- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commission on Public Service and Extension Minutes of Meeting on May 2, 1995 Blueridge Room, Hotel Roanoke Members Present: Ralph Badinelli, Bill Mashburn, Doug McAlister, Gregory Brown, Terry Swecker, Ted Settle Alternate: Nancy Looney for Deb Williams, J. David Barrett for Bill Allen Not represented: SGA, College of Business, Donna Dunay, Patricia Edwards, Thomas Hohenshil, David Johnson, James Jones, Connie Kratzer, Fred Krimgold, Fred Lamb, Patrick Liverpool, Bob Martin, Heather Pert, Brenda Olafsen 1. The meeting was convened and chaired by Ralph Badinelli. Terry Swecker requested that the agenda be amended by adding a discussion of the new University Task Force that is reviewing Extension. There being no other requests for alterations, the revised agenda was adopted. 2. The minutes for the meeting on April 11, 1995 were revised in response to a request for corrections by Ted Settle. As a quorum was not present, the Commission did not vote on approval of the minutes. 3. The floor was opened for continued discussion of the preliminary report of the Provost's Task Force on Outreach as well as discussion of the new Task Force that is reviewing Extension. Doug McAlister notifed the Commission of yet another study of Extension that is underway, this one organized by the Virginia Farm Bureau. This study is called the Virginia Farm Bureau Special Cooperative Extension Service Committee. This announcement led to some discussion of the motives behind both the University's review and the Farm Bureau's review. Greg Brown suggested that, in part, both studies are motivated by the the preliminary report of the Provost's Task Force on Outreach and the budget battles over VCE funding of recent years. On the second point, Greg indicated that there are philosophical differences across the Federal Government, State Legislature and Governor's Offices over the role of Extension. It seems that everyone concerned hopes that the reviews of Extension that are underway will better define a common vision for Extension that will obviate future budget battles. The formation of the two University Task Forces without any input from or monitoring by the Commission led to a discussion of the governance system and the role of the Commission. The Commission Chair offered as an example of administrative circumvention of the Commission the redirection of the Continuing Education effort under Harold Kurstedt. He also mentioned that concerns about the failures of the governance system to work effectively have been voiced in many quarters including the Faculty Senate. Nancy Looney affirmed that the Staff Senate has also discussed these issues. Doug McAlister mentioned that, historically, Task Forces and study groups were given a "home" in some Commission or Senate. He added that the structure of the governance system is not that bad, but that people do not use the system as it is supposed to be used. Terry Swecker wondered who in the governance system are the leaders who set vision and who in the governance system are the managers who move the organization towards that vision. He also questioned the qualifications of faculty who serve on commissions and committees to make managerial decisions. Greg Brown and Ralph Badinelli stated that the slow response time of the governance system is one major reason for the administration to by-pass it. On this point Bill Mashburn said that the governance system reacts to decisions made by others instead of taking initiating action. He suggested that the University could "leapfrog" any improvement in the governance system by looking for examples at other universities in order to completely redesign the system. The Commission Chair suggested that he write a letter to the Provost with copies to the President and to the President of the Faculty Senate that identifies three recent examples of administrative circumvention of the Commission. These are: - the formation and monitoring of the Provost's Task Force on Outreach - the formation and monitoring of the recently formed Task Force on Extension - the reorganization of the administration of some of the outreach activities with the appointment of Harold Kurstedt to Special Assistant to the Provost and the revision of some of the continuing education efforts that this appointment instigated. 4. As the Chair of the Selection Committee for the University Public Service Awards was not present at the meeting, no suggestions for improving the award program were brought up. The Commission Chair said that he would contact Pat Edwards in order to obtain feedback from the Committee in this regard. 5. Agenda items suggested for next year are: - The Commission should have something to say about the changes that may be in the offing for VCE. In particular, the possibility that CRD or human resource development programs may be on a "hit list". In general, the Commission should get status reports on VCE and be prepared to respond to any problem areas. - The Extension offices throughout the State should be set up to be the "front door to the University". This agenda item was discussed this year, however, the awards program and budget discussions cut short the Commission's work in this area. - Should there be such a thing as an "Industrial Extension Service" or and "Industrial Outreach Program"? It seems to Commission members that the potential is very high for such a program to be popular, but there are many questions about its funding, administration and program content. The meeting adjourned at 11:30.