protected system. The site is searchable by key words, fact sheet number, author or title. OSUExtra is a replica of the print on demand site and is for the home user. The total number of documents online exceeds 6,400. * The unit's photo database, known as "kitchen sink," has grown to include more than 43,000 images. * Significant Web content work included revamping Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and other division sites. An extensive Web site was developed to support the ''SUNUP'' television program. '''SC State University''' *Desgined 11 brochures with each focusing on a particular area in Extension. *Redesigned the quaterly 1890 Extension Community Education catalog to a full-color publication with features on Extension work. The catalog lists over 75 courses held statewide, and is distributed via our Cluster offices. *Worked with a local design company to produce a new tradeshow display, which includes a tabletop display, four pop-up banner stands and a table cloth. The design of the display is consistent with the university's new branding campaign. *Secured local and state media coverage through press releases and by pitching ideas to editors/reporters on various 1890 programs and services. *Generated media exposure for 2009 AEA summer meeting, which was held June 15-18 in Charleston, S.C. '''WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY''' Throughout 2008 and 2009, our department has attempted to extend the “Extension Matters” line of communication efforts that began in 2007 in an effort to make it more publicly recognizable. In early 2009, our Extension Matters television series began its third production season. The show is produced by the West Virginia Library Commission and airs on the Commission’s educational access network in various regions of the state. A mix of programmatic news and informational segments makes up each half-hour episode. We currently tape 11 shows per production season. In June of 2009, we released the ninth edition of our quarterly lifestyle magazine, also called Extension Matters. Issues of the magazine cover timely topics relating to extension initiatives in a more topical manner instead of a news-reporting format. For instance, articles in the most recent issue cover topics such as “The Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce” and “Gambling & Today’s Youth.” After winning some recognition from a few local and national organizations, throughout the year we’ve increased our mailing list and, as a result, the number of issues we print. Lastly, we attempted to extend the Extension Matters brand into the realm of online podcasts which were made available on our Web site and on iTunes. This initiative, however, has been shelved temporarily and will be reformatted in the coming year. Outside the Extension Matters line, the Department of Communications has continued to support extension and research through media relations, the creation of programmatic literature and publicity pieces, and representation at a variety of community events, fairs, and festivals. Quick highlights: A direct mail campaign was launched to increase awareness of extension and research at the university; the integration of the ETC facility and staff into the Dept. of Communications has been an ongoing process; the organizational Web site is being continually modified with updated features; moves into other avenues of social networking have been explored (blogging, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter). '''UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS''' Communications has strengthened its media relations efforts which include the addition of a web press room, focusing our weekly media package delivered electronically and building our relationship with web masters, reporters and editors with major media outlets. During the Arkansas Press Associations State Conference, we gave away thumb drives which had loaded on them a link to a survey, a link to our press room and a podcast about Extension in Arkansas. We continue to send the weekly media packet electronically to news media statewide when dealing with smaller circulation print media and locally produced cable programs; however, we have aggressively pursued media relations and pitching to our larger media outlets, with excellent results. The shift in producing and posting new podcasts based upon pressing and current issues, continues to drive up the number of visitors and number of hits by those visitors. Our web site is not content management. Communications has worked with IT in shifting to content management with mixed reviews from faculty and staff when it is learned that content management requires faculty and staff to post their own material. Communications has partnered successfully with the Rhetoric and Writing Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to provide a rich internship which provides Communications invaluable help while creating for students the most sought after internship, according to UALR faculty. Communications applied for and received a small grant from the soybean promotion board to work with specialists in producing and pushing to producers podcasts as needed. We have posted an average of about 1.5 podcasts per week. An intern was hired to drive the state when called upon by specialists for the purpose of producing, editing and posting podcasts as quickly as needed. Once a podcast is posted, an e-mail or text message is sent, through county offices, to producers who have signed up for the notification. Each podcast is formatted for high speed, dial-up, blackberry and iPhone. A Rhetoric and Writing masters candidate is using this project as her thesis case study. She conducted pre-surveys of county agents, specialists and producers, and intends to conduct post-surveys at the close of the soybean growing season. Communications partnered with FCS to produce a for-sale DVD, "Fit In 10", which has proved popular. The DVD was produced with Baby Boomers as the primary audience, with four sets of exercises for strength, flexibility and balance. The sales have provided FCS and Communiations additional revenue. '''University of Georgia ''' Walk Georgia, a free 8-week program sponsored by UGA Cooperative Extension, is entering its third fall session. It is designed to increase physical activity in a fun, interactive, community-oriented way. Participants can take part individually or as part of a four-person team. When logging physical activity, the participant takes a virtual “walk” through the 159 counties in Georgia, learning interesting facts and figures about each. The system also teaches new ways to improve health and allows the participants to see how their activities compare to other individuals and teams. Through three 8-week sessions (one offered each spring and fall) Walk Georgia has motivated over 14,000 people who logged more than 1.5 million miles of various types of physical activity. Gardening in Georgia, the 10-year run television show featuring retired UGA Extension agent Walter Reeves, will air its final episode on Georgia Public Broadcasting in October. Beginning in April 2010, a regional show, Your Southern Garden, will premiere in a partnership agreement with the University of Florida Extension. The show will air from Chattanooga, TN throughout Georgia into the edges of Alabama and South Carolina and across north Florida. Efforts to work with Auburn and Clemson are underway to help get the show aired throughout Alabama and South Carolina. We recently launched the new and improved Extension website. Suggestions received from a review team, surveys of various client groups and ongoing input from faculty and administration were utilized. Two OC staff members collaborated with the review team, which completed reviews of all 50 state extension websites. The new site is much more consumer focused and features a Spanish section and dynamic content that rotates. Check in out at www.ugaextension.com. Your comments are welcome and appreciated. Recruiting materials for the college have been redesigned during the past year to reflect a more up-to-date look. This design is being used in brochures, calendars, postcards, exhibits and PowerPoint presentations. The Academic Affairs Web site is being totally redesigned, incorporating interactive design and including sections for prospective and current students as well as parents. OC received funding from a USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant to hire student workers for web video production. The 2 year project began in July and will be used to create dynamic web based recruitment presentations for prospective students. Development and alumni materials are also being redesigned, including e-greetings to donors and friends, exclusive designs for special events, new exhibits and Web sites. The Georgia FACES Web site redesign is nearing completion. Services to media and other subscribers of the online news service will be updated. Broadcast news and public service announcements offered through Georgia Audio will be integrated into the news center. Launch date is estimated in the fall. '''North Carolina A&T State University''' Highlights of this year's work: * ACT has continued work on its signature publications, Solutions for North Carolina, highlighting impacts from the Cooperative Extension Program, and Re: search, a magazine showcasing work by the agricultural researchers. * ACT is in the process of redesiging its web pages and adding a content management system. * The director was part of the MiTT development team and worked to get A&T materials listed on the website. * Used Sharepoint as a common workspace for all projects. This process has improved the number of projects coming in on deadline and streamlined the approval and editing processes. * Completed a half-day training on crisis communications for senior level Dean's cabinet staff. * Worked with the Food Network production staff for a piece featured on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." * Created a number of video projects - mushroom production; Small Farmer of the Year, Faculty/Staff Institute welcome, Re: search and Solutions for North Carolina. '''University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff''' Fortunately, the SAFHS communications office did not suffer from budgetary cutbacks. No personnel were eliminated and the person who left voluntarily was replaced. So, the office was able to function as usual. We are beginning to take advantage of social media by using Facebook to deliver our message and reach social media users who may not have been getting our message the traditional way. But, in light of the demographics of our clientele, we cannot abandon traditional media methods. We began producing public service announcements to get the word out to Arkansans about programs and events hosted by SAFHS. We have provided information to help people survive in tough economic times through press releases, public service announcements and various publications. We have started taking more digital photos that can easily be used as Extension “stock” art in public service announcements, PowerPoint presentations, etc. We co-hosted the 1890 Media Relations Made Easy Conference in Little Rock last December. ''' '''THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE''' Much of the year was spent on planning for budget reductions/announcements of retirement incentives, elimination of positions. Marketing and Communications had to eliminate one clerical position, and will lose both student postions in 2012 when stimulus money runs out. Working to implement an account representative model for the Marketing and Communications Office. Marketed the first-ever Holiday Express at the UT Gardens, including sponsored advertising. Attendance of 9,300. '''Extension''' Focused on helping clientele manage through the economic crisis. A lobbying effort to change Tennessee's animal cruelty law would remove Extension agents from investigation responsibilities. Saw a marked increase in people seeking education on beginning gardening and canning. UT Extension will turn 100 in 2010. Marketing and Communications is heading up the celebration efforts. '''AgResearch''' Implemented a 50th anniversary marketing plan for the UT Tree Improvement Program and its efforts over the years of sustaining our forests. Opened a new biodiesel production unit, broke ground on a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery, opened an Organics research unit, entered into a partnership with AstroTurf to compare the safety and performance of synthetic turf compared to natural turfgrass. '''College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources''' Launched a new Web site for prospective students complete with tour of the campus and videos with faculty and students in each major. CASNR was the only UT college that experienced a growth in enrollment this academic year. '''College of Veterinary Medicine''' Class of 2009 scored above the national average pass rate on first attempt with 97% on the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Secured legislative approval for funding structure for $20 million in Large Animal Hospital capital improvements. Provided Dog Bite Prevention DVDs to every first grader in Knox County schools. [[SRPLN 2009 Comm State Report | Return to 2009 State Report]]