There may be times when such participation on a board could be controversial and be publicly interpreted as a conflict of interest for Extension involvement. Refer to the Handbook policy on Participation On Non-Partisan Boards and Committees for guidance in determining participation. Extension staff are expected to act on behalf of and in the best interest of the citizenry. A conflict of interest arises when a person acts, or appears to act, on behalf of someone other than the citizenry. It is inappropriate for Extension staff to indicate the endorsement of a commercial good, product or service.
Extension is toe b a resource for unbiased, research-based information.
When called upon to suggest products or services during the course of their educational delivery, staff are encouraged to recommend alternatives in the marketplace, as opposed to specific brand recommendations. Disclaimers should be used in print or media presentations to indicate that product or service endorsements are not made or implied.