County Program Coordinator Assignments

Assignment Description: WVU Extension Program Coordinator

Purpose of the assignment:

To assure access for the people of a county to WVUES educational programs and information about other WVU services and programs. This includes actions to identify priority needs, develop and utilize resources, and provide needs-based educational programs. Affirmative action is required to assure equal access to those who need the program. University-wide and Extension outreach goals are also the context for performing the assignment effectively.

Coordinator:

From Webster, a coordinator is “one who brings into a common action, movement, or condition.”  The role of County Program Coordinator is to bring into common action the efforts of all involved in programs for county people. This would include both people working from the county office and those working in other offices that provide programs and services on behalf of the people of the county. It also includes groups, organizations, and community and government leaders.

The County Program Coordinator role provides a service to the people and to WVUES. It is also to become a key link between local people and organizations and others in WVU (beyond Extension) who may also provide needed service. It complements the faculty member’s own teaching, research and service by modeling the “catalyst and facilitator role” in the Extension Vision.

Essential Functions:

1. Program Coordination
   Coordinate program development and delivery of WVUES educational programs to assure access for the people of the county to knowledge and skills that will improve lives and communities. Includes affirmative action and civil rights. Tasks include coordinating:
   • Identification of local needs
   • Program development
   • Networking/collaborating with groups, organizations and communities and other faculty
   • Brokering WVU and WVUES programs needed by people in the county
   • Leadership development
2. Communications
   Coordinate communications that represent WVU to the county and mobilize support for programs. Tasks include being proactive and coordinating:
   • Meeting people and representing WVUES
   • Improving the quality of WVUES communications -- written, electronic and in person
   • Marketing WVUES
   • Mobilizing specific “WVU-wide” support for programs
3. Resource development and management
   Coordinate the garnering and management of resources to support the county program. Tasks include:
   • Developing and securing approval of the county budget memorandum with E.S.C.
   • Preparing and securing approval of the personnel memorandum with E.S.C.
   • Coordinating office operations
   • Coordinating resource development, including efforts to secure grants, contracts and gifts

Each essential function will be elaborated in terms of knowledge and skills which will be addressed in a training program provided for those assigned as County Program Coordinators.

Supervision Evaluation:

Assignments will be by the Associate Provost. Initially, one-year assignments will be made for 55 counties. After assessment of this experience, a pattern of multi-year assignments is anticipated.

As the roles are established and training completed, it is anticipated that County Program Coordinators will work directly with Extension at-large and other WVU units.

The assignments would be listed as “service” to the organization in “assignment documents.” Each County Program Coordinator would receive an evaluation relative to their work in this service role, as input for their annual review by the Program Center.