URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Extension began a bold, strategic planning process in the spring of 2023 in collaboration with Huron Consulting Group to establish priorities, goals, and a common vision for statewide engagement, service, partnership, and impact.

The initial phases of the planning process have focused on engaging internal and external stakeholders from across the state via surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions and conducting a landscape survey of statewide demographics and potential current and future trends across Illinois.

To share findings and continue to garner feedback from a wide breadth of constituents, Associate Dean and Illinois Extension Director Shelly Nickols-Richardson, along with College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean Germán Bollero, are inviting stakeholders to join a Zoom-based town hall event in December.

Meeting Details

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.

Zoom link: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/81504399364?pwd=WmpUS0JJekU2cDhMZXhaMSthZXhFQT09

Illinois Extension’s History of Service and Impact

Illinois Extension stands as a robust leader among the nationwide Cooperative Extension Service with a workforce of over 640 staff serving the state’s 102 counties through multi-county units that forge partnerships, respond to local needs, and develop programs to make the state and its residents more knowledgeable, aware, healthier, safer, and prosperous.

Extension’s mission is responsive to five major themes—community, economy, environment, food, and health—that are served through six program areas—4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.

STRATEGIC PLANNING INQUIRIES: Contact Bobbie Jo Lewis-Sibley, 217-300-9291

WRITER: Bridget Lee-Calfas, Director of Marketing and Communications, Illinois Extension