Responses from 58 (of 60) mentors and 57 (of 60) proteges were analyzed to assess the success of the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service mentoring system. Success factors included early contact, commitment of necessary time to develop trust, and provision of training for mentors. (JOW)

Outlines several trends and directions anticipated for higher education and Extension in the 1990s. Extension must change if it is to keep pace with current trends, achieve national prominence, and regain preeminence in providing responsive educational programs. (Author/JOW)

Most of the 201 agricultural producers who attended 2-day targeted workshops learned marketing concepts and changed their attitudes about marketing. Refresher workshops were recommended to help them use the marketing techniques learned. (SK)

A survey of 483 midwest farmers who owned computers received 314 responses showing that those who preferred independent learning conditions and numeric content were more likely to master computer use on their own. (SK)

Describes a demonstration program in which information needed to respond to questions is based on secondary data that comes from databases of agencies such as the Census Bureau and Dun and Bradstreet. (JOW)

Area of expertise (AOE) teams are more permanent, self-directed, integrative, and empowered with resources than traditionally organized teams. Using the AOE team approach in Michigan Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station has improved capacity to deliver educational programs. (SK)

The Women's Financial Information Program uses speakers' workbooks and small group activities to foster money management skills. Pre/posttests with 576 participants found the practices adopted were predicted by age, workbook exercises completed, and perception of financial competence. (SK)

A survey of 140 adolescents attending a 4-H leadership camp found that younger adolescents were more likely to be youth entrepreneurs; youth entrepreneurs tended to rate their organization and time-management skills lower than nonentrepreneurs; youth entrepreneurs tended to rate their leadership skills lower than nonentrepreneurs; and youth…

A survey of 797 extension master volunteers in Ohio received 200 usable responses indicating that achievement was rated as the most important motive for beginning service as a master volunteer. As they continued to volunteer, affiliation became the most important motive. Intrinsic forms of recognition (e.g., receiving compliments) were rated most…

Family life practitioners are increasingly being called upon to help families meet work-life challenges. This article describes the grassroots beginnings, program development, and formative evaluation findings for 1 module of a Cooperative Extension work-life management program. Although the curriculum module is based on theory and research, it…

The government in England is proposing that every school should offer extended services to children, families and communities. However, in the absence of agreed models of how such community-oriented schooling should operate, its form will depend on how it is understood by the education professionals and their partners in other agencies who have to…

Multilevel programs--that is, programs with multiple levels of administration, funding, and implementation--present dynamic and challenging environments for the conduct and use of evaluation. The challenges include questions, priorities, audiences, and purposes that vary at each level. This chapter discusses the challenges as well as the…

Extension and evaluation share some similar challenges, including working with diverse stakeholders, parallel processes for focusing priorities, meeting common standards of excellence, and adapting to globalization, new technologies, and changing times. Evaluations of extension programs have helped clarify how change occurs, especially the…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from April 27 to May 8, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) SB 2003, the North Dakota University System (NDUS) budget bill, was approved by Governor Hoeven and the 2009 Legislative Assembly; (2) several major capital projects included in the State…

The full speech text states that Community Service and/or Continuing Education is and will continue to be the most rapidly growing area of education. Scholarship funding, free enrollment for the disadvantaged, and funding for part-time students equal to that of full-time students are suggested. (LH)