Oregon State: Assistant Professor (Practice)

The full-time, fixed-term, Extension Field Crops position has an academic rank of Assistant Professor of Practice. The academic home of the Extension Field Crops Assistant Professor of Practice is the Department of Crop and Soil Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Extension Field Crops Assistant Professor of Practice reports to the Regional Director assigned to the Western region. Reappointment is at the discretion of the supervision team which includes the Western Regional Director, Department Head of Crop and Soil Science, and the Extension Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Program Leader. Active contributions to scholarship are required (refer to the scholarship section, below, for details).

There will be two Extension Field Crops Assistant Professor of PracticeNorth Valley positions: one located at the OSU Extension Marion County Office in Salem, Oregon and will cover Marion and Clackamas counties; and the other located at the OSU Extension Yamhill County Office in McMinnville, Oregon, and cover Yamhill, Polk and Washington counties.

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 leadership in the development, implementation, synthesis, and evaluation of Extension and applied research in crop production systems for grass seed, legume seed, hops, small grain cereals, and other field crops in the assigned counties.

• 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.
• Following a prioritized needs assessment, develop, facilitate, and implement a comprehensive field crops Extension program to meet the needs of agricultural producers in assigned counties.
• Deliver Extension non-credit education programs that may include demonstrations, workshops, field tours, and field days, as well as the use of multiple methods of electronic communication, including websites, publications, video conferencing, hybrid teaching, all PACE formats, and other digital/online methods for internal and external collaboration and/or information dissemination as appropriate.
• 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 the designated regions.
• Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and to report 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.
• 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.
• 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 appropriate commodity and/or producer organizations.
• Determine Extension program needs and priorities through use of local advisory groups, commodity commissions and other stakeholder groups, and meetings with field crop producers and industry leaders. Evaluate effectiveness and impact of Extension education programs and refine to meet changing needs.
• Further identify program needs and priorities by engaging commodity commissions. Collaborate with other researchers and Extension faculty and public and private 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 annual plans of work that address educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of Extension educational and applied research programs materials and digital communications.
• Measure and report regularly on 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 grass seed/clover Extension working group, as well as other workgroups related to the duties of this position.
• 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.
• Travel is required to provide these Extension educational programming and services throughout assigned counties.

• Conduct applied research activities that supports Extension programming as well as demonstration trials to develop or confirm management practices for field crop production in areas of specific need and clientele interest. Collaboration is expected with colleagues in other supporting disciplines such as weed sciences, entomology, soil sciences, and plant pathology.
• Evaluate and document applied research and Extension impacts of programs and communicate the results to target audiences.
• Collaborate with professional colleagues, industry members, and field representatives to develop and implement applied research programs in field crops.
• Communicate applied research progress and results to relevant audiences using peer reviewed publications, professional meetings, commodity group presentations, extension events and other digital communication and engagement tools and systems.
• Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and report applied research 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

• Be actively involved in regional and statewide Extension programs that promote engagement with communities across the state.
• Cooperate with agencies and organizations in the Willamette Valley and other relevant locations of the Pacific Northwest.
• Work with the Oregon Seed Certification Service on seed certification issues that arise in your assigned region.
• Serve on College, Departmental, and/or Extension committees. Maintain active membership and involvement in professional organizations.
• Attend training opportunities to build basic knowledge and consistent skills to use digital communications, marketing and engagement technologies relevant to position duties.