Using the Logic Model to Plan Extension and Outreach Program Development and Scholarship

Abstract

In searching for a process to help program teams of campus-based faculty and field-based educators develop five-year and annual statewide program plans, cooperative extension administrators and specialists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences discovered that the use of the logic model process can influence the successful design of specific programs as well as outreach scholarship. The team and logic model processes that were employed have helped educators identify goals, articulate measurable impacts, and evaluate their programs, resulting in both incremental and substantial organizational change. This article illustrates how the logic model process is an organizational and leadership tool. The authors share their perspectives on the logic model process, implementation strategies, and the benefits of developing a community of learners to enhance outreach.