The Program and Organizational Development (POD) website of University of Maryland Extension (UME) provides information and resources for the department. Included and continuously developing on the site are training, materials, and resources to be successful. Please explore the site to find our past/upcoming training offerings, materials on program planning, program development, evaluation and reporting, teaching effectiveness, publication, mentoring, promotion, and tenure resources.
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Faculty and Staff (Evaluation, Promotion, and Faculty Tenure)
Faculty and Staff (Evaluation, Promotion, and Faculty Tenure) -
Publications Process
Publications Process -
Extension Academy (onboarding)
Extension Academy (onboarding) -
Teaching Resources
Teaching Resources -
Faculty Success and UMERS Reporting Dashboard
Faculty Success and UMERS Reporting Dashboard -
Program Planning and the IEP
Program Planning and the IEP -
Reporting Program Reach in UMERS
Reporting Program Reach in UMERS -
Reporting Program Results in UMERS
Reporting Program Results in UMERS -
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Offerings for the Professional Development of Extension Faculty and Staff
UME Training Resources
UMD Trainings outside of UME
Fall Training 2025
UME Professional Development Schedule - Fall 2025
Join us for our Fall Training Series, designed specifically for tenured-track faculty seeking professional development! While these sessions are tailored to support UME faculty, everyone is welcome to attend and participate.
This training series aims to equip you with essential organizational information and practical tools for success in extension programs. Gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and connect with colleagues as you explore strategies to elevate your work and impact.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional growth! Register now and take the next step toward achieving your goals in extension programming. We look forward to seeing you there!
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker | Resources for Review | Registration |
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| Friday, September 12, 2025 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Planning Your Extension Program & Preparing for Your IEP This session will cover the process for completing your Individual Extension Plan (IEP). The IEP is the faculty's individual response to the UME Programmatic Plan, which will be used to guide the year's programming efforts. IEPs are due in Faculty Success by November 14, 2025. ___ PROGRAM AREA BREAKOUT SESSIONS TO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW 4-H: Led by Amanda Wahle Agriculture & Food Systems: Led by Darren Jarboe, PhD Environment & Natural Resource-Sea Grant: Led by Andy Lazur, PhD Family & Consumer Sciences: Led by Lisa McCoy, EdD, RDM | Teresa McCoy, MPA, DPA Former UME Assistant Director, Evaluation & Assessment | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. July 1 Letter Upcoming Office Hours dates with Teresa (T) McCoy are (Zoom meeting links are forthcoming): November 5th @ 10 AM November 7th @ 2 PM November 10th @ 10 AM November 12th @ 2 PM |
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| Monday, September 15, 2025 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Session 1: Compliance Training | Let's Take a Trip, Who's in Your Zip From AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs: As we continue our educational sessions, with our second series entitled, "Let's take a trip, who's in your zip", we will discover how Census tract information can create graphic overlays to support program planning and expansion opportunities. Utilizing a form of data mining, we will explore how zip code information can uncover potential partnerships, strategies to identify a new customer base, and emerging access. If you have ever wondered, "how can I reach other audiences", this is the session for you! Not only will we use current zip code information to locate sizable populations, disability and other constructs to illustrate variances which may maximize your overall potential impact. The next session tentatively slated for December 2025. | U.S. Census Bureau | Stacie Cochran-McNeal | Population Specialist | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: Please contact Dr. Latoya Hicks | AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs or Aleena Aspervil, J.D. | UME Compliance Specialist for questions and/or comments regarding the provided supplemental resource materials. | Please review this and previous session presentation materials via the Compliance Training webpage of the AGNR Compliance website. Please contact Dr. Latoya Hicks | AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs or Aleena Aspervil, J.D. | UME Compliance Specialist for questions and/or comments regarding the supplemental resource materials. |
| Monday, September 22, 2025 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) Training From UME Compliance Specialist Aleena Aspervil, JD Greetings UME! We have coordinated with the National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) to provide a training/update to the previous training for UME. We have asked NASS to cover: - The information in the 2022 Ag Census summary for Maryland including each county - How to find Ag Census information on the NASS website - Population changes - How NASS now captures young, producers in its current dataset - Any information NASS would find helpful to UME such as: if MD growers are more interested in particular crops, landscape changes, costs/prices share concerns, what MD is facing as a result of climate changes, etc. Please mark your calendar for this training! | AGNR Compliance | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: Please contact Dr. Latoya Hicks | AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs or Aleena Aspervil, J.D. | UME Compliance Specialist for supplemental resource materials. | Please contact Dr. Latoya Hicks | AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs or Aleena Aspervil, J.D. | UME Compliance Specialist for supplemental resource materials. Please also review the AGNR Compliance website for more compliance-related resources. |
| Friday, October 3, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Preparing for Your Annual Faculty Review (AFR) | Bill Hubbard Maryland Sea Grant Extension Leader Shannon Dill, D.B.A. UME Assistant Director of Operations and Principal Agent Neith Little Extension Educator - Urban Agriculture | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Friday, November 7. 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | IRBNet to Kuali-IRB | Navigating the Transition - Phase I (Phase I of III) Come and learn the key dates for Primary Investigator (PI) actionable items in preparation of the transition from IRBNet to UMD's new research platform, Kuali-IRB. Submitting initial IRB projects is imperative prior to December 20, 2025. | Dacia Randolph, PhD Coordinator, Program & Organizational Development | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. |
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| Friday, November 14, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | UMERS Data Collection & Data Entry | Dhruti Patel Senior Agent/Family & Consumer Sciences Educator | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| CANCELED: SPRING 2026 RESCHEDULED DATE TBA ----------------- DATE CHANGE Friday, December 5, 2025 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | CANCELED: SPRING 2026 RESCHEDULED DATE TBA ------------- In-Person Maryland 4-H Center 8020 Greenmead Drive College Park, MD 20740-4000 (301) 314-9070 Main Phone Number | CANCELED: SPRING 2026 RESCHEDULED DATE TBA ----------------- Developing an Extension Program Plan This session will cover an overview of the Logic Model development process (including the importance of outcomes-based planning with peer-to-peer collaboration), and an understanding of how Situation Statements tie into the logic model. Pre-session materials to include a Needs Assessment video will be provided as a foundational framework for establishing program planning expectations. Learners will walk away with the knowledge of how to develop their own program plan. | CANCELED: SPRING 2026 RESCHEDULED DATE TBA ---------------- Colby Silvert, PhD Assistant Professor & Co-Director | Agricultural & Extension Educator Shannon Dill, D.B.A. UME Assistant Director of Operations and Principal Agent | CANCELED: SPRING 2026 RESCHEDULED DATE TBA ------------------ Pre-Session Reading Materials: Please review the following materials in preparation for this session: *Conducting Needs Assessments in Extension video * Utah State University 2023 Needs Assessment * Situational Analysis / Needs Assessment for Effective Community Engagement * Conducting the needs assessment #8 The Borich model for survey design & analysis Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | CANCELED - RESCHEDULED DATE TBA |
| DATE CHANGE! Monday, January 26, 2026 __________ (ADDED 10.7.2025) Monday, December 8, 2025 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Webinar (via Zoom) | Session 2: Don't be in a Hurry, Come Experience Maryland's Journey! As we continue our educational series with our third and final session entitled, "Don't be in a hurry, come experience Maryland's journey!", we will discuss the population changes in Maryland between the 2010 U.S. Census and 2020 U.S. Census (decennial data). Additionally, upcoming changes to the U.S. Census Bureau's collection of race and ethnicity as a result of the Office of Management and Budget's finalized versions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standard's for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15) will be shared. | U.S. Census Bureau | Pre-Session Reading Materials: Post Session: Please contact Dr. Latoya Hicks | AGNR Asst. Director of Civil Rights Compliance Programs or Aleena Aspervil, J.D. | UME Compliance Specialist for supplemental resource materials. | Zoom registration link: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/98AcHH_WT7agH728NZGx9g U.S. Census Bureau's Population Data AGNR's potential program reach dashboard |
Spring Training 2025
UME Professional Development Schedule - Spring 2025
Join us for our Spring Training Series, designed specifically for junior faculty seeking professional development! While these sessions are tailored to support junior faculty, everyone is welcome to participate.
This training series aims to equip you with essential organizational information and practical tools for success in extension programs. Gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and connect with colleagues as you explore strategies to elevate your work and impact.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional growth! Register now and take the next step toward achieving your goals in extension programming. We look forward to seeing you there!
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker | Resources for Review | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, February 14, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Developing Your Promotion Timeline This session discusses how to develop a promotion timeline. While promotion may seem far away, it is not too soon to plan for scholarly works, writing, and promotion submissions. | Jackie Lewis Faculty Affairs & ENR Reporting Specialist Schedule a meeting with Jackie here | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Friday, February 28, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Preparing for 2025 Reporting | UMERS Data Collection and Data Entry Updates This session covers changes to the UMERS data entry forms for 2025 reporting. It guides Extension faculty and staff on accurately collecting and entering direct contacts and demographic data into UMERS. Faculty and staff learn about tools for streamlining data collection and cleaning, how to run reports in UMERS, and data privacy considerations. Tips for collecting demographic information in several common Extension programming scenarios are shared. | Aleena Aspervil UME Compliance Specialist & Team Leader of Internal Program Assessments Stephanie Orstad, PhD Director, Evaluation & Reporting Musab Salman Data Management Analyst, Evaluation & Reporting Dhruti Patel Senior Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Friday, March 28, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Survey Design & Qualtrics Part I of this session (Survey Design) will equip Extension faculty and teaching staff with the skills to design and distribute effective needs assessment and program evaluation surveys, resulting in meaningful metrics and quality data from their data collection efforts. Part II of this session (Qualtrics) will provide users with a foundational understanding of the platform's essential use to include account setup and basic navigation with an overview of the core features and functionality. Users will learn how to create and distribute surveys, and collect and analyze data to manage and report participant feedback. | Stephanie Orstad, PhD Director, Evaluation & Reporting Dacia Randolph, PhD Coordinator, Evaluation & Reporting | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Rescheduled: New Date Friday, April 11, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Needs Assessment This session will cover the purpose of a Needs Assessment as a component of program planning and evaluation. Learners will be provided with examples of research and engagement tools and techniques that are to be employed with the three phases of the systematic process. Learners will be equipped to effectively use the findings from a Needs Assessment for developing a program. | Colby Silvert, PhD Assistant Professor & Co-Director | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. |
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| UPDATE: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | NOW VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM | Writing Retreat (Session 1) What is a writing retreat? A writing retreat aims to allow educators dedicated writing time to progress any project in a supportive environment. Most of this session will be dedicated for writing, with brief scheduled discussions to generate solutions to brainstorming, writing problems, developing drafts, and providing feedback. Objectives: Brainstorming session, scholarly writing professional development, a minimum of 4 hours of dedicated writing time and networking. | Andrew Kling UME Associate Agent | Pre-Session Materials: Academic Writing Amplified: Your Publishing Problem is NOT Time - Planning Document and Worksheet:
To prepare -
Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the supplemental resources. | View Recording |
| Friday, May 2, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Grant Writing This session will focus on identifying suitable grants and crafting compelling proposals to secure funding, effectively. Participants will learn how to research opportunities, align their projects with funding priorities, and create proposals that stand out to reviewers. In the second half, we'll dive into AgPAS (PreAward Service), exploring grand documentation and submission processes. | Nevin Dawson Professional & Development Program Assoc. Coordinator, Northeast SARE Ora Rollins AGNR Assist. Director, Pre-Award Services (AgPAS) Alejandro Marroquin Contract Administrator, UME Pre-Award Services (AgPAS) | Pre-Session Reading Materials Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
CANCELLED Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Planning Your Extension Event This webinar will review Extension event considerations for planning, promoting, and conducting a successful event. This session will cover policies and best practices. | Jennifer Bentlejewski, EdD Area Extension Director - WMD | Pre-Session Reading Materials Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
Fall Training 2024
UME Professional Development Schedule - Fall 2024
Join us for our Fall Training Series, designed specifically for junior faculty seeking professional development! While these sessions are tailored to support junior faculty, everyone is welcome to participate.
This training series aims to equip you with essential organizational information and practical tools for success in extension programs. Gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and connect with colleagues as you explore strategies to elevate your work and impact.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional growth! Register now and take the next step toward achieving your goals in extension programming. We look forward to seeing you there!
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker | Resources for Review | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 27, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Planning Your Extension Program and Preparing Your IEP The session will provide the process for completing your Individual Extension Plan (IEP). The IEP is the faculty’s individual response to the UME Programmatic Plan, which will be used to guide the year's programming efforts. IEPs are due October 14th. | Stephanie Orstad, Shannon Dill, Program Leaders or Representatives Followed by Office Hours on October 2nd and 4th (9AM - 12PM) https://umd.zoom.us/my/sdill | Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/program-planning-evaluation-and-assessment/program-planning/individual-extension-plan-iep/ Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
| Friday, October 18, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Working with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) This session will cover the purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and its importance in human subject research. We will guide you through IRB steps, including account setup, CITI certification, and form submissions, and we will share best practices. You will also receive a demonstration of the IRB system and information on the submission and amendment process. | Dacia Randolph, Samantha (Sam) Martocci - IRB Office | Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/program-planning-evaluation-and-assessment/program-planning/institutional-review-board-irb/ Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View recording |
| Friday, November 1, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Documenting Teaching Effectiveness As a faculty member at UMD, it's essential to gather feedback on your teaching effectiveness from your students. This session will guide you through using the General Teaching Effectiveness form, required for classes taught to the general public, ages 14 and up. We will cover best practices for distributing the data, emphasizing using the online survey link for streamlined data collection. | Jeff Howard |
Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/teaching-resources/teaching-effectiveness/ | View Recording |
| Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | In-person Howard County Extension Office, 8930 Stanford Blvd, Suite 25 The Ascend One Building, Columbia, MD 21045 | Designing and Implementing Your Extension Logic Model This session will review the basics of a logic model to create and evaluate an Extension Program. The morning session will discuss the mechanics of the logic model, and the afternoon will work through creating a logic model for your program. The session will also provide networking time and collaboration with your promotion cohort. | Jackie Lewis, Shannon Dill, Stephanie Orstad, Program Representatives | Registration closed as of 11/3/2024 | |
| Friday, November 15, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Writing Impact Statements This session will provide you with the skills and strategies to effectively communicate the significance and outcomes of your work. Impact statements are crucial for demonstrating the value of your programs to reviewers, stakeholders and funders. | Shannon Dill | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
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| Friday, November 22. 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Collecting Your Program Outputs, and Reporting in UMERS | Stephanie Orstad, Chuck Schuster | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
| Friday, December 13, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Developing Your CV Join us for a training session on creating a comprehensive CV tailored to the University of Maryland Extension (UME) standards. This workshop will guide you through organizing your scholarship, teaching, and service activities into a well-structured CV that reflects your professional achievements. This session will give you the tools and tips to showcase your accomplishments effectively. | Jackie Lewis | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording & CV Reference Documents
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| Friday, December 20, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Preparing for Your Annual Faculty Review (AFR) | Jackie Lewis | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
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Looking for previous webinars!
All our recorded webinars can be found on our Youtube channel.