The 2023 nomination process for the National Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards has been announced by the Extension Committee on Organization & Policy (ECOP) and USDA-NIFA. Each state is eligible to submit one nomination in each category. UC ANR's internal submission deadline is April 10. Vice President Humiston will submit selected applications.

Internal submissions are sought for National Extension Awards. Templates are available to complete application submissions for each award category. Award purpose and evaluation criteria are provided. Word limits apply to each category. Links are provided to learn more about and see previous recipients. There are some truly exceptional programs in California. Our Public Values Statements and Condition Changes set us up for great success. Templates for nomination linked in each program category.

Please submit nominations by 5 p.m. on April 10.

National Extension Diversity Award: The purpose of this award is to acknowledge accomplishments of Cooperative Extension Professionals in achieving organizational changes that support diversity, pluralism and innovation in programs that impact our Extension audiences. The Award for Diversity is designed to focus national attention on innovative models and techniques that ensure that Extension programs equitably engage all learning audiences in an effective manner. 

Criteria: Purpose (what issue was addressed – describe efforts to achieve diversity/pluralism is Extension organizations, programs, and/or audiences) (15 points); basis (what did you do to address the issue? Are actions and activities in support of diversity appropriate and educationally sound) (25 points); positive impact (evidence that efforts have led to positive, sustainable programmatic and/or organizational change (30 points), scope (how broadly has or likely will this effort affect the Cooperative Extension system? (20 points), innovation (how did this effort create new models for positive change?) (10 points). Template available National Extension Diversity Award.

Individual Excellence in Extension Award: The Individual Excellence in Extension Awards are given to Extension professionals who strive in their careers through their local, state, regional, or national responsibilities to achieve the benchmarks reflective of excellence in Extension educational programming. These include, but are not limited to, demonstration of high impact of programs; visionary leadership and anticipation of emerging issues for clientele and the system; commitment to diversity; and integration of programs in partnership with university colleagues and outside clientele. Awardees should be recognized as a leader at the university, in the communities served, and in their respective field of expertise. They should demonstrate the ability to garner a continual flow of resources for sustainable Extension programs and use innovative teaching methods.

Criteria: Demonstrated high impact of program (50%), recognized excellence in one's field (10%), demonstrated impact regarding scholarship principles, partnerships, funding and educational program delivery (20%), ability to engage University colleagues in extension programming (10%) and demonstrated conveyance of cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diversity (10%). Nomination template available Individual Excellence in Extension Award.

National Team Excellence in Extension Award: The National Excellence in Extension Team Award recognized a team of three or more people, comprised of at least one state, county, or regional extension professional. Formed by two or more Land-grant Universities, the team works to advance Extension's research, technical assistance, and outreach education mission and demonstrate accomplishments and evidence of impact within the last three years. Excellence is measured by the weighted criteria. A team's approach, impacts and successes to collaboration, sharing, partnership, and mobilizing multi-institutional response across states, territories or multiple jurisdictions are all key determinates of excellence. 

Evaluation criteria: Justification of need (15%), description of activities in last three years (15%), documented high impact on audience at community or individual scale in the interest of the public good including program assessment (20%), shared team innovation regarding partnerships established, funding acquired and educational program delivery (20%), evidence that the collaboration is stronger than individual members (20%) and conveyance of cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diversity (10%). Template available Team Excellence in Extension Award.

Nominations will be accepted at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=40162 until 5 p.m. on April 10.

Deanne Meyer
Interim Associate Vice President, Programs and Strategic Initiatives