2000 ANNUAL REPORT
Extension Education Evaluation Topical Interest Group
of the
American Evaluation Association

Michael W. Duttweiler, 2000 Chair

Status: The Extension Education Evaluation Topical Interest Group (EEE-TIG) of the American Evaluation Association completes its fifteenth year in 2000. The 2000 AEA membership list for our TIG totaled 149 members, up 10 from 1999.  A number of additional persons were added to our mailing list during the year. 

Communication: EEE-TIG communications now occur largely electronically with hard copy used only for persons for whom we are unable to obtain current e-mail addresses. In 2000, communications included three TIG newsletters, the TIG call for AEA Conference proposals, a request for assistance from a state extension system, and information about the annual TIG social/dinner at the Honolulu conference. The newsletters and updated information on the TIG were posted on our website at: http://danr.ucop.edu/eee-aea/ under direction of member Milton Fujii, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 

Another communication service provided by the USDA-CSREES land-grant system, with the assistance of the EEE-TIG, is the Extension Evaluation Forum “exteval” list serve. The list provides opportunities for discussion of current issues and the distribution of information to extension education evaluators around the world.

Professional Development:  Each year, EEE‑TIG provides members an opportunity to share evaluation research, experience and expertise through participation in TIG‑sponsored sessions at the AEA Conference. The EEE‑TIG sends out a targeted call for proposals but accepts all proposals flagged for its consideration. In 2000, EEE‑TIG received 41 proposals.   (23 papers, 7 roundtables or posters, and 11 in alternative formats.   Of the 22 paper proposals received, 10 were accepted as proposed, 4 were recommended as posters or roundtables and 9 were rejected. Of the 11 alternative format proposals, 8 were accepted as proposed, one was recommended as a roundtable, and 2 were rejected.  We were fortunate that AEA was able to accommodate nearly all of our recommendations.  As a result, the 2000 AEA Conference in Honolulu includes five EEE-TIG sponsored sessions and 3 demonstrations or workshops.  EEE-TIG has participants in two roundtable sessions and the poster session, in addition to the annual TIG business meeting session.

EEE‑TIG annually recognizes the efforts of those in the field of extension education evaluation through its awards program. Individuals and teams are recognized each year by their peers for excellence in conducting evaluations, training others or providing leadership to the profession. Administrators also are recognized for support of evaluation efforts.  In 2000, the following awards were presented:  Excellence in Extension Evaluation: Dr. Susan Barkman and Dr. Krisanna Machtmes, Purdue University; Excellence in Evaluation Training: Dr. Richard Rohs, University of Georgia; Mary Nell Greenwood Extension Evaluation Award: Dr. Michelle Rodgers, Penn State; and, Sustained Excellence in Extension Evaluation Award: Dr. Claude Bennett, USDA, CSREES.

Each year at the EEE‑TIG business meeting, a guest speaker is invited to address a topic of current interest for a majority of those involved in the evaluation of extension educational programs.  In 2000, Dr. Ronald Mau, Associate Dean/Associate Director for Cooperative Extension, University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources discussed challenges in addressing evaluation and accountability issues at the program and college levels. 

Leadership: Leadership for EEE‑TIG is provided by a Board of Directors made up of a Chair, Chair‑Elect, Past‑Chair, Secretary‑Treasurer, and a regional representative from each of the four regions that make up the EEE‑TIG organizational structure. The Chair appoints a membership chair and liaison with USDA‑CSREES. The Board met four times this past year to conduct the business of the TIG, once in person and three times via conference call. Board members for 2000 were: Chair – Mike Duttweiler; Chair‑Elect and Program Chair – Nancy Ellen Kiernan; Past‑Chair – Rich Poling; Secretary‑Treasurer – Rama Radhakrishna; and Regional Representatives – Nancy Bull (Northeast), Charlie Clark (North Central), Molly Engle (Western) and Glenn Israel (Southern).  Michael Newman served as Membership Chair and Claude Bennett served as CSREES Liaison.

My tenure as Chair of EEE-TIG has been very enjoyable and informative.  The professionalism and willingness to contribute of colleagues throughout the TIG is inspiring.  I am especially indebted to the Board for their strong effort and support throughout the year.