COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING OR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (9/20/78)

ALSO,MEETINGS WERE HELD AT TUSKEGEE ON 9/12-13/78. PROGRESS WAS MADE IN ALL 5 MAJOR PROJECT AREAS -- RESEARCH,EDUCATION & TRAINING ,ADVISORY SERVICES,INFORMATION SERVICES AND LINKAGES & NETWORKS. HOWEVER,AGENCY REQUESTS FOR SHORT-TERM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DID NOT KEEP PACE WITH TUSKEGEE"S DESIRE FOR INVOLVEMENT. THE PURPOSE-LEVEL ASSUMPTION THAT THE REGIONAL BUREAUS WOULD IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE EXPERTISE DURING THE GRANT PERIOD PROVED UNFOUNDED. NEITHER THE REGIONAL BUREAUS,NOR THE MISSIONS TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO INVOLVE TUSKEGEE IN THEIR PROJECTS. A BROCHURE ENTITLED "TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT" HAS NOW BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO AID MISSIONS & BUREAUS AND OTHERS CONCERNED WITH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A BASELINE STUDY OF THE TRAINING OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORKERS WAS COMPLETED FOR AID/MALI DURING THE LATE SUMMER OF 1978. DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD,FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR 3 UNDERGRADUATE & 2 GRADUATE STUDENTS. IN ITS EFFORT TO DEVELOP INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES,TUSKEGEE SENT REPRESENTATIVES TO NUMEROUS MEETINGS INCLUDING SECID,THE 1890 LAND GRANT LOCIOLOGY COORDINATOR AND THE 1862 LAND GRANT BIFID MEETINGS. IN ADDITION, FOREIGN ASSIGNMNTS & CONTACTS INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO TRAVELED TO GUYANA & GAMBIA AND TEAMS SENT TO JAMAICA & WEST AFRICA. EVALUATORS STRESS THE NECESSITY OF ACQUAINTING AID PERSONNEL WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR UTILIZING TUSKEGEE. THE PROJECT EXPERIENCE POINTED UP THE NEED TO CONSIDER THE COMPETING OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY STAFF WHEN SCHEDULING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES. PERSONAL CONSTRAINTS SUCH AS LEAD TIME,SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO FACILITATE UTILIZATION.