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Issue Papers

Extension administrators and program leaders identified 8 primary topic areas to focus our work in Massachusetts that are based upon our USDA mission, the research and teaching interests of UMass faculty and our staff capacity. Issue Papers were developed for each topic. The purpose of the Issue Papers is to provide an overview for each topic through the presentation of factual information and statistical data that provide an objective framework and background to inform Extension programs related to that topic.

The following papers are all pdf documents

Student Issue Papers

The following issue papers are the product of in-depth investigations by a group of UMass Commonwealth College students in a seminar sponsored by UMass Extension this year. The goal of their research has been to provide additional background for Extension planning teams. Participants focused on specific issues—within and between Extension's eight broad topic areas—that they believe will be particularly important in this first decade of the 21st century, considering public concerns and the nature of the land grant mission. Seminar participants are available for presentations on their findings. For more information, contact Will Snyder wsnyder@umext.umass.edu

The following papers are all Word documents