Technology Tips for New Employees

Connecting with Your New Communities


Tips for New Extension Agents


As new Extension agents, you have suddenly become very connected.


When you were hired, you became members of several new communities, including some or all of the following: a new home, a new town, a new county, a county center office, your county government, NC State University, NC A&T State University, N.C. Cooperative Extension, and the national Land-Grant University System.


Over the course of your careers, you'll see your communities form and expand to include more peers and colleagues as you take classes, serve on committees, participate in county, multi-county or multi-state collaborations, and become active in professional organizations. In doing your jobs you'll also be participating in, working with, and forming new communities of learners.


Some, if not all of you are already members of some virtual communities and social networks, such as Facebook or Twitter.


So how do you find time to establish your identity and connect with your peers in these many communities while you are also building and offering your educational programs within your counties? There are technology tools to help you with this process. Some of the tools were built especially for N.C. Cooperative Extension. Commercial social media applications may also become valuable to you for collaborating with your peers and reaching your clientele.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Tools


All of the tools mentioned below are linked from the One-Stop Shop, http://oss.ces.ncsu.edu/


Help the public and your peers find you:

  • Access the Extension Employee database (XEMP) to
    • Update your contact info
    • Upload your photo
    • Enter your areas of responsibility
    • Search the Responsibilities database for other N.C. Cooperative Extension employees
  • Use your county web site
    • Write news articles
    • Customize your topic area pages

Connect with co-workers:

  • Subscribe to the Announce mailing list if you want to be in the informal loop. This list is used by employees to share information about weddings, births, retirements, deaths, etc. of interest to extension employees. (managed by subscription). Instructions for this list and others  are listed here.

NC State Tools:

  • Use Zoom web conferencing for formal and informal work-related meetings
    • All faculty and staff with a Unity ID can host meetings.
    • Anyone can attend meetings.

Extension Foundation


The Extension Foundation is a collaborative environment where Land-Grant University System content providers exchange objective, research-based knowledge to solve real challenges in real time. NC State is a premier member of eXtension.



Social Media


Online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other.


Become familiar with NC State's Social Media Best Practices and Guidelines


Where to learn more

  • Computer contacts
    • Your office has one or more "Computer Contacts." Check with your County Extension Director to find out who holds this role in your office. Computer Contacts can help you with many technology related questions or direct you to the appropriate source of additional help.

  • CES Help Desk
    • The CES Help Desk provides information and computer support for Extension Information Technology supported hardware and software.
    • If you need Help Desk support after talking with your computer contact, you may reach the CES Help Desk by calling 919-513-7000 or emailing [eithelpdesk@ncsu.edu]
    • If you are in a county that receives IT support from your local county IT group, you should contact them for any questions specific to your equipment or county provided software.
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Scott Byrd