What to do?

[Ruralguy]

Is there any kind of process at this place? Any rules such as a Faculty Handbook?

In absence of  real rules, follow local tradition, such as getting advice of a senior colleague and trying that.
If there are no trusted colleagues and the Chair is unhelpful,  then maybe you have to go to a Dean, but tread carefully.

[Vid]

Is the position tenure track?  It sounds a lot like the soft money positions some government labs negotiate with local universities.

I don't suppose that's relevant for liking it or not liking, but it might be very relevant for whether it's worthwhile to stay.

In any case I agree that a bad fit is a bad fit. People make those work, but you might as well look for other things.

Yes, it is TT position. I donot have Extension experience at all. it isnot related to my area. it seems they just wanted to pay part of my salary from Extension, this is how their payment system works. I asked my department chair to talk to Extension director and remove my 25% extension since it isnot relevant to my research. He said the Extension director doesn't want to lost 25%!! I feel nervous and I feel this might mess up with my career.

Thank you.

[Vid]

A lot of LGU faculty with Extension roles came to them without prior experience. This is a skillset you can learn. Most who do it find Extension  really rewarding.

One reward is that you make a meaningful, documentable positive impact on society.

Adult learners are different, so the pedagogical techniques are different from undergraduates. (Some CCs with older students will have more commonalities.)

You don't have to grade any papers, for instance.

People participate in extension because the really want to know the stuff you have to offer. They come with the test in hand, if you will, drawn from their life and work. They never ask "will this be on the test?"

The diversity of the audience means the programming has to be built differently. Some will have decades of professional experience in your topic, others none. Some will have a PhD in your topic, others left school at 18. But all want to do better through the material you are offering.

Doing good extension means having strong networks both in the research community and in the practitioner community. It sounds like your office location might be helpful for the latter. However,with a 75% research appointment, a lab on the main campus is essential for contacts and productivity. I'd work with your department chair and the university's Extension Director to come up with the locally persuasive rationale for getting you that space.

I'm confused. What kind of extension are we talking about? The OP says he misses teaching. It sounds like he's doing something like ag extension, not continuing ed.

Extension stakeholders are usually adults, often professionals in their field. There is a fair bit in agriculture, because that is where it began. But it is pretty broad now.

One area with great need is nutrition education, and it is mostly met thorough Extension rather than social services or healthcare providers.. There are people teaching new parents, usually, how to figure out what is a nutritious diet, and then how to make that happen in their household. The curriculum for that is developed by university faculty as part of their extension role.

The format is rarely course-based like continuing education.

Yes, you are right. I really donot understand ag related research and extension. I am from Engineering filed and have no clue about Extension really. Anyway as I said it seems they just wanted to pay part of my salary from Extension.

Thank you.