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Mission | Vision | Principles | Funding | Location
Areas of Emphasis | Sharpening Our Program Focus

Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.

Michigan has strong and healthy families and optimistic youth from all cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Michigan has a profitable, globally competitive and safe food system in harmony with its natural resources base.
Michigan has a citizenry of all ages who understand their role as stewards of the land.
Michigan has viable and caring communities capable of generating meaningful jobs and satisfactory income levels for all its citizens.

EXCELLENCE in educational programming and in our faculty and staff members.
PEOPLE and helping them meet their most pressing needs.
CHANGE to insure relevance and continued excellence.
OPENNESS and INTEGRITY in all our relationships.
DIVERSITY because differences enrich.
ACCESSIBILITY to MSU from every corner of the state and beyond.
PARTNERSHIPS in our community-based delivery model.

MSU Extension's funding is from the following sources:

13 percent from federal funds.

42 percent from state funds (including support for Project Greeen and the Animal Agriculture Initiative.

0.6 percent from general funds(state funding to the university).

7 percent from county funds through memorandums of understanding. Counties also provide an additional 21 percent for staff, office space, travel and other county-level operating expenses including in-kind expenses.

16 percent from outside grants.

Additionally, thousands of volunteers work with MSU Extension programs across the state to expand the organization's through the 4-H Youth Program, the Master Gardener and Master Woodland Manager programs, Citizen Planner and others.

MSU Extension offices and staff are in all 83 counties. Extension faculty on the Michigan State University campus conduct research and translate research results into educational programs. They act as resource people for Extension staff members in the counties. More than 29 academic departments and eight colleges work directly with Extension.

Extension provides information and offers on-going educational programs in three areas:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Children, Youth and Family Programs
Community and Economic Development

Michigan residents' needs and interests are the driving force behind MSU Extension programs. In 2001, volunteer county Extension council members, along with staff members in every Michigan county, went out into their communities to explore the challenges and issues facing people from all walks of life. Every county identified focus areas for local programming. They shared these county issues with stakeholders and staff members at regional meetings, and with MSU Extension leadership.

Building strong communities

Strengthening agricultural profitability

Encouraging responsible land and natural resource use

Building healthy families

Helping youth succeed

MSU Extension staff members in every county are now working to address the issues identified by their constituents.