Challenge grant supports science research for apparel industry

By Kristina Kenney
University News Service
October 16, 2012

Texas State University-San Marcos School of Family and Consumer Sciences, in partnership with Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University, was awarded a USDA NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant to help support science education research for students entering the global apparel industry.

The grant, an award of $713,847, will help support and encourage the transformation of fiber, textiles and clothing (FTC) education by increasing faculty competencies regarding science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with a particular focus on sustainability, in order to help maintain the competitiveness of the U.S. apparel industry.

Gwendolyn Hustvedt is an associate professor in the department and serves as co-director of the project.

“Texas is a leader in the apparel industry, and Texas State, along with our partners on the grant, serve as an important source of new employees and innovation for this industry,” Hustvedt said. “We are excited to work with the USDA to increase environmental science competencies of our students and FTC curriculum quality, serving students in the entire region.”

The project adds environmental science competencies to the FTC curriculum and encourages transformation of FTC education by accelerating STEM competencies into FTC programs, enhancing the quality of postsecondary instruction so that FTC graduates have workplace skills and knowledge required for success in an industry undergoing transformation toward sustainability and increasing the number and diversity of students who pursue a postsecondary program in FTC.

For more information on the grant, please contact Gwendolyn Hustvedt at (512) 245-4689 or by email at gh21@txstate.edu.