About Extension

UConn Extension has more than 100 years' experience strengthening communities in Connecticut and beyond. Our educators are ready to work together with your community.

We are part of the nationwide Cooperative Extension System that connects the public with the research and resources of land-grant universities. UConn Extension is comprised of faculty and staff with Extension appointments across the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources’ nine departments.

UConn Extension’s local presence is led by the Department of Extension, which works collaboratively with other departments in CAHNR to deliver programs and research statewide. Extension educators within the Department of Extension are based at 8 Extension Centers located throughout the state and at UConn Avery Point (home to Connecticut Sea Grant). The administrative offices for UConn Extension and the Department of Extension are at the Storrs campus.

Strategic Initiatives diagram

Strategic Initiatives

Extension programs address the full range of issues set forth in CAHNR's strategic initiatives:

  • Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply
  • Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally
  • Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through anti-racist approaches
  • Advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate
  • Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces

We are identifying and dismantling structural racism in CAHNR Extension programs, policies, and practices, and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for antiracist policies, practices, and norms. 

View Programs by Strategic Initiative

agriculture icon

Agriculture & Food

Extension programs advance innovative and sustainable agricultural methods to help expand production of a safe and abundant local food supply. We work with farmers from urban and rural areas, on land and sea. 

health icon

Enhancing Health

We use interdisciplinary approaches to enhance health and prevent disease in humans, animals, and the environment. 

climate icon

Climate Resilience
& Adaptation

We engage and educate citizens in climate adaptation. Extension programs promote resilient and well-adapted coastal Connecticut communities and economies. 

sustainable icon

Sustainable Landscapes

We are developing environmentally aware citizens that participate in sustainable, healthy lifestyles, and improving our landscapes statewide in collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and community members.