Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/10
Outputs
This project was designed to enhance employment, recruitment, and retention rates at the Delaware State University (DSU) by addressing the need to understand the environmental consequences of raw material production in agriculture, the actual agronomy and silviculture of raw material production, and the production stages from raw material to the runway. In fall 2009 the PI conducted post survey to summer 2009 participants to measure student leaning outcomes. At the same time, nine students participated in this project and made a group presentation at the Fall Delaware Association Family and Consumer Sciences Meeting. In spring 2010 students presented their research/creative projects at Delaware State University Honor's program and at Textiles and Apparel Studies (TAS) fashion show. The PI introduced this project at the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences annual meeting as a showcase curriculum in June 24-26, Cleveland, Ohio. The Co-PI executed a three week non-residential summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors who would be potential recruited into the Textiles and Apparel Studies program in the Department of Human Ecology, Delaware State University upon graduation from high school. The PI executed a 7-week program with the undergraduate students in TAS program. Ten TAS students took HMEC-213: Agriculture and the Fashion Industry, and they participated in this project. The course was designed two parts. The first part of the program was offered at DSU for four weeks (June 7th to July 2nd); the second part of the course was offered at Claflin University for three weeks (July 6th to July 23rd). From the first part of course, students were able to understand the interrelationship fashion pipeline, from raw materials, textile mills, apparel manufacturers, retailers, and consumer. From the second part of course, students participated in hand-on experiences and visited cotton processing facilities (Cameron Cotton Farm, USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center, USDA Marketing Service Agency, Museum, and Textile/Clothing Technology Corp.). PRODUCTS: Three students who participated in summer 2009 presented their final projects at the Delaware State University Honor program on March 2010. In addition, six students who were participant in summer 2009 presented their final projects at Textiles and Apparel Studies Program Fashion Show in April 2010. During summer 2010, the total of twenty-one individuals (11 high school students and 10 DSU undergraduate students) participated in this project. Ten undergraduate students in Textiles and Apparel Studies Program in the Department of Human Ecology Student earned four credits as a TAS Elective class. Fifty copies of course syllabus and DVD were distributed to Family and Consumer Sciences professions. OUTCOMES: This project enabled students to understand the strong link between agriculture and fashion, and accordingly they would be become spokespeople for agriculture in their community. In addition, students built a team spirit in the department, and they mentored new students in the department. These outcomes impacted on students' employability and retention rate at the University. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Through this project, students presented their leaning experiences at the Spring Meeting of Delaware Association of Family Consumer and at the local middle and high school. Students published a newsletter bi-monthly on the campus to promote sustainable fashion practices. The PI presented this project as a curriculum show case at the national conference. One student's research abstract paper was submitted to the 16th Biennial 1890 Research Symposium. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Students in the Textiles and Apparel Studies will continue to publish a Textiles and Apparel Studies newspaper to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture products as a raw material of fashion business. From the farm to the runway DVD will distributed to the public. The PI uses the DVD as a teaching resource and shares with other higher education educators.
Impacts
This project expects to provide an opportunity to learn the silviculture of agricultural raw material and raw material grading and production to the runways to minority students to the entire cycle of the fashion industry. These holistic hand-on experiences will further enhance the quality of student leaning outcomes. More specifically, Delaware State University is able to provide high quality of future textiles and apparel professions who understand the importance of environmental sustainability in cotton fiber and cotton finished products.
Publications
- No publication at this time, 2010.
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
The project is a two prong collaborative project between Delaware State University (DSU) and Claflin University and Cameron Cotton Farm to train fashion professionals who understand agriculture as the source of raw materials for the fashion industry. This project increases the awareness of environmental consequences of raw material production, cotton grading, manufacturing, clothing retailers, and consumers. Additionally, the project is designed to enable students understand the interrelationship between plant science, environmental science, biotechnology, and the fashion industry. During the first year, four objectives were completed: 1) to educate and graduate Textile and Apparel studies (TAS) students who understand interrelationship between the clothing, textile, fashion merchandising and Agriculture; 2) to expose the students to the environmental consequences of fashion raw materials; 3) to recruit and expose future TAS students to agriculture and the role of agriculture as source of raw material for the fashion industry early in the academic careers of the students; and 4) to build the TAS program website as a learning and communication tool for students and faculty. To accomplish the objective 1, the PI developed a TAS elective course, 18-213: Agriculture and the Fashion Industry (4 credits) in fall 2008. Upon approval, PI and Co-PI developed a syllabus for the course. The course was designed two parts. The first part of the course was offered at DSU for 4 weeks (June 8th to July 3rd). The second part of the course was offered at Claflin University for 3 weeks (July 5th to July 24th). Objective 2 was completed with 10 DSU students participation. For objective 3, the Co-PI recruited 12 high school students in SC and developed a three week non-residential summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors who would be potential recruits into the TAS program at DSU upon graduation from high school. After 10 DSU students completed the 4-weeks course at DSU, students spent three weeks at Claflin University. During their stay at Claflin University, students participated in active learning class room instruction, laboratory experiments, greenhouse experiments, took several trips to the cotton farms, museums, textile production and merchandizing facilities in SC. PI designed the structures the TAS website and developed contents for TAS website to achieve object 4. The website consisted of seven components: 1) Home - TAS program; 2) About us - to introduce the Department of Human Ecology; 3) Student Organization - to introduce TAS student organization, Republic of Fashion; 4) Students Showcase - to promote TAS program to the public 5) Trade Publication - to update fashion industry news; 6) Job Search - to share career opportunities; 7) Ongoing Project - to promote this project, From the farm to the Runway; 8) More picture - to share informative picture to promote TAS program; and 9) Contact us - to provide contact information. PRODUCTS: The total of 22 individuals (12 high school students and 10 DSU students) participated in this project during summer 2009. A 4-credits TAS elective course, 18-213: Agriculture and the Fashion Industry, was developed to train fashion professionals who understand agriculture as the source of raw materials for the fashion industry. Nine TAS students out of ten completed this project, and they earned 4 credits during summer 2009. As a final project, TAS students published a newspaper related to their learning experience, and this project was recorded as a movie, From the Farm to the Runway. In addition, TAS websites was developed as a communication and a recruitment tool. OUTCOMES: All high school students recruited into the program were neither familiar with TAS program as a college major, nor Delaware State University as potential college choice for their undergraduate studies. This project has changed the perception of these high school students who can now select DSU as a college of choice for TAS. This project increased the awareness of environmental consequences of raw materials to future fashion professions. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: This project results in a web based final product and so its dissemination is inherent in the design of the project because the proposed TAS website. Upon university approval, TAS website will be linked to DSU website. The TAS newspaper and the movie will be used as a recruitment tool. The movie will be distributed to High schools in Delaware through the memebrs of Delaware Association of Family Consumer Sciences (DAFCS). Student research papers will be submitted to national conferences (American Association of Family Consumer Science and International Textiles and Apparel Association). FUTURE INITIATIVES: High school first year recruits will be involved in the follow-up activities this fall to gain first hand knowledge of cotton harvesting and ginning. Upon completion of the program the students will truly understand the premise of the title of the project, From the Farm to the Runway, and will represent a new breed of TAS majors with a holistic and eco-friendly perception of the fashion industry. TAS students will continue to publish a TAS newspaper, and a student group research project will be presented at the 100th DAFCS Fall Conference, and students' individual research project will be submitted to DSU Honor program in February and to national conferences. Based on results of student project evaluation survey, this project will be modified for next year program. We plan an orientation for summer 2010 program in February 2010.
Impacts
This project exposed minority students to the entire cycle of the fashion industry, from the silviculture of agricultural raw materials and raw material grading and production to the runways. It was a holistic approach to student hands-on experience in the fashion business. This project contributed to enhance the quality of future fashion professions in the US fashion industry.
Publications
- No publication at this time, 2009.
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