The Extension Mentoring IN EvaluatION (MINION) Fellowship Program

Abstract Information: The goal of this project is to increase undergraduate students’ experiences with program evaluation, research methods, and data analysis, while simultaneously providing evaluative support to Extension programming efforts in the state of XXX. To fulfill this goal, the project will specifically focus on the following objectives: 1) Increase undergraduate students’ knowledge and skills related to program evaluation methods and data analysis techniques, and 2) Develop a system of continued collaboration between undergraduate students and Extension faculty and staff to enhance the evaluation of Extension programming. Students selected for participation in the program will serve in a two-year cohort, consisting of approximately 10-15 fellows per year throughout the five-year project. Fellows will be afforded the unique opportunity to serve both in the role of a student during the first year of their fellowship, as well as that of a mentor to the upcoming fellowship cohort during the second year of their fellowship. Students will engage in a formal learning environment through participation in the online undergraduate-level Introduction to Extension Program Evaluation courses (one lecture-based course, one seminar-based course), as well as in a non-formal learning environment through placement at a designated Extension evaluation host site, where they will apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to conduct an evaluation of Extension programming efforts in either individual counties or broader programmatically-based teams. Students will prepare final evaluation reports or impact statements that will be disseminated back to the evaluation host sites and across the state.