Three new initiatives currently under way in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences will provide career opportunities for students, research opportunities for faculty and address the growing needs of three industries.

In the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors a new professorship, funded by the Georgia Soft Goods Education Foundation, will soon be established focusing on the internationalization of the soft goods industry.

“About three years ago representatives of the Georgia Soft Goods Education Foundation began meeting with us about the need to educate students to compete in what is now an international business,” said Ian Hardin, professor and former head of TMI. “In the past, they had focused on engineering education, but now nearly all soft goods are being sourced internationally.”

Soft goods include all types of fabric, such as that used in backpacks and linens, as well as apparel and home furnishings.

The faculty member who fills the Soft Goods Manufacturing Professorship will concentrate on teaching and outreach efforts in this rapidly changing field. In addition, a new program of study, “Global Soft Goods Merchandising and Manufacturing” will be available to Fashion Merchandising students beginning fall 2006.

“This emphasis will build on the current fashion merchandising curriculum, but will include additional classes,” Hardin explained. “Three courses that already have been approved will be offered in the coming year. One focuses on the soft goods manufacturing process from raw material to finished product. A second focuses on product development and a third explores the theory and practice of global sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of apparel and textile products.”

In the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics, the need for college graduates who have studied residential property management is being addressed.

Already nearly 600 FACS students have taken the introductory course on residential property management during the past two years and industry partners representing Atlanta-based residential property companies have provided a number of internships for HACE students.

In addition, the Georgia Apartment Industry Education Foundation has committed its efforts to working closely with both the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech to encourage both faculty and students to explore this emerging field.

“GAIEF was the vision of Jerry Blonder who recognized the importance of having college graduates who understand residential property management,” according to Anne Sweaney, head of the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics.

The explosion of the residential apartment industry in recent years has highlighted the need for the development of research-based theories and practice, said Sweaney, who added that HACE faculty are beginning to conduct research in this field.

Currently, Georgia is ranked 11th in the nation in the number of apartments and fourth in the nation for new apartment construction. The emphasis in residential property management will provide HACE majors the opportunity to gain the marketing, financial analysis and management skills needed by the industry.

The third initiative under way in FACS will result in an area of emphasis expanding to an actual major.

The Family Financial Planning major results from the growth of opportunities for graduates interested in working with families seeking financial advice and a more secure economic future, according to Lance Palmer, an assistant professor in HACE who teaches and conducts research in this area.

“The demographic shift that has occurred as baby boomers age has resulted in more families searching for help in this area,” according to Palmer. “In addition, where retirement plans used to only be deferred benefits – the traditional sort of pension plan – more and more employees are having access to defined contribution plans.”

The rising cost of housing and college tuition, coupled with a plethora of insurance products also combine to make family financial planners more appealing to customers.

In the past, graduates in the area of consumer economics or other majors might receive on-the-job training and encouragement to take the rigorous Certified Financial Planner test, but now more and more financial planning agencies are looking for new graduates who have received coursework in college and are already committed to gaining Certified Financial Planner status.

“We’re very excited about the two emphases and the major that we’re adding to Family and Consumer Sciences,” said Dean Sharon Y. Nickols. “We know because of our contacts with the industry that there are careers available to students in these areas. By joining with these industry partners, we’re confident that research, internship and outreach opportunities will be available. The generous support from industry–both advice and financing–assure strong programs in these areas.”