Public issues are matters of widespread concern that frequently involve disagreement and controversy arising from differences in interests, beliefs and values.  The central goal of public issues education is to deliver educational programs designed to enhance society's capacity to understand and address public issues.
 
 
 

What is OSU Extension's role in PIE?

The mission of Ohio State University Extension, like Extension across the nation, is to help people improve their lives through an educational process using scientific knowledge focused on identified issues and needs.  People's lives can be improved by providing them with information and training which they use to pursue their own interests, and/or a process that allows them to work with others in their community to improve their collective well-being.  Extension has historically devoted most of its effort to the information and training approach.

One process approach received new prominence within Extension in 1992 with the publication of " Public Issues Education: The Cooperative Extension System's Role in Addressing Public Issues."   This position statement reviewed Extension's history with public issues, and asserted the increased importance of public issues education in the twenty-first century.

OSU Extension has also been actively involved with public issues education for years.  Current examples include: community development programs on land use conflicts, family and consumer sciences programming on food safety and on welfare reform, and programs focused on the environmental and social impacts of large-scale livestock operations.   Conducting such programs may place Extension professionals in controversial positions, but public issues education remains a priority for OSU Extension.. 

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What are the components of PIE?

Extension programming on public issues includes the following types of activities:

• identifying emerging public issues 
• analyzing policy alternatives 
• gathering and disseminating information about a public issue 
• designing a process for bringing together key stakeholders involved in a public issue 
• developing discussion guides for use at deliberative meetings and forums  
• convening and moderating public forums 
• designing dispute resolution processes for polarized conflicts

What are the challenges?

Public issues frequently involve value-based conflicts.  In dealing with such issues, Extension needs to be viewed by the public as fair, balanced and inclusive.  If an Extension professional plays an active role in such a dispute by providing information that appears to support one side, he/she will likely be viewed as favoring that side.  The fact that the information is " scientifically- derived" will not overcome this problem.  An effective issues education program is one that serves the information needs of all the interests involved. 

A related problem can arise for Extension professionals who provide ongoing advice and support to client groups (economic development groups, commodity groups, etc.). When public issues emerge involving the interests of these groups, it is particularly difficult for closely allied Extension professionals to avoid the appearance of bias.  In such situations it may be necessary to involve other Extension professionals to play the role of public issue educator.

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What roles can we play?

While it is best to monitor emerging community issues and design a public issues education program as early as possible, it is possible to play an educational role throughout the progression of a public issue.  The diverse possible roles to be played can best be conceived as "content roles," those deriving from academic expertise; and "process roles," which involve both knowledge of group processes and the experience needed to use these processes appropriately in politically charged settings.

Content Roles

• issue monitor - identifying emerging public issues 
• information provider - providing objective information on an issue to the public  
•  technical advisor - interpreting information for stakeholders 
• policy analyst - analyzing policy alternatives with their likely consequences 
• issue researcher - conducting applied research, such as public opinion polls

 Process Roles

• stakeholder/public position analyst - identifying people's interest in the issue  
• meeting convener/facilitator - bringing stakeholders together to seek solutions 
• public forums convener/moderator - developing a process to involve the public in seeking solutions for a public issue 
• designer/facilitator of a formal dispute resolution process - functioning as part of a trained Extension team in dealing with polarized disputes

Individual Extension professionals, in consultation with supervisors and advisory committees, will need to decide what role to play on any particular public issue.  The necessity of remaining neutral may lead some county extension faculty/staff to not get involved with some issues. In most cases, it is better to put together an Extension team to design and deliver the full range of programming. 

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For More Information

For more information regarding Public Issues Education please contact Dave Patton through the OSU Extension Community Development office, 25 Agricultural Administration Bldg, 2120 Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH 43210.  Phone #: 614-292-8436 or email patton.4@osu.edu.