Concerns about the inclusion of programs in the College that are more oriented toward human and community development fail to recognize the important roles that these play in driving agriculture's scientific achievements and understanding a consumer-driven economy. The newly reorganized College of ACES has shown that it is willing to adapt and be receptive to the social, economic and scientific changes that are happening. Cooperative Extension programs in the State of Illinois have expanded into urban as well as rural areas and address a comprehensive list of health, nutrition, child care, parenting, and economic issues in both environments. Its primary focus has been to serve as a training ground for students entering into early childhood education and social service occupations and as a research locale for many investigators in the College. Teaching, research and outreach programs are becoming more integrated and taking a systems approach.
Applied research is a focus of many programs and includes evaluations of impact on the users.
Faculty and staff are willing to change directions to achieve the College's goals. The College of ACES will sort out what it can and will do from what stakeholders want to do. The College of ACES will begin a dialog with the stakeholders to help fully integrate the historical components of the College to achieve the unified mission set forth in the reorganization. The faculty and staff will work to integrate the social and environmental aspects and effects of research programs into teaching, research and outreach programs, operating within a multidisciplinary systems approach. An improved public relations and marketing effort will enable the College to more accurately communicate its strengths to its stakeholders and clients.