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University
Extension
Office of the Director
4040 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-4040
(970) 491-6281
FAX: (970) 491-6208
www.ext.colostate.edu
May 4, 2009
Dear County Commissioner,
It has been a productive year for CSU Extension. We have reached 833,000 Colorado residents; 82,090 youth
participated in 4-H programs; and 11,072 volunteers donated their time to our communities.
Nevertheless, as you well know, higher education has suffered from cuts in our state funding. In March, we
were asked to rescind 2.78% of state funds, resulting in the loss of three positions. At present, we anticipate
another permanent cut of 2%, resulting in a total loss of five positions. All vacant state -funded positions have
been frozen since October 2008.
As an organization, we are discussing how to best serve the people of Colorado. Our goals are: (1) deliver broad
based programs to reach all Coloradoans; (2) maximize sharing expertise of our talented agents and specialists
across county lines; (3) deliver a strong 4-H program in every county; and, (4) develop a program that will allow
us to adapt to diminishing budgets from state and county sources.
I am writing to ask for your participation in structuring our organization to meet these goals. Many counties are
already structured into "areas" to share expertise across counties. Are there other ways we can provide
expertise? What are your successes? What barriers do we face?
I assure you that that no detailed re -structuring plan is in place. We have strong support from Interim President
Frank and the CSU Board of Governors to determine and implement a structure that will meet the four goals
above.
Our outline to date follows:
• Keep existing areas intact (Southeast, Tri-river, San Luis Valley and Golden Plains).
• Identify other groups of counties that are currently working effectively together.
• Identify expertise areas existing now and anticipated in the future.
• Review current MOUs.
• Look at funding structure to ensure equity among counties and content areas.
• Assume current number of Extension positions, subtracting five.
• Analyze current positions for effectiveness. What, if any, changes are necessary?
• Once CSU Extension budget is finalized in June, determine what positions to fill.
• Implementation will begin in August 2009 and continue throughout the fiscal year.
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Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating.
Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
County Commissioners
Page 2
The support of all Colorado counties is essential to CSU Extension. I encourage you to meet with your local
Extension personnel, with your Extension regional director, or with me. We have also constructed a blog,
online at www.ext.colostate.edu/blog/Regionalization.php, should you wish to join the discussion there.
Together we can build a stronger, more responsive, and more effective CSU Extension.
Sincerely,
Deborah J. Young
Associate Provost and Director, CSU Extension Northern Regional Director, CSU Extension
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