This session prepares board members to conduct the annual Extension Agent Performance Review. This module should be presented at the February or March meeting by the local unit director, agents and/or a board chair with experience in the performance review process.

Sample Performance Review Documents:

• • Board Member Survey for Extension Agents
  • Board Member Survey for Local Unit Director – Administrative
  • Board Member Survey for Local Unit Director – Supervisory
  • Extension Agent Self-Evaluation

This training must be completed by all new board members and must be repeated by the entire extension board before April 1st each year.

• Discussion Guide

The first meeting of the local extension council executive board is referred to as the "Joint Board Meeting." The outgoing board has its final meeting combined with the new board's first meeting of the year. This module is intended to assist the county director and the board in a review of responsibilities important to the board.

• Presenter’s Guide
• PowerPoint Presentation

Board members will have a clear understanding of issues to consider when districting, expectations for forming a district, and the basic administrative process behind districting.

Visit the Extension District page

In today’s workplace and in our communities, finding four generations, or possibly even five generations working side by side is not unusual. In this module, we’ll look at the traits, beliefs and life experiences that mark each generation and the challenges it presents for today’s employers and in our communities. We’ll also look at some strategies to overcome these differences.

• Discussion Guide: Generational Differences in the Workplace and Community
• The Generations, Welcome A-Board: Board Leadership Basics

It is important for Extension board members to understand the provisions of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. This module will discuss the KOMA as well as the proper use of executive sessions.

• Kansas Open Meeting Act – Guidelines for Extension Boards

This module provides board members an introduction to the New Agent Professional Development system. It is especially helpful if reviewed before a new agent arrives to work for their first day.

• New Agent Onboarding Checklist
• New Agent Expectations Guide

This orientation is to be presented to new board members after their election, but before they take office. Board members can complete the module individually, or they can be lead through the module by the local unit director, other agents or current board members. In either situation, the local unit will want to supplement this module with information specific to the local unit such as the budget, staffing plan, position descriptions and agent action plans. If this module is to be completed as a group, the orientation may be to be scheduled outside the regular board meeting to allow sufficient time for completion.

• Extension Board Member Position Description
• New Board Member Orientation online learning module

Continuous professional development throughout your career as an extension professional is essential to acquire new skills, expand your knowledge base, and adapt to changing situations. Continuous learning not only enhances personal growth but also contributes to increased effectiveness in helping individuals, families, businesses, and communities address critical issues.

Strong local programs are the result of a partnership between PDC members who help to identify needs, the extension agents who deliver the programs and K-State Research and Extension who provides educational research. This module provides an overview of the program development process and would be appropriate to share with board and PDC members.

• KSRE Programming Chart

The Cooperative Extension Service is a national network that links university research to people's needs through practical education. One way this happens is through Program Development Committees (PDCs), which help identify educational resources to address local needs. This module will guide PDC members in their responsibilities.

• Guidelines for Expansion
• Working with Elected Officials
• Serving as a Member of a Program Development Committee
• PDC Excellence Assessment

By reviewing this module, board and program development committee members will examine their local demographics and identify audiences not being reached by the local extension program.

• Presenter’s Guide
• Local Unit Statistics Worksheet
• U.S. Census Bureau State and County Quickfacts

This module provides information to help K-State Research and Extension local board members fulfill their responsibilities to recruit new members.

• Presenter’s Guide
• Recruitment Worksheet
• Recruitment Script
• Nominee Information Form
• PDC Member Position Description
• Extension Board Member Position Description

K-State Research and Extension provides thousands of education and outreach programs to Kansans each year. Individuals participating in these programs have high expectation for program content, along with a fundamental trust that the programming will be conducted in the safest manner possible. This module is designed to raise awareness of such risks inherent in some programming and to identify some steps to reduce risk of accidents or injury.

• Risk Management Learning Module
• Risk Management Planning Guide
• Checklist of Insurance for Local Extension Units
• Discussion Guide
• Crisis Management Planning