February 19, 2008

Purdue hosts national Internet diversity resource

Part of eXtension, an online service affiliated with Cooperative Extension and land-grant universities nationwide, the National Extension Diversity Center provides the public with helpful resources, information and tools that anyone can use. 

"The National Extension Diversity Center consists of a Web site with concept papers, published articles and research that provide multiple perspectives about diversity," said Pamala Morris, assistant dean and director of diversity programs for Purdue's College of Agriculture.

Located at https://www.extension.org/pages/Diversity_Center, the virtual center is designed as a national site that links people to information on diversity issues.

"One of our goals is to anticipate, plan and prepare for challenges that could and do arise in relation to diversity," Morris said.

Morris said as the U.S. population changes, the Extension system is providing information in order to meet the needs. There is information that focuses on communities, families and farms.

"Extension is in a prime position to make an impact nationally by addressing and researching key issues that challenge different ways of thinking about diversity," Morris said. "Purdue is the leader of the effort."

A public launch of eXtension and the National Extension Diversity Center Web site will take place Thursday and Friday (Feb. 21-22) in Washington, D.C., at the Agricultural Outlook Conference.

Purdue leads and operates the National Extension Diversity Center site with assistance from New Mexico State University and the University of Wisconsin, which supply marketing and technical support.

The center was first created in 1992 as a physical facility at Kentucky State University. After the facility closed in the late 1990s, the center became Web based and was hosted by Oregon State University in 2001. Morris has been involved with the National Extension Diversity Center for almost 12 years.  

The National Extension Diversity Center is part of the new diversity area established on the eXtension site. Purdue and Morris also provide leadership for the virtual Diversity Across Higher Education Community of Practice that is now home to many different initiatives such as diversity, civil rights, reaching diverse audiences and more.

Purdue also contributes expertise on horses and personal finance as part of two other eXtension communities of practice.

"A community of practice is a group of people brought together to focus on a specific topic," Morris said. "It pulls together all these different initiatives under one single focus and provides valuable information and expert advice to the public."

For more information about the Diversity Community of Practice or eXtension, visit https://www.extension.org.

eXtension provides advice from experts at land-grant institutions on a number of topics. With 16 communities of practice and a database of 36,000 frequently asked questions, eXtension draws on the popularity of online social networking for individuals interested in specific topics.

Writers:    Natalie Federer, (765) 494-8406

Beth Forbes (765) 494-2722, forbes@purdue.edu

Source: Pamala Morris, (7650 494-9586, pmorris@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Pamala Morris will be in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 21-22) to participate in the national launch of eXtension. She may be reached for comment via e-mail at pmorris@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page