The Cooperative Extension Service was created in 1914 to further the basic philosophy of Land Grant Universities: to meet the needs of the people.

The Cooperative Extension Service is a publicly funded, lifelong educational system that links the education and research resources and activities of 74 land-grant institutions, 3,150 counties and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Extension includes 32,000 employees and 2.8 million volunteers. The complex system is authorized by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and companion legislation in each state and territory.

Our Mission

To bring knowledge to people in our communities to improve their lives.

Name Change

In 1993, we changed our name from Cooperative Extension Service to Michigan State University Extension. Other states still use the Cooperative Extension Service name.

Our Values
The Michigan State University Extension holds these values:

• Collaboration - We optimize resources and enhance program outcomes through partnerships in our community.
• Credibility - We build on staff competence, excellence, integrity, and objectivity.
• Democracy - We believe “that people, when given facts they understand, will act in their own self-interest but also in the interest of society.
• Diversity - We recognize that all people have dignity and worth. We draw strength from differences.
• Learner-centered, lifelong education - We engage and empower learners through the programs we offer.
• Scholarship - We discover, integrate, apply and disseminate knowledge.
• Self-reliance - We encourage learners to take responsibility for their decisions and actions.
• Teamwork - We address complex issues by working in teams of individuals, contributing our expertise and ideas to create new and different approaches.

Organization Structure

Staffing - MSUE staff is located at MSU and in MSUE offices in Michigan’s 83 counties. These 83 counties are divided into 6 administrative regions. Campus d staff include administrators, program support personnel and subject matter specialists. County d staff include regional directors, county and district Extension agents (agriculture, home economists, 4-H, community development, etc.), program assistants, nutrition instructors, etc. The County Extension Director (C.E.D.) is the administrative and program leader in each county MSUE Office. Regional directors support C.E.D.s and oversee: 1. personnel recruitment, management, and development; 2. budget; 3. program management in the six Extension regions.

Financing - Extension has three major funding sources: Federal, state and county governments. In 1996 budget support was provided as follows:

Federal: 21%
County: 25.37%
State: 53.4%

Other resources are received through contracts, grants, and private contributions.

PROGRAMS

Extension’s programs are the major educational efforts that are central to our mission and common to most Extension organizations. programs are the set of dynamic, results-oriented educational efforts that receive significant resources throughout Extension from national, state, and county partners. programs can be thought of as a foundation. Initiatives rise from one or more of the programs to receive special emphasis for an agreed-upon period of time. The programs are:

• Agriculture
• Community Resources and Economic Development
• Family Development and Resource Management
• 4-H and Youth Development
• Leadership and Volunteer Development
• Natural Resources and Environmental Management
• Nutrition, Diet, and Health