Competency based training program in horticulture for County Extension Agents in North Carolina

Frequently new County Extension Agents were entering the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service (NCCES) and a pressing need developed to keep established agents at the cutting edge of technology. Thus, the organization was beset with the difficulty training agents of vastly different backgrounds and experiences. To help resolve this situation a five-tier training program was established. The training program takes a competency-based approach as presented in the NCCES training program called Personal and Organizational Development (POD). The five tiers are as follows: 1) Technical orientation and mentoring; 2) Basic topics; 3) Intermediate topics; 4) Advanced topics; 5) Graduate level courses taught to accommodate agent schedules. The program for horticulture was developed using a representative group approach. A planning team was drawn from volunteers representing agents and specialists in various horticultural specialties and specialists from supporting disciplines. First, training needs were determined with survey of learners. Then the planning group discussed the needs and formulated a plan that accounted for the employee's background and experience. The proposed plan was sent to the planning group for review and modification and later to all horticulture specialists for further comment. Then the plan was sent to all horticulture agents for their suggestions and modifications were made. Finally, the plan was discussed with those leaders who are responsible for agent career development, where it received a favorable response. The training program has been initiated and met with favorable response from trainees, trainers and administrators.