Frequently Asked Questions
New Program Leadership Team (PLT) & Plans of Work (POWs)
Q: What about COERS?
A: COERS will continue to be in use for the reporting year October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010. Please continue entering your data for that time period. All reporting for COERS must be complete by December 1, 2010. Upon completion of your September reports you will no longer be using the COERS system. Information will be sent regarding the new planning and reporting system as it becomes available.
Q: What is the difference in a Plan of Work (POW) and a Plan to Invest?
A: The Plans of Work are submitted by the Work Teams. They are entered into the NEW Colorado Planning and Reporting System for use by individuals when they create their own Plans to Invest.
Q: What are we calling our primary programming areas?
A: What we used to call “Core Competency Areas” (CCAs) were for a short time “Strategic Programming Areas” (SPAs) and now we refer to these as “Program Areas” (PAs). The Program Area Leader is your “PAL”.
Q: Who needs a Plan of Work (POW)?
A: Work Teams (WT)
Q: How many indicators can/should a WT submit? What is the range (minimum/maximum)?
A: Submit as many as you need to document your work. Each indicator should be clearly aligned with an intended outcome/impact.
Q: Do we have to use the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) indicators?
A: If they fit for you, you can use them. The Program Leadership Team (PLT) has reviewed them and wants them to be areas of focus. However, they are provided as guidelines, not requirements.
Q: Will/when will PLT combine indicators so anyone making an individual Plan to Invest can find them without searching the site, or clicking them more than once?
A: PLT meets regularly and will inform data entry for the new reporting system.
Q: What about unintended outcomes, such as volunteers increasing their own personal knowledge and skills (vs. increasing Extension capacity)?
A: Goals for a WT will be addressed through outputs, and outcomes/impacts will be measured and reported. If the WT goals include these outcomes, then there will be outcomes/impacts identified, and indicators available for measuring success.
Q: POW template: #1, e – does “other funds” include staff salaries?
A: Yes, but the individual staff/faculty member may receive some financial support from CSUE
Q: What do Resource Teams (RT) need to provide?
A: Output measures as indicated in sections 6 and 7 of the POW Template. What do you want to know, as a RT, at the end of the program year? (Outcome/impact measures are in each WT POW)
Q: Using the POW Template, would RTs use #6 & #7?
A: Yes
Q: What if RTs act as resources directly to external audiences?
A: RT Leader & WT Leader will negotiate outcomes so that they are part of the WT POW.
Q: Who are WT/RT Leaders for the various PAs?
A: Current WT and CCA Leaders will continue through this transition process.
Q: How will VM groups report?
A: Volunteer management groups will report numbers of volunteers recruited, trained, retained, etc., and also numbers of hours contributed, numbers of contacts, etc. These outputs should be coordinated with the appropriate WTs.
Q: Why are VM groups separate from WTs and RTs?
A: Volunteers are considered a delivery method that increases the capacity of Extension to meet WT goals and accomplish outcomes/impacts. These results (outcomes/impacts for individuals, families, communities because of the Extension work that volunteers have done) are reported through WTs
Q: Who are the primary reviewers?
A: The PA Leader is the primary reviewer for any WT in the PA
Q: Is being the member of at least one Work Team required and is membership on resource/ volunteer/ external teams optional depending on your position?
A: Membership on WTs is dependent upon your current position description and where appropriate. Every agent should be a member of at least one WT. Specialists should be members of WTs where appropriate. RT membership is dependent upon your position description and interest. VM team membership is essential if you are actively involved with that group of volunteers.
Q: If your old Work Team is now a Resource Team, do you need to find the most appropriate Work Team to join?
A: If your former WT is now a RT, you are only expected to join a WT if it is appropriate for your position description; however, the WT that will be using the majority of the indicators that you generate may be an appropriate WT to join. These relationships may be cross-listed between PA groups.
Q: My Work Team (WT) is now listed as a Resource Team (RT). Are we expected to submit a Plan of Work (POW)?
A: RTs are not expected to prepare a Plan of Work (POW). However, what is important is that each RT develop a set of indicators and output plans and deliver those to the appropriate Work Teams (WT) where that work will be used. For instance, the Pest Management and Water RTs are active with the Environmental Horticulture WT with LawnCheck. Both of those RTs are also active with WTs in the Competitive and Sustainable Agriculture Systems Programming Area (PA) under Plant and Crop Agriculture. Therefore, it is important that the RT leadership communicate with the WT leadership of those areas where appropriate.
Q: How can I indicate partners that my WT may engage in the future?
A. You can start with the list of collaborators and partnering agencies that you reported last year. That will give a start-up list and others can be easily added.
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Updated Monday, August 29, 2011
