(Revised October 2004) Section 8.A

Section 8.A -- Professional and Scientific Staff

P & S staff should consult the P & S Handbook for more information about personnel policies and guidelines. Iowa State University's Personnel Office can also provide information, (515) 294-6456. Additional information is available on the Human Resource Services Classification and Compensation web site at the following address: http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/ClassComp/p&sClassificationInfo.shtml

County Extension Education Director Job Description

Job descriptions for County Extension Director I, II and III are maintained by the Extension Human Resources unit and are posted at the following location: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/admin/ceeds.html

Field Specialist Job Description

Job descriptions for Field Specialist I, II and III are maintained by the Extension Human Resources unit and are posted at the following location: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/admin/fs.html

Filling Vacant Field Specialist Positions

Area Directors will inform the administrative team by e-mail as vacancies occur. When a vacancy occurs, the appropriate campus director and area director will inform those with identical positions (same specialty different location). There will be a ten-working-day window for staff notification and indication of interest by staff in a reassignment. Reassignments are not automatic but rather the result of a decision-making process. Decisions are made jointly by the campus director, area director and the associate vice provost. In the event a reassignment is made, the process is repeated with the newly vacated position. Eventually a vacant position surfaces with no internal interest and is advertised externally for a minimum of 15 days.

All field staff (field specialists and CEEDs) may of course apply for any opening in the system during the standard 30-day application time frame.

One of the rationales for this preliminary process is the knowledge that during the reorganization, not all those assigned to field specialist positions received their first choice. Occasionally staff may feel a need to change scenery to revitalize and move forward. This provides an opportunity to move, while maintaining a positive impact on the level of service to clients. Provided the move is of some consequence geographically, the personal moving expense will be paid consistent with our policy and practice.

This "formal" process for possible reassignment will not be used for open CEED positions because the hiring decision is shared with the County Councils and filling the position in a timely fashion is critical. Some Councils may be interested in an experienced replacement and some current CEEDs may be interested in a change. Current CEEDs are encouraged to communicate with the AEED responsible for the vacant position, to determine a possible match. The CEED is then responsible for making a formal application for the position during the search process.

P & S Performance Evaluations

Evaluation procedures for County Extension Education Directors and Field Specialists and the related forms, including the County Council Feedback Form, are maintained by the Extension Human Resources unit at the following location: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/admin/evaluations.html

Principles of Extension Areas & Field Specialist Area Alignment

Principles of Extension Areas & Field Specialist Area Alignment:
ISU Extension Area Directors
Approved 11-11-2002


Principles relate to Extension Field Specialist in Agriculture & Natural Resources, Families, Youth & 4-H and Communities. It does not apply to Business & Industry Field Staff.

  1. Regarding the development of new field positions, elimination of current field positions, and field specialist placement and housing, extension administration will strive to balance the organizational mission of serving clients with the professional and personal needs of staff.
  2. New field staff positions will be strategically placed in order to further the mission of ISU Extension.
  3. Field specialists provide program leadership. FS programs address the needs assigned counties as jointly determined by Extension Councils, CEEDs, and other stakeholders. Field specialists will be assigned specific counties in joint agreement with their respective program director and AEED. For program leadership, our intent is to have field specialists assigned to a set of counties within one administrative area for program leadership responsibilities.
  4. To be effective and efficient in programming, there is a need for flexibility, customer satisfaction, quality control, teamwork and creative delivery as field specialists perform their work; therefore, area boundaries will be porous.

    This means:
      1. Carryout of standardized presentations such as Private Pesticide Applicator training, Manure Applicator Certification, Developing Dynamic Leaders, Serve Safe, True Colors, and so forth, are carried out as efficiently as possible without regard to area boundaries. It is entirely permissible, without AEED prior approval, to get the job done in a professional, system-wide, team-like manner within and across area lines. If significant work is planned outside the FS assigned area, an email is to be sent to the AEED and Program Director.
      2. Staff of a common field discipline that have a lighter assignment of counties, population, or demographics, may be asked to take on more special projects than a like FS. Examples might include assignments with John Deere Project, work with research farms, agronomic Lean Finances, plots, review/assistance with publications, etc.
      3. The AEEDs and Program Directors recommend that time-sensitive client requests, such as crop field calls, child care center reviews, etc. should be handled on an availability and travel distance criteria, regardless of assigned counties. We need to use good judgment on using our scare resources.
      4. Certain staff have focused, specialized skills that are in demand across the state. Also, certain program units, ex. Farm & Business Management, have chosen to have each FS specialize in statewide program development for the whole state. Travel across area lines is expected.

  5. Area boundaries should never prevent joint programming or projects across area lines. Area boundaries reflect administrative and program development responsibilities. They should not impede multi-area, regional, cross-discipline, or joint ventures with our many internal and external partners.

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Revised October 7, 2004. Content questions? Ask the experts.
Comments or suggestions? Contact the committee, (e-mail: ofcguide@iastate.edu)