Cooperative Extension Service (CES)

The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) of the University of Maryland was founded in 1914 as a result of the Smith-Lever Act, which provided for federal support of programs designed for the improvement of community life. The Cooperative Extension Service primarily concentrates its activities in eight areas:

1) agricultural profitability

2) natural resources

3) diet, nutrition and health

4) human capital development

5) family economic stability

6) agricultural technology for urban audiences

7) profitability of marine industries

8) enhancing community vitality

The federal support provided was made available to academic institutions created under either the 1862 or 1890 Land Grants. Funding is also provided by all twenty-three counties and Baltimore City, and in return, the CES places representatives in each of these regions to help actuate their programs, while the researchers and specialists can remain on the campuses of the University of Maryland to develop the programs. In order to achieve their goals, the CES cooperates extensively with the University of Maryland's College Park and Eastern Shore campuses. The University often provides the buildings and materials needed for workshops and conferences, and supports research of efficient systems of agriculture, health, and economics. The service is also actively involved in community awareness programs.

In order to "extend the classroom to all parts of the state," the CES conducts farm or home visits, workshops, training conferences and demonstrations, and produces publications and radio and television programs. It provides the "off-campus, non-credit, out-of-classroom" education to many of the state's farmers, marine workers, and rural and urban homemakers need, regardless of their race, color, creed, sex, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, or handicap.