Released Jan. 9, 2008

A new virtual community has innovative ideas, resources and practical solutions to foster diversity. Extension specialists from across the nation are sharing information in six content areas: reaching diverse audiences, workforce diversity, professional development, organizational development and change, civil rights and legal issues and hot topics.

“Our vision is that the ‘Diversity Across Higher Education’ community of practice will be a one-step, one-stop premier Web site where anyone and everyone can find practical information and a plethora of solutions to address challenging diversity issues,” said Pamala Morris, director of multicultural programs at Purdue University.

The diversity community is one of many within a national initiative by land-grant universities. The diversity Web site joins other eXtension (pronounced e-extension) sites that have information on horses, personal finance, dairy cattle, cotton industry, horticulture, parenting, entrepreneurs and their communities, wildlife damage management and fire ants. Additional interest areas will launch throughout 2008.

The eXtension resource provides a platform to bring together experts from across the United States to share resources. Extension faculty and staff from Purdue University, New Mexico State University and the University of Wisconsin are leading the effort with more than 100 faculty and staff from across the country contributing. In addition, the three lead institutions are partnering with the Change Agent States (CAS) to maximize the resource base and provide cutting edge research to constituents.

eXtension is an educational partnership of more than 70 land-grant universities helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension’s interactive Web site, http://www.extension.org, is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Web sites. Land-grant colleges were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that colleges should teach liberal and practical subjects and share knowledge with people throughout their states.

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Contacts: Pamala Morris, Diversity Community of Practice, pmorris@purdue.edu

Terry Meisenbach, eXtension Communications and Marketing, (760) 318-0276, terry.meisenbach@eXtension.org

Lynette Spicer, eXtension Virtual News Room, (515) 294-1327, lspicer@iastate.edu, Iowa State University Extension Communications and External Relations