ADVISORY
SYSTEMS AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT
Gathering
stakeholder input through advisory systems is an important link
between WSU Extension programs and the citizens of Washington
State. Input from stakeholders is vital to the sustainability
of Extension. Such input serves to insure that educational and
developmental programs are relevant to the needs of the people
of the State. When appropriately gathered, advice from stakeholders
can help focus programs on important current issues, evaluate
the impact of programs, and provide future direction for continued
and new programs.
Soliciting
and using input from constituents is a long held tradition of
Extension. The Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 made the gathering of such input mandatory.
In keeping with the tradition of Land Grant System and in light
of the 1998 mandate, Washington State University Extension
requires all county Extension educators to develop annual plans
of action based on broad stakeholder input and to report the
action taken to collect and consider such input. USDA defines "stakeholders" as
any persons who use or conduct research, extension, or education
activities. However, to be most effective and relevant, an advisory
system must represent all constituents who can potentially benefit
from WSU Extension programs.
Stakeholder
input can be gathered through various methods. Regardless of
the method used, the opportunity to provide input is expected
to be fair, open, and broadly accessible. Fairness provides equal
access to the process by broadly representative number of constituents
and taxpayers from diverse backgrounds. Openness ensures that
the process will be in the open and on the public record. Accessibility
requires consideration of timing, method, and location of the
input gathering effort so that all stakeholders are able to participate
and do not feel uncomfortable doing so.
The
combination of these various stakeholder input gathering methods
constitutes Extension's advisory system. Acceptable forms of
stakeholder input include: formal committees, focus groups, surveys,
and use of key informants, with a combination of methods being
the most likely to ensure fairness, openness and accessibility.
Formal committees can provide effective two-way communication
between Extension programming and constituents. Added benefits
from the formal committee method may include active supporters
within the community who speak favorably about the educational
work done by Extension. When a broader perspective on programs
or community issues is desired focus groups and/or surveys can
be used effectively. The key informant approach seeks input and
advice from well informed and strategically located individuals
from diverse backgrounds. This method can be especially effective
for specific issues and/or rapid response. However, careful consideration
should be given to ensure that the key informants adequately
represent a wide range of constituents.
Regardless
of methods used to gather advisory input, it is expected that:
- Contributors
can be identified
- Contributors
know that they are providing input to Extension programs
- Plans
of action reflect advisory input
- Stakeholders
are informed about what was done with their input.
Within
Extension's Advisory System, each county will develop annually
a plan for gathering advisory input and will produce a year-end
report on how input was gathered and what was done with the information
gathered. County chairs are charged with the responsibility
to lead and report on the advisory system efforts of their county.
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