The Vision of the WVU Extension Service
The Mission of the WVU Extension Service
Where Is WVU-ES?
How Does Extension Work?
How About Some Examples?
How Are Programs Financed?
How Does WVU-ES Benefit College Students?
The Vision of the WVU Extension Service
WVU Extension Service meets the changing lifelong learning needs of people, organizations, and communities by putting knowledge to work.
The Mission of the WVU Extension Service
WVU Extension Service educators and volunteers build and help sustain collaborations and partnerships with people and organizations in West Virginia, to improve their lives and communities.
Our programs and services strengthen leaders of all ages, youth, and families. We develop and teach best practices for sustainable agriculture, for responsible use of renewable resources, and stewardship of natural resources. We work to improve our state’s communities, workforce, and the economy.
Where Is WVU-ES?
Through its Extension Service, WVU provides a "mini campus" in each of the state's 55 counties. The work at these
locations
addresses a wide variety of community issues via a nontraditional
mix of learners, faculty, staff and volunteers.
Part of an educational network of 105 land-grant universities,
WVU-ES takes the helping hand of West Virginia University directly to thousands of West Virginians in communities
scattered across the state. Extension's central administrative office is on WVU's
downtown campus in Morgantown.
How Does Extension Work?
Drawing on the strengths of WVU's many academic disciplines,
extension educators target communities' social, economic,
environmental and technical problems.
Some extension educators work out of buildings on WVU's
traditional campuses, such as those located in Morgantown.
But many extension personnel work out of offices in WVU
Extension's county settings, such as those generally located in or
near each county's governmental seat.
Working daily with local residents, extension personnel find
their lives often intertwine with the issues that confront their
local communities. They are committed to helping people find
answers that work. As they solve problems along with local
citizens--individually and in groups--Extension personnel and staff
translate WVU's research and knowledge into action.
How About Some Examples?
If you live in West Virginia, you probably have seen the
helping hand of the West Virginia University Extension Service at work
. . .
. . . as it helps volunteer firefighters learn to protect families and property.
(For example, in one year over 14,000 volunteers participated in Fire Service
Extension's fire suppression and rescue education programs throughout West Virginia.)
. . . as it helps children learn skills that help them build character and plan
careers. (Annually, more than 44,000 youths "learn by doing" through 4-H projects
and programs; another 20,000 special youth populations participate in school retention
and enhancement programs.)
. . . as it helps individuals learn new ways to produce
income. (For example, 900 individuals recently were trained to
provide quality child care. Many other West Virginians learned
direct marketing and other entrepreneurial skills. Some are
participating in alternative product development projects. The
multi-county endeavors include the aquaculture freshwater trout
ventures, the pepper production and marketing program, and the
commercial ginseng production pilot project.)
. . . as it trains volunteers to serve West Virginia's communities and schools.
(During one program year, approximately 7,000 adult and youth volunteers were
trained to help young people. Others were trained to serve on local boards and
committees. Still others were trained to deliver expertise in specific subject
matter, including gardening, literacy, and health and safety issues.)
. . . as it helps farmers improve productivity. (Through
integrated pest management, farmers are increasing their savings by
learning to control crop pests with fewer pesticides. Through
total resource management, soil testing and other extension
programs, farmers are employing better production and management
practices for livestock and produce.)
. . . as it helps landowners learn to use natural resources
more wisely. (West Virginia's natural resources are being
protected as landowners use WVU Extension's water quality and
timber conservation strategies and as homeowners adopt composting,
yard waste management and recycling techniques.)
. . . as it helps families become more resilient and healthy.
(For example, during one program year, 929 rural families and more
than 8,000 homemakers learned nutrition, food management and food
preparation skills. Families in all 55 counties are participating
in WVU Extension skill-building programs that are helping them
employ positive child care, family communication and health care
strategies.)
. . . as it helps managers and laborers improve relations and
workplace safety. (Every year, laborers throughout the state learn
their rights and responsibilities for positive negotiations through
courses conducted by the Institute for Labor Studies and Research.
West Virginia's industries are increasing workers' safety while
saving health care and business dollars by consulting with Safety
and Health Extension (SHE). SHE's services include on-site safety
audits and employee training in Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) guidelines.)
. . . as it helps local governments learn strategies to tackle
economic and community development issues. (From throughout West
Virginia, solid waste authority representatives turn to WVU
Extension for training on the latest developments in technology,
regulation and program implementation. Similarly, WVU Extension is
helping communities plot their development for the next decade. Ten
communities, for example, already have developed tourism
plans.)
For additional information, review the most recent summary of our program
accomplishment reports.
How Are Programs Financed?
WVU Extension programs are financed via a variety of funding
combinations: federal appropriations and grants; state
appropriations and grants; county commission, county school board
and other local governmental appropriations; and users fees and private
grants.
How Does WVU-ES Benefit College
Students?
When graduate and undergraduate students take part in this
action, they find the WVU Extension Service to be a fertile,
flexible provider of a variety of internship, work-study and
volunteer experiences. Extension educators may involve students in
some or in all phases of their educational projects--research,
design, delivery and evaluation.
Depending on the project, students may have hands-on
experience with video production, computer networks, distance
education, publication design and production, radio and television
production, curriculum design and development, and classroom
teaching.
However, students may not be familiar with the diversity of
experiences available to them through the WVU Extension Service.
Students may not equate the name "WVU Extension Service" with
educational programs on and off campus. Often, those who do
recognize the name generally are familiar only with a segment of
Extension's multifaceted programs.
Extension programs have roots in many career fields. The list
includes agriculture, business administration, child development,
computer science, communications, environmental science,
engineering, counseling and guidance, curriculum design, health
education, home economics, journalism and safety. Regardless
of their academic disciplines, today's students may find rich
learning experiences--and even rewarding careers--among extension's
diverse educational programs. Whether on campus or off campus, WVU
students are invited to work with the WVU Extension
Service.
Depending upon program priorities and funding, graduate and undergraduate internships,
work-study appointments, and volunteer service positions may be available on the
Morgantown campus and in any of the 55 counties. Program priorities and funding
also determine the duration of appointments during regular semester and summer
sessions.
