Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 8, 2024 – 5pm Pacific Time
Eligibility:
Extension professional or team with Extension responsibility or appointment. (Administrators are not eligible).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award – Individual or Team. Prize – $500.00 (Individual or team. Team to determine distribution of the $500.00)
Criteria:
The WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Extension award was created to recognize Extension professionals in the Western Region who have demonstrated excellence in reaching diverse audiences, especially minority and/or traditionally underrepresented populations. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award may be given annually to recognize up to a total of two programs which represent the work of an individual or multidisciplinary team within a single or multistate/territory setting. If warranted, at least one of the two awards will be given to a multistate/territory program. An Honorable Mention award(s) may be granted, if deemed warranted by the review committee.
The nominee must demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
- Developing culturally-relevant Extension programs for minority and/or traditionally underrepresented audiences, with demonstrated outcomes and impacts.
- Teaching and implementing Extension programs or activities that demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for minority and/or traditionally underrepresented audiences.
- Engagement (service, programs, process) that advances Extension’s efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The five following elements are considered in the review process:
- Purpose: What was the issue addressed by the subject of this nomination/application? How did you determine that this issue was important to address? The nomination clearly describes efforts to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion in Extension programs, audiences, and outcomes through an engaged process. Co-creation of program with audiences is basic to inclusion. (Maximum 15 points)
- Basis: What did you do to address the issue? Why is this worthy of recognition? Are actions and activities in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion appropriate and educationally sound? (Maximum 25 points)
- Positive Impact: Provide measurable evidence that your efforts have led to positive, sustainable change, which may include a significant increase in program participation of the target population, a significant increase in members of the target population being professionally employed and supported by Extension, and/or making systemic organizational changes that have resulted in reaching an increase in the target population. Nominations should include at least one supporting statement on the impact, which can be from clientele, colleagues and/or supervisors.
(Maximum 30 points)
- Scope: How broadly did or likely will this effort affect the Cooperative Extension system? Evidence exists that the scope of impact is broad with observable state, multi-state and/or national impact. (Maximum 20 points)
- Innovation: How did this effort create new models for positive change? The effort is innovative in its application, methods, or approach in such a way that has led to new ways/models for positive change in achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion in Extension programs or the organization. (Maximum 10 points)
- Total Possible Points -100
Applications:
WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Extension Award applications should be submitted only for programs as defined above. Applications may be submitted only by Extension Directors from states/territories that are members in good standing of the Western Extension Directors Association. Previous WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Extension Award winning programs cannot be resubmitted. Programs nominated for WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, but not selected, can be resubmitted for future consideration, including those recognized as Honorable Mention. Applications must address Criteria 1-5 in three pages or less in length using font size 11 or larger in a Word document. Applications should be written so that a reader totally unfamiliar with the program will have a reasonably good understanding of the program and its impacts. Anyone may recommend potential awardees by completing and submitting an application package to their Extension Director. Self-nominations are appropriate. Applications will be managed, reviewed, rated and recommended for the WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Extension Award by the Western Extension Program and Organizational Leadership Committee (WPOLC). See Application Format below.
Award Presentation:
The WEDA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Extension Award will be presented to the recipient(s) at the Western Joint Summer Meeting in June 2022, which includes the Western Extension Directors, Experiment Station Directors, Agriculture Deans, Academic Program Leaders, and Council on Agriculture Research, Extension and Teaching. The award recipient(s) will have an opportunity to give a brief seminar during the award presentation. Recipient(s) will provide webinar presentation to Western Region at some point during year, coordinated by WPOLC. Winners will be asked to provide a photo and abstract of their presentation for inclusion in the Awards brochure.
SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND DUE DATE: Each application must include, as presented above: cover page, information addressing criteria 1-5, references used, and must be submitted by the state/territory Extension Director. Only electronic submissions of the application will be accepted. The due date for all submissions is 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), Friday, March 8, 2024. Send the electronic application to Dr. Ed Martin’s assistant Kelly Montez at kellymontez@arizona.edu with WEDA Award Application in the subject line. Phone: 520-621-7145
A confirmed received reply from Kelly will be sent back to you within 48 hours of receipt.
APPLICATION FORMAT
2024
Western Extension Directors Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Please use the following format in preparing your application:
- Cover Page
- Criteria (see descriptions above; no more than 3 pages)
- Purpose
- Basis
- Positive Impact
- Scope
- Innovation
COVER PAGE FORMAT
2024
Western Extension Directors Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Name of Program
Name of Institution Submitting the Application (indicate if program is Multistate)
Name of Applicant
Title of Applicant
Complete Mailing Address
Telephone Number; Fax Number
E-mail address
Extension Director Signature indicating approval
Abstract (no more than 150 words):
Name of Team Members, Titles and Locations