Among higher education institutions in our nation are land-grant universities (LGUs). All universities engage in research and teaching, but LGUs have a third mission area: Extension. Extension connects communities to LGUs through community outreach, education, and engagement. The Extension mission of LGUs is delivered by Cooperative Extension (CE). There are thousands of CE offices across the U.S. which bring the resources of their university to the people.

LGU History

The LGU system was created through the Morrill Land-Grant legislation signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 (the same year the USDA was created). The purpose of land-grant institutions was to support public science and education in agriculture and “mechanic arts.” A second Morrill Act in 1890 created land-grant institutions for Black Americans. Additional legislation in 1994 gave land-grant status to the 29 Native American colleges in the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. 

The Extension Mission 

All universities are places of research and teaching, but LGUs have a critical third mission: Extension. “Extension” education focuses on connecting communities to LGUs through community outreach and education. The Extension mission of LGUs is achieved through Cooperative Extension, a national program legislated by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

Cooperative Extension leverages federal, state, and local funding to bring the resources of LGUs to the local communities they serve. Cooperative Extension is the community presence of LGUs, based in thousands of county offices across the nation. We provide trusted outreach and education in agriculture, food and nutrition, natural resources, and youth and family development. This education helps people and communities solve problems, build capacity, and create a better future.

Cooperative Extension:

• Connects people to their university;
• Offers science-based solutions; 
• Provides information that is trustworthy, unbiased, and practical; 
• Addresses local concerns; and 
• Facilitates problem-solving and community outreach.