Oregon State: Assistant Professor (Practice)

This fixed-term Assistant Professor of Practice position is based at the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Lake County Office in Lakeview, Oregon. The academic home for this position will be in the Department of Crop and Soil Science or the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University depending on expertise of candidate. The academic home must be designated within six (6) months of the start date. This position reports to the Regional Director assigned to the Southern region. Decisions regarding this position are made in consultation with the supervision team which includes the Regional Director, Department Head, and the Extension Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Program Leader. Active contributions to scholarly outcomes are required (refer to the scholarship section, below, for details).

As a land grant institution committed to teaching, research and outreach and engagement, OSU promotes economic, social, cultural and environmental progress for the people of Oregon, the nation and the world. This position contributes to the mission of the College of Agricultural Sciences, with principal responsibility for needs assessment, Extension program and educational material development, delivery, and evaluation, and for conducting applied research to support Extension activities.

The purpose of this position is to provide programmatic leadership for Extension programs in agriculture and natural resources in the Lake County region.

Oregon State University is committed to practicing and delivery of tools for state-of-the-science interaction and engagement of partners and stakeholders. This faculty member is required to use modern learning and outreach tools including online and hybrid classes, multimedia and digital communications, employ and practice engaged scholarship, promote integration of programs across disciplines that are demand-driven and use open-source tools that continually align with innovation and shifts in educational program delivery. These activities will be included in the annual plan of work, impact statements, and summary of accomplishments/achievements.

Active and effective communication with colleagues and key stakeholders is critical to the success of this position. This position will require traveling.

College of Agricultural Sciences faculty are committed to enhancing student/learner success by engaging them in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and Engagement are likewise committed to student/learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audiences.

• Utilize Oregon State University’s six principles of teaching excellence that include audience consideration, planning, enhanced engagement, teaching, assessment, and reflection to provide a high level of non-credit teaching for extension audiences.
• Conduct on-going needs-assessment activities to determine the educational needs specific to this position’s audiences.
• Suggested audiences for this Extension program are all agriculture and natural resources stakeholders in Lake County.
• Following a prioritized needs assessment, develop, design, and deliver Extension non-credit educational programming in the range, forage production, and livestock areas.
• Utilize a variety of non-credit teaching and engagement opportunities (online and face-to-face) to convey useful information to Extension audiences.
• Create innovative educational materials and use effective Extension teaching methods that meet clientele needs, with materials, methods, and outcomes shared with peers in the state, region, and/or nation.
• Design Extension programs that can be offered centrally or online to maximize client participation across Oregon and beyond.
• Extension teaching methods may include but not be limited to: classroom teaching, workshops, seminars, online teaching, hybrid teaching, etc.
• Meet the information needs of local and regional audiences by accessing information from a variety of sources and disseminating it through appropriate mechanisms (internet, newsletter, newspaper, radio, television, presentations, etc.).
• Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and to report research and Extension program impacts locally, regionally and/or internationally.
• Use technology as a tool to increase the reach and impact of program delivery for constituents including participating in Ask-Extension and using the division’s customer relationship management system.
• Extension teaching may also involve providing one-on-one consultation and educational programs to target audiences depending on their needs.
• Engage and contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of teaching, educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes. Outputs and impacts of efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity should be included in promotion dossiers.
• This position is expected to solicit peer teaching evaluations and citizen evaluation of teaching.
• Conduct and coordinate local pesticide recertification efforts for stakeholders as well as answer any pesticide related questions from the public.
• Maintain Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License throughout employment to stay up-to-date with the science of pesticides and answer pesticide related questions.

 

• Develop networks of formal and informal interest groups in subject matter areas where appropriate. Utilize partnerships with diverse interest groups to provide advisory support and to enhance program quality and delivery. This will likely include Soil and Water Conservation Districts, School Boards, and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.
• Organize and maintain program advisory and management committees to help identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Identify program needs and priorities by engaging partners and stakeholders. Collaborate with other researchers and Extension faculty and private and public agencies to develop relevant science-based solutions to address prioritized challenges and opportunities.
• Engage with community-based and regional organizations to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development within local, regional, or state boundaries as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain efficient methods for addressing high volumes of topically repetitive clientele inquiries through scholarly outputs like Extension publications, videos, and other digital communications and engagement tools and strategies.
• Follow OSU and division brand guidelines, digital publishing standards and digital contact management data integrity practices for programmatic communications, marketing and engagement.

• Develop annual plans of work that address educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of Extension educational and research programs materials and digital communications.
• Regularly measure and report program impact in the Faculty Success online platform.
• Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices to support and enhance program delivery.
• Serve as a team member of the livestock, range and forages Extension working groups.
• Keep records and provide necessary reports to Extension Administration, the department and/or college, including plans of work, narrative reports, impact statements, statistical reports, and reports of accomplishments.
• Report outputs and outcomes to Extension regional directors and elected officials (where applicable) in the areas served.
• Provide community and statewide opinion leaders and decision makers relevant, science-based topical information when requested.
• Utilize appropriate and effective methods of communication to promote Extension programs and market Extension across Oregon and nationally.
• Attend training opportunities to build basic knowledge and consistent skills to use digital communications, marketing and engagement technologies relevant to position duties.
• This position requires driving throughout assigned region to provide these Extension educational programming and services.

• Conduct applied research activities that support Extension programming as well as demonstration projects in areas of specific need and clientele interest in forage, range, and/or animal sciences that emphasize multi-tactic practices, management, and novel technologies. Collaboration is expected with colleagues in other supporting disciplines including beef, range, livestock and other natural resources supporting disciplines.
• Evaluate and document applied research and Extension impacts of programs and communicate the results to target audiences.
• Communicate applied research progress and results to stakeholders and provide educational opportunities using peer reviewed publications, professional meetings, commodity group presentations, extension events and digital communication and engagement tools and systems (i.e., websites, publications, video conferencing and other online tools in a changing technological environment).
• Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and report research and Extension program impacts.
• Individually and as part of teams, secure outside grants, and contracts and/or service fees to support and enhance position-appropriate educational and applied research programs and service activities. The faculty member will be expected to meet all reporting requirements of the funding sources, department, college, and university.
• Keep abreast of, and interpret scientific, technological and industry developments and trends at state, regional, national, and international levels.

• Publications in peer‐reviewed journals which might encompass description and evaluation of novel community‐based professional practice or research application, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, or case reports among others.
• Authorship of extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials, and digital media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.

• Invited presentations, poster and podium presentations, and published abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels, provided that evidence of peer validation is provided.
• Documented impact due to local or regional adoption of improved practices, methods, or programs.
• Secured competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.
• Named inventor of a protected intellectual property in the faculty member’s field.
• Recognition as a professional practitioner in community settings as demonstrated by
  • honorary degrees
  • awards recognizing community, professional and/or scientific achievements
  • fellowships in national professional and/or scientific organizations
  • requests to serve as a technical advisor to government agencies, industry, or professional groups

• Participating in the periodic review of published website content for accuracy, readability and relevancy
• Utilizing library and open source resources for cataloging, citing and archiving
• Tagging, curating, descriptive titles and other methods to ensure scholarship displays where and how web visitors may look for it
• Sharing with peers, partners and media to encourage links to it from other websites and media sources

• Including diverse perspectives on the research team, particularly among co-principal investigators
• Emphasizing diversity to address broadening participation in grant proposals
• Writing articles and books that address issues of diversity/social justice
• Presenting conference papers on issues of diversity/social justice
• Increasing the diversity of students who serve as research assistants

• Serve as a liaison to area organizations that serve the position’s target audiences.
• Participate in departmental and faculty meetings and committees, and serve on departmental, Extension, College and University committees that are consistent with the duties of this position. There is an expectation to balance service at multiple levels within the institution with service to the profession (e.g. professional societies).
• Become involved in community service through cooperation with other agencies and organizations. Contribute to the common goals and needs of Extension.
• Serve as an advisor on industry boards such as Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Beef Council and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
• Develop and maintain year-round public relations connections natural resources agencies.
• Participate in professional development opportunities including in-service training, international volunteer technical consultancies, and active involvement in professional domestic and international societies and associations as appropriate.
• Service on local, state, regional, and national advisory committees, and task forces, as appropriate to position responsibilities.
• Assist with the maintenance of the OSU Extension system on a statewide level. Cooperate with agencies and organizations statewide and other relevant locations.
• Serve as a safe space point of contact for diverse students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences or Crop and Soil Science.
• Assist in cohesive marketing of Extension locally, regionally, and statewide.
• Attend training opportunities to build basic knowledge and consistent skills to use digital communications, marketing and engagement technologies relevant to position duties.
• Provide mentorship for newer faculty and students where applicable.
• Participate in appropriate professional and scientific organizations specific to the position discipline.
• Maintain active membership in appropriate professional organizations such as Society of Range Management.