The last session at the Ag Experiment Station Directors meeting in Philly this week was intended to focus on integrating the teaching and research missions within individual faculty appointments. It was a panel discussion and two of the panelists, in particular, did not stick to talking just about teaching and research. One of those two spoke repeatedly about the need to enhance work ‘across the functions'. The panelists, all with extensive experience in administration and long careers behind them, spoke of this as a relatively new approach and the two panelists, referenced above, cited examples of Extension and research administrators working in silos. Despite the hour of the day and two days spent sitting in a chair I found the conversation fascinating – not because I find it a novel approach but because, at least to the event planning committee, there appeared to be a need for the topic and, sadly, I agree that it doesn't happen to the extent that it should.
About 2 months into my first faculty position (split research and Extension appointment) a mentor told me that a strong Extension program had at its foundation a strong research program. But as I went through my career I found the reverse to be true as well; my Extension program informed my research program as much as my research program informed my Extension program. Yet I have read promotion document after promotion document from candidates all across the US where the portfolio was divided into ‘Research' and ‘Extension' sections in a deliberate effort to isolate the two. And as I moved into administrative roles, I've had a firsthand look at how often the administrators of the Extension and research programs fail to work together and sometimes even compete for resources. Citizens see a single university and have no need to recognize that there are departments and units and that any given person within the system is not responsible for all things that go on at the university – that alone is sufficient reason to work collaboratively. And for the individual academic, there is great benefit to an integrated program.
The integration of research and Extension that is inherent in UC ANR was one of the things that drew me to my current position. I had looked at Extension Director positions and I had looked at Ag Experiment Station Director positions. But each time I had to wonder if I could really walk away, entirely, from the other. It would be difficult enough to leave behind my personal program much less a mission altogether. If you haven't spent time in other programs you may not realize how lucky we are in UC ANR to have research and Extension integrated into field-based academic positions. While nothing is perfect the UC approach is ahead of the curve.
A goal across UC ANR is to have an integrated research and Extension program that is as strong as possible. This goal became part of the conversation when considering how to proceed with developing leadership positions to fill the two vacancies that will exist at the end of this week. We could refill the positions as described previously or we could look at where we want to be, what goals we have in front of us and structure positions in a way to support the goals. That's not to say that it is a perfect situation but it is unnecessary to assume that the positions can't be changed down the road. Change is, after all, part of growth and improvement. As a result of the discussions about goals and needs, a position will be posted, soon, for a Vice Provost with oversight for county-based Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and the Research and Extension Centers (RECs), highlighting that UC ANR values the seamless integration of research and Extension. While a heavy workload and, perhaps daunting, responsibility, the position to me is one of great opportunity without having to choose between the two missions. I am optimistic that we will attract a strong pool of applicants who have a solid track record of working ‘across the functions'. Surely I am not alone in my sense that we should be well beyond thinking that such integration is a novel idea.