Effects of the University Of Georgia Cooperative Extension New Agent Training Program on the retention of 4-H Youth Development Extension Agents

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate what effects the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension New Agent Training Program might have on employee retention, specifically that of 4-H Agents. The three main objectives of this study were to determine which parts of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension New Agent Training Program were perceived as most valuable to 4-H Agents, which parts were criticized by 4-H Agents or perceived as not beneficial, and finally how the New Agent Training Program may have affected participants decisions to remain employed by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension as a 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent or to terminate employment. Findings show that while participants value the New Agent Training Program there is a much stronger relationship between county office and community situation and job satisfaction and retention. The development of competency-based County Extension Coordinator trainings may then assist with employee retention.