The 2003 IMA Dr. Hope Richardson

Mentoring Dissertation Award

Awarded to Dr. Alan Ladd for his research study

"Applicability of Zey's Mutual Benefits Model for

Mentoring in the Cooperative Extension Service"

Dr. Alan Ladd (left) is shown receiving his award at the 2003 Philadelphia, PA annual conference, from Dr. Linda Stromei, Dissertation Award Committee Chair (center), and from a member of the Hope Richardson Family (right), for whom the award is named.

ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to examine the applicability of Zey's Mutual Benefits Model (1984) for the Cooperative Extension Service.

Cooperative Extension Service staff members in the states found in the North Central Extension Region of the United States and the states of peer institutions of Kansas State University were surveyed. These states were: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin for the North Central Region. States of peer institutions included Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oregon.

The study included staff in all Cooperative Extension Service programs in four areas of Extension work, which included agriculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth, and community and economic development.

Methodology

Three surveys were used in this study to identify the perspectives held by mentors, proteges and Cooperative Extension Service administrators regarding the advantages of a mentoring program. The participants for the mentor and protege samples were systematically selected by including every 10th individual from personnel directories for the mentor and protege surveys. The administrator for each state's mentoring program was asked to complete the organization survey.

A total of 683 surveys were mailed to Cooperative Extension Service faculty in the 16 states. There were 419 usable surveys mailed back for a return rate of 61.35%.

Findings
Research findings indicate that mentoring is perceived to benefit the mentor, protege and organization, but to differing degrees.

• Mentoring benefits the Cooperative Extension Service in reducing turnover and increasing productivity.
• Cooperative Extension staff members report mentoring to be helpful to proteges in increasing their knowledge of the job and providing personal support.
• The most important benefits to mentors were help in doing job and information.

In general, Zey s Mutual Benefits Model is applicable to the Cooperative Extension Service, but not all benefits are seen as equally important.

Needed Research
Further research is needed to confirm that mentoring is important in the areas of promotion, increased power and perks, loyalty, and prestige within the Cooperative Extension Service.

Congratulations to the author, Alan Ladd, Ph.D. who is the County Extension Director at Riley County Extension Office. He can be contacted at 110 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan, KS 66502-0111. His phone is 785-537-6350 and email is aladd@oznet.ksu.edu