The Program and Organizational Development (POD) website of University of Maryland Extension (UME) provides information and resources for the department. Included and continuously developing on the site are training, materials, and resources to be successful. Please explore the site to find our past/upcoming training offerings, materials on program planning, program development, evaluation and reporting, teaching effectiveness, publication, mentoring, promotion, and tenure resources.
Offerings for the Professional Development of Extension Faculty and Staff
UME Training Resources
UMD Trainings outside of UME
Spring Training 2025
UME Professional Development Schedule - Spring 2025
Join us for our Spring Training Series, designed specifically for junior faculty seeking professional development! While these sessions are tailored to support junior faculty, everyone is welcome to participate.
This training series aims to equip you with essential organizational information and practical tools for success in extension programs. Gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and connect with colleagues as you explore strategies to elevate your work and impact.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional growth! Register now and take the next step toward achieving your goals in extension programming. We look forward to seeing you there!
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker | Resources for Review | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, February 14, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Developing Your Promotion Timeline This session discusses how to develop a promotion timeline. While promotion may seem far away, it is not too soon to plan for scholarly works, writing, and promotion submissions. | Jackie Lewis Faculty Affairs & ENR Reporting Specialist Schedule a meeting with Jackie here | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Friday, February 28, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Preparing for 2025 Reporting | UMERS Data Collection and Data Entry Updates This session covers changes to the UMERS data entry forms for 2025 reporting. It guides Extension faculty and staff on accurately collecting and entering direct contacts and demographic data into UMERS. Faculty and staff learn about tools for streamlining data collection and cleaning, how to run reports in UMERS, and data privacy considerations. Tips for collecting demographic information in several common Extension programming scenarios are shared. | Aleena Aspervil UME Compliance Specialist & Team Leader of Internal Program Assessments Stephanie Orstad, PhD Director, Evaluation & Reporting Musab Salman Data Management Analyst, Evaluation & Reporting Dhruti Patel Senior Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Friday, March 28, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Survey Design & Qualtrics Part I of this session (Survey Design) will equip Extension faculty and teaching staff with the skills to design and distribute effective needs assessment and program evaluation surveys, resulting in meaningful metrics and quality data from their data collection efforts. Part II of this session (Qualtrics) will provide users with a foundational understanding of the platform's essential use to include account setup and basic navigation with an overview of the core features and functionality. Users will learn how to create and distribute surveys, and collect and analyze data to manage and report participant feedback. | Stephanie Orstad, PhD Director, Evaluation & Reporting Dacia Randolph, PhD Coordinator, Evaluation & Reporting | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. | View Recording |
| Rescheduled: New Date Friday, April 11, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Needs Assessment This session will cover the purpose of a Needs Assessment as a component of program planning and evaluation. Learners will be provided with examples of research and engagement tools and techniques that are to be employed with the three phases of the systematic process. Learners will be equipped to effectively use the findings from a Needs Assessment for developing a program. | Colby Silvert, PhD Assistant Professor & Co-Director | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. |
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| UPDATE: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM | NOW VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM | Writing Retreat (Session 1) What is a writing retreat? A writing retreat aims to allow educators dedicated writing time to progress any project in a supportive environment. Most of this session will be dedicated for writing, with brief scheduled discussions to generate solutions to brainstorming, writing problems, developing drafts, and providing feedback. Objectives: Brainstorming session, scholarly writing professional development, a minimum of 4 hours of dedicated writing time and networking. | Andrew Kling UME Associate Agent | Pre-Session Materials: Academic Writing Amplified: Your Publishing Problem is NOT Time - Planning Document and Worksheet:
To prepare -
Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the supplemental resources. | View Recording |
| Friday, May 2, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Grant Writing This session will focus on identifying suitable grants and crafting compelling proposals to secure funding, effectively. Participants will learn how to research opportunities, align their projects with funding priorities, and create proposals that stand out to reviewers. In the second half, we'll dive into AgPAS (PreAward Service), exploring grand documentation and submission processes. | Nevin Dawson Professional & Development Program Assoc. Coordinator, Northeast SARE Ora Rollins AGNR Assist. Director, Pre-Award Services (AgPAS) Alejandro Marroquin Contract Administrator, UME Pre-Award Services (AgPAS) | Pre-Session Reading Materials Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
CANCELLED Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Webinar (Via Zoom) | Planning Your Extension Event This webinar will review Extension event considerations for planning, promoting, and conducting a successful event. This session will cover policies and best practices. | Jennifer Bentlejewski, EdD Area Extension Director - WMD | Pre-Session Reading Materials Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | View Recording |
Fall Training 2024
UME Professional Development Schedule - Fall 2024
Join us for our Fall Training Series, designed specifically for junior faculty seeking professional development! While these sessions are tailored to support junior faculty, everyone is welcome to participate.
This training series aims to equip you with essential organizational information and practical tools for success in extension programs. Gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and connect with colleagues as you explore strategies to elevate your work and impact.
Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional growth! Register now and take the next step toward achieving your goals in extension programming. We look forward to seeing you there!
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker | Resources for Review | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 27, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Planning Your Extension Program and Preparing Your IEP The session will provide the process for completing your Individual Extension Plan (IEP). The IEP is the faculty’s individual response to the UME Programmatic Plan, which will be used to guide the year's programming efforts. IEPs are due October 14th. |
Stephanie Orstad, Shannon Dill, Program Leaders or Representatives Followed by Office Hours on October 2nd and 4th (9AM - 12PM) https://umd.zoom.us/my/sdill |
Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/program-planning-evaluation-and-assessment/program-planning/individual-extension-plan-iep/ Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
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| Friday, October 18, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Working with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) This session will cover the purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and its importance in human subject research. We will guide you through IRB steps, including account setup, CITI certification, and form submissions, and we will share best practices. You will also receive a demonstration of the IRB system and information on the submission and amendment process. |
Dacia Randolph, Samantha (Sam) Martocci - IRB Office | Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/program-planning-evaluation-and-assessment/program-planning/institutional-review-board-irb/ Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. |
View recording |
| Friday, November 1, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Documenting Teaching Effectiveness As a faculty member at UMD, it's essential to gather feedback on your teaching effectiveness from your students. This session will guide you through using the General Teaching Effectiveness form, required for classes taught to the general public, ages 14 and up. We will cover best practices for distributing the data, emphasizing using the online survey link for streamlined data collection. |
Jeff Howard |
Pre-Session Reading Materials - https://extension.umd.edu/about/program-and-organizational-development/teaching-resources/teaching-effectiveness/ Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials. |
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| Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
In-person Howard County Extension Office, 8930 Stanford Blvd, Suite 25 The Ascend One Building, Columbia, MD 21045 |
Designing and Implementing Your Extension Logic Model This session will review the basics of a logic model to create and evaluate an Extension Program. The morning session will discuss the mechanics of the logic model, and the afternoon will work through creating a logic model for your program. The session will also provide networking time and collaboration with your promotion cohort. |
Jackie Lewis, Shannon Dill, Stephanie Orstad, Program Representatives | Registration closed as of 11/3/2024 | |
| Friday, November 15, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Writing Impact Statements This session will provide you with the skills and strategies to effectively communicate the significance and outcomes of your work. Impact statements are crucial for demonstrating the value of your programs to reviewers, stakeholders and funders. |
Shannon Dill | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
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| Friday, November 22. 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) |
Collecting Your Program Outputs, and Reporting in UMERS | Stephanie Orstad, Chuck Schuster | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials | |
| Friday, December 13, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Developing Your CV Join us for a training session on creating a comprehensive CV tailored to the University of Maryland Extension (UME) standards. This workshop will guide you through organizing your scholarship, teaching, and service activities into a well-structured CV that reflects your professional achievements. This session will give you the tools and tips to showcase your accomplishments effectively. |
Jackie Lewis | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
View Recording & CV Reference Documents
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| Friday, December 20, 2024 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Webinar (Via Zoom) | Preparing for Your Annual Faculty Review (AFR) | Jackie Lewis | Post Session: UME faculty may contact Dacia Randolph at daciar@umd.edu to request the webinar materials |
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Looking for previous webinars!
All our recorded webinars can be found on our Youtube channel.