The annual National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) provides a venue for professional development, information sharing, and networking to state Cooperative Extension, Agricultural Experiment Station, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) staff including the opportunity to share and exchange current and relevant best practices, discuss policy, obtain definitive interpretation of regulations, and discuss future issues pertinent to operating the Land-grant University (LGU) system and other cooperating institutions. NERAOC serves individuals at Land-grant institutions in all regions as defined by the APLU Board on Agricultural Assembly (BAA) Experiment Station Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP) and Extension Section Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP).

The NERAOC serves members by advancing the fields of fiscal, grant (competitive and capacity), administrative, communications and marketing, and human resources management through professional development, the sharing of knowledge, and by promoting diversity and collaboration among federal and state and international partners to include 1862, 1890, 1994, Forestry Schools, Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and others as appropriate.

This year’s theme "Elevating Our Communities" will highlight the community of NERAOC, the community of Land Grant Institutions, the community of the partnership with USDA-NIFA, and all other communities implanted. Through engaging presentations, hands-on sessions and round table discussions, the conference will strengthen professional development and information sharing to include networking time with colleagues from across the nation.