Your community needs you at this table.
- You know people, issues, history, opportunities and relationships that Extension personnel may not.
- Extension brings the research, expertise, resources and connections of the University.
Your job is to bring those two worlds together.
Working Relationships
PARTNER | PRIMARY ROLE IN THE RELATIONSHIP |
| Extension Board | Local direction, stewardship, community intelligence, governance, accountability, connection, and advocacy. |
| Lead Educator/Unit Leader | Local administrative leadership, office/program coordination, budget administration, and communication with the Board. |
| Engagement Zone Coordinator | University liaison; supports Board relationships, personnel matters, stakeholder connections, and alignment across counties/University structures. |
| Educators, Instructors, Assistants/Associates | Research-based education, program development & delivery, relationship-building, and issue response within assigned roles. |
| County Board | County government partnership, appointment/approval processes as applicable, & county funding responsibilities. |
| University, IANR, Extension Leadership | University policy, personnel authority, statewide strategy, program quality, expertise, and institutional accountability. |
Board Authority
Per the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) and Constitution and Bylaws (CBL) between UNL, Nebraska Extension, and County Government(s), the Extension Board is not merely an advisory board but also has governing responsibilities.
| Core Role | Stakeholder input, specialized perspective, oversight, and local accountability |
| Authority | Formal authority defined by the ILA and CBL. |
| Membership | Members are selected to bring relevant community, clientele, or subject-matter perspective. Number of members identified in CBL, 3-12 allowed, and County government votes in members. |
| Program Direction | Inform on community needs, evaluate effectiveness, engage in strategic planning, evaluation, and resource development. |
| Budget & Resources | Reviews and provides input on annual county(ies) budget draft, votes on the final budget prior to submission to county, identifies and connects funders and resources. |
| Personnel | May join search committee, attend interviews, provide feedback on hiring, termination, and performance. No authority is assigned. |
| Decision-Making | Acts through formal meetings, quorums, & votes. Makes recommendations and assigned to committees as identified. |
| Public Accountability | Follow Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act including public attendance. Provides input from community to Extension. |
Aligning Board Member Work with Extension’s Values
EXTENSION VALUES | EXTENSION BOARD MEMBERS STEWARD THE VALUES BY |
| Accessible | Notice who is participating, who is missing, accessibility of resources & information, and help create solutions to any barriers. |
| Accountable | Review and discuss Extension’s reach, quality, and impacts in programming, events, & knowledge sharing while maintaining strong stewardship of taxpayer dollars. |
| Collaborative | Help connect Extension with partners and bring people together with shared challenges and opportunities. |
| Innovative | Encourage Extension to adapt, experiment, and find new ways to serve changing communities and needs. |
| Relevant | Help Extension understand and address the issues that truly matter to the lives and livelihood of those served. |
| Research-based | Bring unbiased and scientifically sound information from Extension to communities, businesses, and key stakeholders; ensuring we continue to be seen as a trusted source of information. |
| Responsive | Inform Extension about emerging needs and help identify how Extension and the land-grant university can respond. |
| Uniquely Local | Knowing the county(ies), its people, places, assets, differences and changing needs provide perspective on our work now and in the future. |
What Boards Do
- Program Support
- Learn community needs
- Provide feedback
- Support educational efforts
- Help identify emerging issues
- Community Connections
- Tell Extension's story
- Build partnerships
- Serve as ambassadors
- Connect Extension with community needs
- Governance & Personnel
- Support strategic direction
- Ensure accountability
- Provide input on faculty and staff performance
- Serve on local interview committee
- Financial Stewardship
- Review budgets
- Understand funding sources
- Support fiscal accountability
- Advocate for county support
What Boards Do NOT Do
- Manage day-to-day staff work
- Supervise employees
- Direct programming decisions
- Handle personnel matters independently
Characteristics of Effective Board Members
- Attend meetings regularly
- Stay informed
- Ask questions
- Listen respectfully
- Support decisions once made
- Serve as advocates
Civil Rights & Responsibilities
Nebraska Extension receives funding from the Federal, State, and County government. USDA Regulation 7 CFR 15 states “When an organization receives more than ZERO dollars, there is an obligation to comply with civil rights laws.”
It is important to know the responsibility for compliance with the civil rights laws functions in a tiered system.
- The USDA provides federal financial assistance to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides federal financial assistance to Nebraska Extension.
- Nebraska Extension provides federal financial assistance to collaborators, groups, participants, or volunteers.
Each group must ensure that civil rights obligations are met not only themselves, but the groups under them. This means that one of your roles as a board member is to ensure that your County Office is complying with all civil rights laws.
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS | ||
| Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex or national origin. | |
| Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. Religious accommodation…
| |
| Title IX Education Amendments of 1972 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. | |
| Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. No discrimination in employment, programs, and access to electronic and information technology. | |
| Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 | Prohibits discrimination based on age. | |
| Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability or discrimination because of the known relationship or association with a person with a known disability. Reasonable accommodations need to be offered unless it causes undue hardship to the organization, or would fundamentally alter the nature or operation of the organization or program. | |
| Executive Order 13166 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of limited English proficiency (LEP) as a result of their national origin. This order requires that we work to provide meaningful access to programs and activities offered. | |
| Executive Order 13672 | Prohibits discrimination in the civilian federal workforce on the basis of gender identity and in hiring by federal contractors on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. | |
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE | ||
| Must have a policy of non-discrimination that states equal program and employment opportunity. | The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. | |
| Public Notification and Displaying “Justice For All” Poster | We have an obligation to:
The “Justice for All" poster should be displayed in all common areas, meeting rooms, etc. where the public can see it. | |
| Must provide reasonable accommodations regarding religion based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Limited English Proficiency Executive Order 13166. | Refer to civil rights laws listed above. | |
| Must have a complaint procedure in place for program and employment. | Individuals may contact to share their concerns or complaints: UNL’s Institutional Equity and Compliance Office
USDA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights | |