Initiation and Review

PATs are initiated within the ECOP Program Committee, guided by input from the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) and are approved by the ECOP Executive Committee (EC). The EC also reviews the PATs annually and approves continuation or sun-setting of each PAT based on an annual report of progress and plans for the next year. 

Membership and Organization

PATs are chaired/co-chaired by Director/Administrator members and liaisons of the ECOP Program Committee and include Extension Directors, Extension faculty/professionals, internal collaborators (e.g., Extension Foundation, Regional Rural Development Centers, 4-H Council) and external collaborators (e.g., federal government agencies, philanthropic organizations, NGOs, private sector participants). Participation in PATs is open and voluntary. With ECOP Program Committee leadership, the PATs organize as needed, often with smaller steering committees (10-20) and larger interest groups, along with opportunities for involvement in various implementation teams, project writing teams, work groups, and other teams. Currently, most teams meet monthly.

Program Action Team Director/Administrator Liaisons

Each PAT is chaired or co-chaired by a Director/Administrator-level individual who serves on the ECOP Program Committee. To expand regional and national Director/Administrator involvement in decision making regarding policy and program development and to enhance leadership involvement and succession, the Program Committee is identifying 2-4 Director/Administrator Liaisons (DALs) to each of the PATs.  DALs will work alongside the PAT Chair/Co-Chair to provide input from the perspective of Director/Administrator, meet with the PAT during meetings/Zoom calls (usually monthly or quarterly) and otherwise seek to guide and promote successful work of the PAT on behalf of the Cooperative Extension System.

Eligibility and Tenure. DALs should be Directors/Administrators or Associate Directors/Administrators or equivalent who have interest in providing leadership and guidance to a particular PAT.  A DAL may serve for a term of three years, renewable for one term. 

Potential Benefits of Participation. In addition to the professional contribution to the Cooperative Extension System, participating Director/Administrator Liaisons (DALs) can: 

• Help guide the direction and focus of Extension programming
• Foster development of partnerships that may benefit their Extension programs
• Help develop funding opportunities
• Facilitate collaborative relationships with other state Extension Services
• Promote teamwork among faculty from various institutions
• Provide professional development opportunities for faculty