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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University has aligned its two major outreach programs – the Extension Service and Extended Campus – into a single comprehensive unit designed to broaden OSU’s reach throughout the state.

Scott Reed, dean and director of the OSU Extension Service since September of 2005, will serve as vice provost for the new division, University Outreach and Engagement, and as director of Extension. His new duties begin immediately.

“This is the beginning of a strategic and systematic shift to position OSU to become a leader in defining and delivering its engagement and outreach mission to Oregon and beyond,” said Sabah Randhawa, the university’s provost and executive vice president. “Our aspiration is to increase the university’s impact on communities through building partnerships to address pressing economic, educational and social needs.”

OSU Extension, which offers programs in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, is the university’s most visible and far-ranging service organization. It disseminates research-based knowledge and provides educational services focusing on community livability, economic vitality, natural resources sustainability, and the health and well-being of Oregon’s citizens. Extension’s five program areas are 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture, Family and Community Development, Forestry, and Marine Science/Sea Grant Program.

Extended Campus is an OSU initiative designed to offer the university’s academic programs to a variety of constituents – through differing methods – without necessitating their appearance on campus. What began as a “distance learning” program a few years ago has expanded to encompass K-12 programming, the university’s Summer Session, a Virtual Tribal College initiative, and professional training for working adults.

Working together, these two programs can offer more to the state of Oregon, Randhawa emphasized.

“Among the first goals will be to develop new extended education programs, new online degree programs, and new workforce development opportunities – particularly in the Portland metro area,” Randhawa said. “The collective expertise of the OSU faculty is immense and the university will use this new alignment to broaden our influence and impact on Oregon.”

Other goals of the new alignment include:

• Promote entrepreneurship in developing new programs and new markets;
• Develop partnerships to identify new resources, leverage existing resources, and develop a business model for long-term sustainability;
• Create overseas partnerships to develop relevant university programs;
• Provide operational efficiencies through shared services and support.

Reed said the university also will seek the newly established Carnegie classification for Curricular Engagement, Outreach and Partnership within the next three years.

“This strategic development will enhance the performance of two already strong organizations at OSU and open doors to more effectively extending the university’s resources to those who need them,” Reed said.

Reed came to OSU from the University of Minnesota in 1990, when he was named assistant dean of the OSU College of Forestry and took over program leader for Extension's forestry program. Five years later, he was promoted to full professor and associate dean, and in 2000, he was named executive associate dean of forestry.

He is a 1975 graduate of Michigan State University, where he also earned a master's degree – both in forestry. He has a Ph.D. in forest economics and policy from the University of Minnesota.