Assessing Extension Engagement and Collaboration Through the Virginia Cooperative Extension Situation Analysis Process

Engagement and collaboration among Extension personnel and community stakeholders are critical for maintaining the relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of Cooperative Extension programs. This study examined internal and external perceptions of collaboration during the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Situation Analysis process, which is a formal, statewide assessment conducted every five years to identify and prioritize local community issues. The purpose of this study is to gain additional insight into the perceptions of collaboration between and among employees and stakeholders who participated in the VCE Situation Analysis process and to better understand areas for professional development for employees and stakeholders regarding this process. The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the perceived strength of collaboration from internal and external perspectives, (2) compare these perceptions across groups, (3) identify differences or similarities in perceived collaborative strength, and (4) determine areas for employee development to enhance future engagement. A modified Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory (WCFI), excluding the Environment and Resource domains, was administered via Qualtrics to 420 identified participants, yielding 167 responses (39.7% response rate). Quantitative data were analyzed across four collaboration domains: Membership Characteristics, Process/Structure, Communication, and Purpose. Mean ratings across all respondents who completed the survey (n = 102) indicated moderate to strong collaboration (M = 3.71 on a 5-point Likert scale), with the Purpose domain receiving the highest mean (M = 3.78) and Process domain the lowest (M = 3.64). External stakeholders consistently rated collaboration higher (M = 4.10) than internal participants (M = 3.63). The highest-rated indicator was "I have a lot of respect for other people in this collaboration" (M = 4.20), while the lowest was "All of the organizations that we needed to be members of this collaborative group became members" (M = 3.12). Qualitative data from open-ended survey responses (N = 50) and 16 follow-up interviews identified recurring themes of community connection, issue identification, and the need for enhanced communication and engagement strategies. Participants emphasized that stakeholder involvement improves the accuracy of community needs assessments, strengthens trust, and supports the development of relevant, high-impact programs. Key skills identified for effective collaboration included soft skills (listening, communication, facilitation, leadership) and technical competencies (data analysis, process knowledge, time management). Findings suggest that while VCE demonstrates strong collaborative intent and mutual respect, gaps remain in stakeholder inclusion and communication consistency. Improving stakeholder engagement through targeted employee development, intentional outreach, and clearer process communication could strengthen future Situation Analyses. Overall, the study underscores that effective collaboration not only enhances Extension's local relevance but also reinforces accountability and support at federal, state, and local levels.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural and Extension Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Lonnie L. Jr.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Kaufman, Eric K.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Board, Barbara A.
• Archibald, Thomas G.
• Grisso, Robert Dwight

• collaboration
• engagement
• stakeholder participation
• Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory
• community development
• Virginia Cooperative Extension

Statement dc:rights

• Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:45534

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140687