Strawman/Papers

Adopted –3/6/02

Proposed Procedures Establishing a Northeast Research & Extension Collaborative (NEREC)

Introduction

Collaborative research and extension involving institutions across the Northeast serve many purposes. Such initiatives better serve the public good by combining resources, expertise and delivery systems to address regional issues and needs. The scope, visibility and impacts of regional efforts exceed the capability of individual states or institutions, and maximize the investment of public and private funds.

The Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) established the minimum that a recipient of federal formula funds must expend “not less than 25%, or twice the 1997 expenditure base, whichever is less” on both multi-state and integrated research and extension efforts. Subsequent Federal Register Notification by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture established that in order to be considered multi-state or “functionally integrated” an activity must be “jointly planned, co-funded, and interwoven.”

NEREC Partners

The key partners in conducting a NEREC are the:

Existing NEREC’s

As of January 2002, the only active NEREC is that focusing on Northeast Pasture

There also exists a Northeast Integrated Pest Management Program, identified as a NEREAP (Northeast Research, Extension and Academic Program)

Structure and Procedure for Creating a NEREC

  1. A NEREC Committee comprised of two NEED representatives and two NERA representatives will receive and review proposals for creating a NEREC. The chairmanship will alternate between NERA and NEED.
  2. Proposals will be submitted to the NEREC Committee for a comprehensive review to determine their viability and relevance. Proposals approved by the committee will be forwarded to the chairs of NERA and NEED for review and action by each group. Proposals deemed unacceptable may be returned with recommendations for improvement or request for additional information.
  3. The NEREC Committee may identify a potential NEREC and encourage appropriate research and extension faculty to confer and explore regional interest in developing a NEREC proposal.

Procedures for Submitting NEREC Proposals

  1. NEREC proposals will be developed by interested states and submitted jointly to the NEREC Committee by at least one AES and one Extension faculty, and requires signatures of the appropriate AES and CE directors of participating institutions.
  2. Proposals must be for multi-state, integrated, multidisciplinary programs with cross-functional purposes, with sufficient scope and expected impact to be recognized as a Northeast regional program. Proposed projects must also comply with AREERA requirements for multi-state and integrated requirements with each participating institution able to document its funding contribution.
  3. Proposed NEREC projects should be established for a defined length of time but no longer than 5 years. Proposals for renewal of a NEREC will be submitted in the same manner and undergo the same review and approval process as those submitted for new projects.
  4. Proposals must include the following components (not to exceed 10 pages):
    • Statement of Issue and Justification
    • Objectives and Timeline
    • Expected Outcomes and Impacts
    • Research and Outreach Plan
    • Evaluation Plan
    • Internal and External Linkages
    • Governance
    • Funding Strategy and Budget (specify each participating institution’s funding/personnel commitment and any plans for securing external funding)
  5. If approved by both NEED and NERA, the NEREC will be considered authorized for implementation as described in the proposal. NERA and NEED will each appoint an administrative liaison for the NEREC.
  6. An annual report of progress and accomplishments is due to the Administrative Liaisons and participating institutions each year on December 31. The Administrative Liaisons will report to their respective NEED/NERA membership and convey any feedback to the NEREC.
February 1, 2002