About Us

What is Extension?

Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU), administers the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.

At the University of Florida, Extension is located in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), along with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and is called UF/IFAS Extension.

Our Mission

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal, state, and county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and to making that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life.

Who We Are

UF/IFAS Extension encompasses thousands of Extension faculty members, scientists, educators, administrative staff, and volunteers, all working to provide solutions for your life. Nick Place, Ph.D., is the director of UF/IFAS Extension.

Administration

The Extension Administration Office is responsible for the management and direction of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. This office is staffed by the Dean for Extension / Director, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Associate Dean for Extension / Associate Director, the Assistant Dean for Extension / Agricultural Programs, and their support staff.

As part of its duties, the Extension Administration office allocates the budget for Extension programs to County Operations, Research and Education Centers, and Departments for the purpose of developing and disseminating educational materials and programs derived from university-based research. The Administration office also oversees In-Service Training and manages the State Major Programs and Design Teams.

For more information about the people of Extension Administration, please visit our Faculty & Staff page.

Extension Faculty Advisory Committee (EFAC)

The Extension Faculty Advisory Committee (EFAC) serves as a forum for the Dean for Extension to discuss items of concern to the organization. Committee members are also encouraged to identify system-wide issues for discussion. The advisory committee meets on a quarterly basis.

For a list of current committee members, please visit our EFAC page.