{"id":17847,"date":"2023-07-02T20:50:09","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T00:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/?page_id=17847"},"modified":"2024-09-03T16:12:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T20:12:41","slug":"needs-assessment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/needs-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Statewide Community Needs Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<h3><a id=\"reports\"><\/a><strong>Summary Reports<\/strong><br \/>\nAugust 7, 2024<\/h3>\n<p>After a comprehensive needs assessment process that included data gathering, analysis and feedback, our partners at the PIE Center created three reports to capture key findings and recommendations for Extension. As you read the reports, you will notice that we have already begun to enact changes based on this data collection.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EQ3euKkIHptGnnnU9vX7W7ABM2h5vPUSC5It-Iskz1d5bQ?e=zHmCcK\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-19421 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/08\/Needs-Assessment-Programming-01-e1722963154539.png\" alt=\"University of Maine Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment Programming Needs\" width=\"150\" height=\"194\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EQ3euKkIHptGnnnU9vX7W7ABM2h5vPUSC5It-Iskz1d5bQ?e=zHmCcK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Educational programming needs<\/strong><\/a> seen as the most achievable and come directly from the data collected are to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on audience-segmented communication and programming,<\/li>\n<li>Develop future research to understand the needs of underrepresented groups and<\/li>\n<li>Regularly evaluate the perceptions and needs of stakeholders.\n<ul>\n<li>Additionally, it is recommended that regular program evaluation and processes be established that are unified across the system.<\/li>\n<li>A case study approach for implementing this process is recommended to evaluate the ease, impact, and future processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EUOJrgrxPRdAqr14QPQuQw0BtUBrAfjOXx13OBYMqss3Pw?e=nJRwrq\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-19422 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/08\/Needs-Assessment-Organizational-01-e1722963136802.png\" alt=\"University of Maine Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment Organizational Needs\" width=\"150\" height=\"194\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EUOJrgrxPRdAqr14QPQuQw0BtUBrAfjOXx13OBYMqss3Pw?e=nJRwrq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Organizational needs<\/strong><\/a> identified in the data are great and should be reviewed every 8-10 years for progress and new identification of issues. Highlights for addressing in the immediate future are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Priorities should be set based on community, staff, and general Mainer feedback in this data collection process and other internal feedback.<\/li>\n<li>A culture of reflection should be encouraged for regular immediate and short-term feedback loops to address continued organizational needs.<\/li>\n<li>New processes implemented in organizational management should be monitored and evaluated for effectiveness in the immediate, short, and long-term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EfwHbzZKCcNHherMbWXcrOUBO_JHi_EKgH7ihwWMHi0D_A?e=qjbGwX\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-19423 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/08\/Needs-Assessment-Marketing-Profiles-1-e1722963096398.png\" alt=\"University of Maine Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment Marketing Profiles Explained\" width=\"150\" height=\"194\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/umainesystem.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/UM-OnlineDocs\/EfwHbzZKCcNHherMbWXcrOUBO_JHi_EKgH7ihwWMHi0D_A?e=qjbGwX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Marketing of UMaine Extension<\/strong><\/a> was something discussed as a need across all audience groups. Data-driven highlights and examples of how the data can be used to increase marketing are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marketing programs through value-based targeted marketing.<\/li>\n<li>Building audience relationships across programming areas.<\/li>\n<li>Increased measurement of the return on investment of marketing efforts to determine the best use of marketing efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><a id=\"why\"><\/a><strong>Why are we doing this?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A recommendation from the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/umaine-extension-roadmap-committees\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">University of Maine Cooperative Extension&#8217;s Roadmap Committees<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/umaine-extension-roadmap-committees\/programming-for-the-future\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Programming for the Future Committee<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The mission of Extension is to help Maine people improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge focused on issues and needs. <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The last statewide needs assessment was conducted over 20 years ago.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a id=\"goals\"><\/a><strong>What are the goals?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understand public awareness of UMaine Extension as a brand and a trusted source of information.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Provide UMaine Extension programming and resources that are based on community needs, including but not limited to, historically and currently underserved people.<\/li>\n<li>Respond to critical issues facing Maine\u2019s population.<\/li>\n<li>Support rural, suburban, and urban communities.<\/li>\n<li>Build upon UMaine Extension\u2019s successes and decide areas of focus for the future.<\/li>\n<li>Remain grounded in the organization\u2019s principles and values, central to the land-grant mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a id=\"partner\"><\/a><strong>Partner: PIE Center at UF\/IFAS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After a comprehensive vetting process, a research team from the University of Florida (UF) Center for Public Issues Education was chosen to perform the statewide needs assessment. Associate Dean Bolton performed extensive interviews with administrators, faculty, researchers, and consultants from across the country to determine the most appropriate process for a statewide needs assessment. Although many universities utilize internal resources to perform their assessments, there was a clear preference among them to use an external group to help eliminate bias. Over the course of several months, the PIE Center collected data to understand the needs of Maine\u2019s people and organizations.<\/p>\n<h3><a id=\"timeline\"><\/a><strong>Needs Assessment Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Multiple modes of participation in the data collection process were made available to make sure employees, Extension users and partners, and non-users of Extension programs were included in the process. Options included in-person meetings, focus groups, virtual interviews, and an online survey.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Step 1: Focus groups, visits, and meetings with collaborators and partners across the state<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 2a: Collected data online from a wide variety of interested parties<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 2b: One-on-one Zoom interviews with interested people\/groups<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 3: Surveyed Extension, non-Extension and future Extension users<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 4: Surveyed UMaine learners using Q-Sort, Zoom live and Q-Sort online software<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 5: Data analysis and summary of findings<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Step 6: Announce and release the Final Report on UMaine Extension website<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>\u2013\u2013<\/p>\n<p>For additional questions or information, please contact:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jason Bolton, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nAssociate Dean of UMaine Cooperative Extension<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:jason.bolton@maine.edu\">jason.bolton@maine.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>University of Maine Land Acknowledgement<\/h4>\n<p>The University of Maine recognizes that it is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation, where issues of water and territorial rights, and encroachment upon sacred sites, are ongoing. Penobscot homeland is connected to the other Wabanaki Tribal Nations \u2014 the Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Mi\u2019kmaq \u2014 through kinship, alliances and diplomacy. The university also recognizes that the Penobscot Nation and the other Wabanaki Tribal Nations are distinct, sovereign, legal and political entities with their own powers of self-governance and self-determination.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary Reports August 7, 2024 After a comprehensive needs assessment process that included data gathering, analysis and feedback, our partners at the PIE Center created three reports to capture key findings and recommendations for Extension. As you read the reports, you will notice that we have already begun to enact changes based on this data [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/page-withsidebar.php","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17847","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"mthomas","author_link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/author\/mthomas\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/206"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17847"}],"version-history":[{"count":100,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19472,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17847\/revisions\/19472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}