Training Needs Of Area Specialized Extension Agents in the North Carolina Extension Service

The study determined the level of agreement between ASEAs and their administrators and subject-matter specialists as to the competency areas considered most important to the effectiveness of the agents. The study also determined the specific items within the competency areas that ASEAs would like to have included in their in-service training. Selected demographic characteristics were collected to determine characteristics such as agents' age, race, gender, level of education, and years of experience.

The population for this study consisted of 66 ASEAs, 49 administrators, and 18 subject-matter specialists employed by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Data were collected by mailing the questionnaire accompanied by a letter from the director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service announcing the study and providing details on its nature, use of the data, and instructions for completing the questionnaire.

The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS-X). Frequencies and means were used to describe the research objectives. Demographics were surveyed using an instrument developed for that purpose by the researcher.

Major findings included several items. In terms of importance, ASEAs, administrators, and specialists rated program planning highest. In rating the need for training, ASEAs, administrators, and specialists also rated program planning highest. Specific items in the program planning competency area that were rated important, 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, were the role of area agents, involving lay people, long-term program development, area agent programming, developing programs, and evaluation. The only important differences among groups--ASEAs, administrators, and specialists-~regarding specific items were in their ratings of the need for training of the items of history, philosophy, University USDA-partner, and county responsibilities in the general competency area of organization and administration. An important differences among groups was also observed in ratings of need for training in the program planning competency area for the specific item program planning. No other important differences were found. The majority of ASEAs held master's degrees. Over 50% of ASEAs had a tenure as ASEA of 5 years or less, and over 50% had a tenure with the Extension Service of 6 years or less. The majority of ASEAs were male; only 18% were female. The majority of ASEAs were Caucasian; only 5% were minorities. From the data gathered in this study, a proposed Area Specialized Extension Agent Development Institute was developed.