Professional Development
NDSU Extension is committed to providing opportunities for personal and professional development.
The following chart outlines professional development opportunities available to NDSU Extension employees. Talk to your supervisor about opportunities to support your development.
Professional Development Opportunities Chart
Professional Organizations of NDSU Extension
All employees are encouraged to join the professional association in their field as a basic method of building your network of co-workers and receiving current information and opportunities available for your Extension career.
- Association for Communication Excellence
- North Dakota Association of Agricultural Extension Agents
- North Dakota Association of Extension 4-H Youth Workers
- North Dakota Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science
- Upsilon Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi
- Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP)
- North Dakota Joint Council of Extension Professionals (NDJCEP)
SARE Professional Development Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture is a fresh approach to achieving our Land Grant Mission. It’s about finding the best tools for meeting our needs for good economic returns, for a healthy environment, and for an agreeable quality of life. The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program supports professional development in sustainable agriculture for Extension educators across a broad range of specialties. This is done through publications, scholarships to send them to workshops, mini-grants to fund workshops, and larger grants for broader training programs and more. NDSU’s sustainable agriculture contacts are Bill Hodous and Karl Hoppe. Learn more by contacting them (bill.hodous@ndsu.edu or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu) or visiting the North Central SARE website.
New Agent Handbook
New agents will appreciate some of the tips originally developed by the Ag Extension Association. This handbook goes to the basics of working at the county level and will be updated periodically. Click here to view the handbook.