Increasing costs and decreasing numbers of university Extension faculty have made it difficult to provide quality turfgrass short course education. In response, faculty from nine institutions collaborated to develop the Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science. This 12-week online course provides students with unique learning experiences through a…

Land-grant Extension institutions face increasing expectations to use data to communicate value and drive program and organizational development. In this article, we introduce the University of Wisconsin--Extension Data Jam Initiative, an integrated qualitative software, methods, and data analysis curriculum. The Data Jam Initiative is an…

In 2009, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's (UWEC) women's studies program offered its first iteration of the faculty-led international immersion course Women's Lives and Experiences in Nicaragua. This program was created and initially led by Dr. Rose-Marie Avin, a faculty member in the economics department and an affiliate member of both…

Founder's Syndrome can create barriers to change in Extension programs. As a result, Extension staff have experienced challenges in effecting organizational change where Founders are present. 4-H Youth Development staff in Wisconsin applied a variety of strategies to move forward with 4-H programming, despite the influence of the Founders. Staff…

Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

We explain in this article the need for board training in rural America irrespective of industry or government sector. We discuss how an assessment of training needs has led to the launch of a new project called the National Board Basics Curriculum (NBBC) project. In this project, we have identified four key core competencies that every board…

Describes the findings of the Great Lakes Resource Access Project (RAP), whose purpose is to develop community collaborations among Head Start grantees, family service community agencies, and local education agencies. Presents 10 guidelines for establishing community partnerships, developing interagency agreements, and overcoming barriers. (SD)

Describes the development and operation of a countywide purchasing cooperative composed of ten local government agencies in Washington County, Wisconsin. (JG)

This paper examines how Head Start and state pre-kindergarten programs can work together to better serve young children and their families. It focuses on two of the several models of early childhood education, acknowledging that these programs are just one piece of a fully integrated system of early care and education for children from birth until…

A Wisconsin advocacy model for gifted education programs is presented, emphasizing ongoing collaboration and dissemination to most effectively utilize meager resources. Essential elements of the dissemination design are identified, including use of regional sites, requiring participation of an administrator on the team, group problem solving, and…

Community-Based Educational Counseling for Adults (CBECA) is a program operated through the University of Wisconsin--Extension. CBECA explores educational options and adjustments for returning adult students, intending to help them overcome personal barriers to continued education and to assist them in making the what, how, when, and where of…

At the request of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Library Conference, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission created a Technical Advisory Committee on Library Planning to assist the Commission staff in preparing a prospectus for a long-range, area-wide public library facilities and services plan. The Technical Advisor…

Improvement of employment opportunities for Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education (VTAE) students and CETA clients in Wisconsin is a central goal for both organizations. This cooperative working relationship has been the impetus for new vocational programs in the Indianhead VTAE District. (Editor)

To serve educators and administrators interested in planning curriculum articulation in vocational education, this resource guide addresses problems and procedures basic to that effort. It offers applicability and generalizability across vocational programs, from pre-vocational through college levels; to "external" resources, such as…

Service integration attempts to provide coordinated service delivery systems for the uncoordinated mix of programs such as income support programs (food stamps, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and employment, child care, child welfare, and training programs that exist at the local level throughout the United States by…