Reporting
Your reporting matters
The information provided through Illinois Extension's reporting systems helps document the statewide scope of all the ways Illinois Extension fulfills its mission. It provides the basis for reports and other communications to funders, local councils, and local stakeholders, and documents progress towards strategic goals. See below for quick links and resources to make reporting as accurate and easy as possible. This set of resources includes guidance on statewide reporting procedures and requirements. Consult your local office for any additional local reporting guidance.
Quick links for PEARS reporting
Request a PEARS site - include the organization/local name and address
Civil Rights demographics reporting
Extension-wide reporting priorities and quick guides (excluding SNAP-Ed and EFNEP)
- Direct education programs (reported in PEARS program activities module
- External collaborations (reported in PEARS partnerships or coalitions module)
- Impact success stories (reported in PEARS success stories module) - due November 30, 2023
Additional program area specific reporting priorities and guidance
Extension-wide PEARS reporting deadlines (reporting year 2023)
NOTE: SNAP-Ed and EFNEP should follow grant-specific guidance for reporting priorities and deadlines. If the submission deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the deadline will be the next business day*.
- 4-H reporting year (9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023) - submit all PEARS records for outreach during the reporting year by Sept. 10, 2023 (*extended to Sept. 11, 2023 because Sept. 10th is not a business day)
- Reporting year for all other program areas (10/1/2022 - 9/30/2023) - submit all PEARS records for outreach during the reporting year by Oct. 10, 2023
- All educators should contribute to at least one impact success story annually (either solely or in collaboration with others) - submit by Nov. 30, 2023
Extension-wide reporting priorities (excluding SNAP-Ed and EFNEP)
1) Direct education
What should I report?
- Educational outreach delivered/coordinated by Extension staff (with staff present)
- Uses a planned curriculum with educational objectives
- Intended to target audiences that are not solely Extension staff
- Involves a two-way interaction (in-person or online)
- Include self-paced courses if 1) there is evidence who participated (e.g. registration or demographic data collected, AND 2) there is evidence that the program was received (e.g. quiz, course completion, or evaluation)
Why do we track it?
Direct education is conducted across all Extension program areas, providing an opportunity to compile Extension-wide metrics that we report to local, state, and federal stakeholders. This type of outreach is one of the most prevalent ways Extension is able to translate research-based, objective information into programming that addresses stakeholder needs. Direct education is the primary way we track educational contacts and Civil Rights data to document the extent of our reach and demographics of populations we serve.
Where and how do I report it?
Report all direct education in the PEARS Program Activities module.
Resources
- Download the PEARS Direct Education Program Activities Guide FY23 for detailed instructions to enter a PEARS direct education program activity. This guide applies to reporting program activities for AAB, CCI, CED, IHD, and NREE program areas. For FCS and 4-H reporting, refer to the program area specific instructions.
- Civil rights demographics reporting resources (includes a link to download a demographic data collection form with the FY2023 changes).
- Users are no longer able to enter a new site when submitting a program activity entry. If you are unable to find a specific site, submit a new site request to uie-inepdocs@illinois.edu. Include the organization name and full address in the request. A new guide is available for tips on how to search and select a site in PEARS.
2) External collaborations
What should I report?
- Collaborations between Extension and one or more agency, business, or organization (external to University of Illinois) with a shared purpose for planning, developing or delivering programs, or implementing/adopting policies or practices.
- Do NOT include collaborations with other Illinois Extension staff or University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus people or units.
Why do we track it?
Evidence of collaboration with entities external to Extension demonstrates that we actively engage in local, regional, statewide, national and international connections that amplify benefits to our audiences and the broader public. Collaborations signify that we are intentionally leveraging resources and strong relationships to most effectively engage the public in ways that are meaningful and relevant. When we systematically capture these collaborations, we can more comprehensively represent and communicate the nature, extent, value, and impact of these collaborations.
Where and how do I report it?
- A partnership is a collaboration between Extension and one external agency, business, or organization with shared purpose for planning, developing or delivering programs, or implementing/adopting policies or practices. Enter in the PEARS Partnership module.
- A coalition is a collaboration between Extension and a group of more than one external agencies, businesses, or organizations with shared purpose for planning, developing or delivering programs, or implementing/adopting policies or practices. Enter in PEARS Coalitions module.
- Partnerships and coalitions should be entered only once per reporting year. Coordinate timely entry with Extension collaborators, being sure to tag all collaborators.
- PEARS Partnerships and PEARS Coalitions entries can be copied from a prior reporting year if the collaboration is ongoing. See PEARS instructions for how to copy one or more partnerships and how to copy one or more coalitions from a previous reporting year.
Example
|
Should I report as a partnership or coalition? |
Extension collaborates with 1 or more organizations to put on a conference. | Yes. Report as Partnership (single external organization) or Coalition (2+ external organizations). |
Network of representatives of several organizations meets periodically to share information on a topic. | Yes. Report as a Coalition (2+ external organizations). |
Research collaboration with faculty member. | No. Not an external collaboration. |
Research collaboration with external organization(s). | Yes. Partnership (single external organization) or Coalition (2+ external organizations). |
On-farm research trial at private farm. | Yes, if the private farm is a business. No, if the private farm is not a business. |
On-farm research trial at publicly owned farm or land (e.g. community college) | Yes. Report as Partnership (if research involved only the public entity) or Coalition (if 2+ organizations were involved). |
Organization hosts event at their site (not involved in planning or delivery). | No. Not involved in planning or delivery. |
Extension Collaboration Grant | No. If collaborators are exclusively University of Illinois faculty, not an external collaboration. Yes. If other external partners are involved, report as a Partnership (single external organization) or Coalition (if 2+ organizations are involved). |
Extension delivers a program at a site available to the public (e.g. library, park, etc.). | No. There is no collaboration with shared purpose for planning, developing or delivering programs. |
Extension delivers a program with a K-12 audience. | Yes. There is shared purpose for planning, developing, or delivering programs. School personnel define the need and provide the audience. |
Resources
- Download the PEARS External Collaborations Quick Guide FY23 for detailed instructions to enter a PEARS partnership and a PEARS coalition. This guide applies to reporting Partnerships and Coalitions by 4-H, AAB, CCI, CED, IHD, and NREE program areas. For FCS reporting, refer to the FCS specific instructions.
3) Impact success stories
Enter all impact success stories for the reporting year 10/1/2022 - 9/30/2023 by November 30, 2023. Each educator should contribute to or individually submit at least one impact success story for outreach conducted during the 2023 reporting year (October 2022-September 2023). This applies to 4-H, AAB, CED, CCI, FCS/N&W, FCS/CE, FCS/Family Life, IHD, and NREE educators.
What should I report?
One specific reporting need is to share information about those outreach efforts that result in changes or outcomes among people, systems, or communities; otherwise known as impacts. Impact success stories may be reported as a team or by an individual. There are three parts to an impact success story:
- Situation (what is the underlying need or rationale that we were trying to address?)
- Response (what was done in terms of a programmatic response?)
- Results/impact (how were users/audience members/stakeholders positively affected and how do these changes benefit those beyond who participated – public value?)
Why do we track it?
Impact success stories are used to support unit, state, and federal reports to stakeholders. Demonstrating Extension's impact and value provides evidence to stakeholders that Extension outreach makes a measurable difference.
Where and how do I report it?
- Report impact success stories in the PEARS Success Stories module.
Resources
- Download the Impact Success Stories Guide FY23 for detailed instructions to enter a PEARS Impact Success Story. These instructions apply to all program areas EXCEPT SNAP-Ed and EFNEP.