What is Cooperative Extension?

For more than 90 years, the University of Maine has had the responsibility to reach out to Maine citizens and provide accessible education, leadership and service to the state. It is vital that we participate in community life and improvement as your land grant and sea grant institution. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension supports the University’s public education and service role by conducting Extension programs in every Maine county.

As we engage in teaching and learning, we listen to our audiences across the state and revise our educational programs accordingly. Our role as university educators working in Maine communities is to remain relevant and flexible by teaching practical life skills and providing contemporary information. The role of Maine citizens, as our partners, is to be involved, to supply feedback about what works and what we can improve, and to apply education in meaningful ways in their lives and communities.

We now live in the twenty-first century. Recent events have made us aware of the challenges we face in developing a healthy global community, as well as the opportunities we have to become a learning, caring society appreciative of diversity. We must unify around the principles of community improvement and citizenship. Maine citizens value learning as the key to building the lives they choose and developing healthy communities. We in Cooperative Extension commit to serving Maine with a deep appreciation of our roots and a profound belief that we can create an even better future together. In the process we will use our limited resources wisely and continue to partner with the people of Maine.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

• Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results (PDF or Word document)

• UMaine Extension Administrative Staff
   

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is part of the Cooperative Extension System, a publicly funded educational network. This network comprises the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the more than 100 colleges and universities that comprise the nation's Land-Grant University System, and 3,150 counties.

Nationwide, Extension includes 32,000 employees and 2.8 million volunteers. This partnership of federal, state and local governments was authorized to bring educational resources from universities to local communities by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Funding for Extension programs is provided through the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and subsequent amendments, state appropriations, county support, and outside grants and contracts.

Affiliated Programs, Partners and Resources