WASHINGTON, DC – In Illinois, rural and under-resourced schools often face barriers to offering dual credit courses and industry-recognized credentials due to shortages of qualified instructors, limited Career and Technical Education (CTE) infrastructure, and fragmented connections among educational institutions and workforce partners. University of Illinois Extension sought to overcome these challenges by building educator capacity and creating new opportunities.
The Extension Dual Credit & Credentialing Pathway was created through a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES); the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC); and Illinois Extension. Together, these partners worked to address longstanding barriers that limited access to dual credit courses and industry-recognized credentials for youth, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The collaboration combined ACES' academic expertise, ALEC's leadership in agricultural and workforce education, and Extension's statewide community network to design an innovative pathway that connects youth with college credit, industry certifications, and career exploration opportunities.
In recognition of her efforts in developing this new collaborative program, the national 2026 Excellence in Extension for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audience Award was recently awarded to Mynda Tracy, 4-H Youth Development educator serving Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion counties. Tracy worked alongside Anna Ball, acting director, College of ACES associate dean for academic programs, who managed the dual credit part of the program while Tracy focused on the industry credentials.
The Excellence in Extension for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audience Award distinguishes a group or individual for significant achievement in Extension outreach to underserved communities. The award is presented by the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. It is given annually and recognizes Extension individuals and teams demonstrating outstanding community leadership, innovative programming, and measurable impact.
“Extension professionals work hard every day to make a difference in the lives of people they work with. It is such an honor to celebrate excellence in this work and recognize Extension professionals as changemakers in their communities,” said 2026 Extension Committee on Organization and Policy Chair Lisa Townson. “We are pleased to recognize this year’s winners and humbled by their dedication to the land grant mission.”
Tracy played a key leadership role in driving the systemic change necessary to bring this partnership together, helping align institutional priorities, build cross-campus relationships, and establish a framework that enables youth to earn dual credit and industry-recognized certifications through local Extension programming. Through this partnership, the program demonstrates how the land-grant mission can be advanced when teaching, research, and outreach unite to create meaningful opportunities for future generations.
A hallmark innovation of this program is the dual-delivery model that combines school-based and community-based instruction. Credentialed teachers embed certifications into coursework, while trained Extension staff deliver programming directly to youth. This approach creates new access points for students in rural communities, schools without established CTE programs, and alternative education settings.
The program also introduces a land-grant university-led dual credit model through Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems. By integrating experiential learning, career exploration, community partnerships, and university-developed curriculum, the model connects students directly to higher education while maintaining Extension’s applied, community-centered approach.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.