We Are Embedded
Gardeners often grow clematis with roses, because the two plants can be a successful combination. However, you have to provide adequate spacing for the plants and prune carefully. If you choose varieties that bloom at different times, you can sequence the flowering for a longer span of blooms in the garden. Then, not only can you enjoy the flowers of each plant, you can revel in the beauty of both. Because one is embedded in the other, the two plants work together, and they complement each other all summer and into the fall. In fact, clematis and roses can become so embedded together that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
During President Leath’s installation address in September, he noted that Extension and Outreach’s signature issues focus on the needs of our state, initiatives of the Governor, and priorities of Iowa State University. He pointed out our continuing efforts in agriculture, food and nutrition, environmental sustainability, community development, business assistance, and K-12 youth outreach. He also noted our work in support of the Governor’s STEM initiative and Healthiest State initiative. These are ways we build the capacity of the university.
At our annual conference, President Leath again expressed his confidence in our work and reminded us that Extension and Outreach plays a key part in the bigger picture that is Iowa State University. He said the faculty and staff of Extension and Outreach are the university’s front line when it comes to creating partnerships. He emphasized that the work of Extension and Outreach is central to the university and essential for Iowa State to become the university that best serves its state.
Extension and Outreach is not a separate organization; we are an integral part of Iowa State. However, our clients may not always recognize that Extension and Outreach and our programs such as 4-H, IPM, and CIRAS are all part of a larger portfolio of Iowa State University. They may view extension work as something that only their county does, or as a distinct organization only focused on one issue or audience. It’s our job to help them understand our connection to the university.
Extension and Outreach is embedded in Iowa State University. However, we must expand this embedding even further — so President Leath, the Board of Regents, the Iowa Legislature, and the people of Iowa cannot even imagine Extension and Outreach without Iowa State or Iowa State University without Extension and Outreach. By broadening and strengthening our embedded partnership, Iowa State can become the “partnership university” — the university that best serves its state. See you there.
– Cathann
Bill Lindstrum, long time AED and Assistant to Extension Provost, would often use this illustration to describe ISU Extension and Outreach. If you wore a blindfold and did not know what an elephant looked like, you would define the elephant by what you were touching. For instance, if you only touched the trunk, you would describe the elephant differently than if you were touching the tail, or the leg. So it is with Extension and Outreach, where people plug into the system is how they define Extension. It is a big, diverse origination. Not everyone will use all parts of the program, but will relate to the part they do use.