Vice Chancellor's Page

Vice Chancellor’s Page

Welcome to the New Web Site

Welcome to the new web site for the Office of Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development.  Our mantra is “Engaged for Results” and we want the web site to be useful as people use this site for the educational, extension, and engagement activities of NC State University.  We expect that the knowledge- and research-based outreach activities of the faculty and professionals of NC State University will result in economic development, improved quality of life, and a better environment for everyone in the state, nationally, and globally.

The Concept of “Engagement”

Most people know what we mean by “extension” as it applies to the traditional Cooperative Extension agricultural and 4-H youth programs, and distance and life-long learning educational programs; and most understand the economic development impact we would like to have; but not everyone is aware of the meaning of the concept of “engagement.” 

This concept of “engagement” means that both the university and its partners are actively interacting and each contributes to the identification of problems and their solutions.  It involves shared decision-making, careful listening on the part of the university, and a mutual commitment to solving community and organizational problems.  This concept of engagement connects the teaching and learning of students, and research of faculty members to the community in ways that previously might never have been envisioned by either partner. 

NC State University is leading the nation in implementing this concept of engagement throughout the colleges and all of its programs.  This is what attracted me to NC State.

Statewide Extension Programs

Building on the traditional strengths and extraordinary accomplishments of Cooperative Extension, NC State University 50 years ago invented and created the Industrial Extension Service and provides research and technical assistance to the manufacturing firms of this state.  Three years ago, the Economic Development Partnership was established to link university programs for economic growth in the Triangle, and, recently, President Erskine Bowles transferred the Small Business and Technology Development Center from his office to NC State University and to this Office. The SBTDC’s mission is to provide education, technical assistance, and support for small businesses throughout the state. 

Another element showing the breadth of engagement is the distance education programs and continuing education for lifelong learning provided through the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education at NC State University.  Finally, leadership development of young people and professionals in all fields, from business and industry to local and state agencies to non-profits and communities, is a core to the General H. Hugh Shelton Initiative for Leadership Development. 

Most importantly, NC State has created a culture of engagement in all the colleges. This commitment to being “an engaged university” also has been incorporated into the promotion and tenure policies here at NC State University, which is at the heart of the faculty reward system and accountability within the University. 

100 Days and Counting

In the first 100 days that I have been at NC State University, I have met with many of the organizations within and external to the University that are partnering for the benefit of the people of the state.  From the web site you will see not only the programs that are directly associated with the Office, but the web links throughout the University that are the embodiment of an engaged institution.  We are engaged with the people of the state and organizations, both public and private, and committed to improving the economic and social wellbeing of the State.  This engagement takes place in every college and program of the University.  It is at the core of the mission statement in the strategic plan of the University.  Here is the web site for the strategic plan that we are currently working on: http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/strategicplan/index.htm

In these brief three months I have visited 27 counties and counting toward 100.  I have been in counties for meetings with Cooperative Extension - the faculty and staff, attended research and extension forums, participated in part of the Connecting in North Carolina tour for new faculty and staff, and took a little personal vacation time from Manteo to Asheville.  I’ve been delighted and pleased with the very welcoming attitude that I have experienced from everyone.  When I moved into my condo in Raleigh, my neighbors immediately informed me that they were fourth-generation WolfPack graduates and everyone knows that I work at NC State University. 

Aligning the Resources

My goal is to represent the extension and engagement programs throughout the University both internally and externally.  My approach is to communicate widely and well the importance of this core mission of the University, how it builds on and complements the research and instructional functions of the University and carries the message and the research results statewide.  My vision is to align the resources of this great university, and especially the NC State resources that already exist in communities, to work in a coordinated effort on important crosscutting themes.  Top priority is economic development.  To be successful at economic development, however, we need to provide extension programs that support youth and family development - the human capital of our communities.  We also need to help organizations develop their local capital and expertise to accomplish their goals, and we need to support communities through leadership training as they set priorities and identify areas where the community and university can partner.

NC State’s Statewide Presence

NC State University has representation in all 100 counties and on the Cherokee Reservation through the offices of Cooperative Extension.  Additionally, we have representation through the North Carolina regional offices of the Industrial Extension Service.  These thirteen offices are occasionally co-located with the Cooperative Extension, or with other universities in the UNC system, or with the Small Business and Technology Development Center offices.  We are also pleased that President Erskine Bowles decided that NC State University should be the home for the Small Business and Technology Development Center and its seventeen sites also located at universities, and partnering with many organizations as they provide counseling and educational services, create opportunities for new businesses to grow and expand in both urban and rural areas of the State. (We will soon have state maps to link to all these sites.)

I have also learned about the extensive partnerships established as a result of programmatic outreach, such as the Science House, the College of Education, the Textile Extension and Applied Research program, Japan Center, and many others.  It is this presence throughout the state that gives us a unique foundation on which to build and model the way of a premier engaged university.  Our existing partnerships, both traditional and new, underpin the programs that we deliver in response to the priorities of our constituents. 

Compact Planning

As the University and all of its units begin their compact plans for 2007-2010, I will write regularly to keep everyone informed about the strategic planning and compact plans associated with extension and engagement. 

We will be announcing the Extension Seed Grant Program and other initiatives that we will be taking to increase the success of faculty at external grants and contracts.  I was very pleased to see that extension grants and contracts brought in about $25M dollars in 2005.  Just as in research, we can grow and expand extension programs with external support.

I hope you enjoy the new web site, and look forward to feedback and responses as we move the extension and engagement and economic development programs of NC State University forward.

Thanks to the Web Site Team

I want to especially thank Jim Clark, Susan Bennett, and Karen Turner in this office who worked very closely with the committee to redesign the web page and also to thank the committee members:

Carolyn Argentati, Assistant Vice Provost & Deputy Director, Libraries

Luis Chacon,Web Applications Programmer, Information Technology Division (ITD)

Rob Gierka, Head of Publications, Information Technology Division (ITD)

KeAnne Hoeg, Web Service Coordinator, Industrial Extension Service

Mark McLawhorn, Interface Designer, Information Technology Division (ITD)

Ted Morris, Director, Economic Development Partnership

Randy Schiener, Multi-Media Designer, McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education

John Starbuck, Marketing Services Coordinator, McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education

Look for continuous updates on the activities of extension and engagement programs on this web page. 

Jim Zuiches

Vice Chancellor