ONE Northwood University

Feb 26, 2010

Fashion Marketing and Management

The Northwood University bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Management (FMM) is a well established program on our Michigan campus and is a highly regarded and equally well-positioned program on our Texas campus. Both programs compare favorably to the more than 300 similar academic programs across the United States.

In addition to a strong curriculum, our Northwood FMM program offers unique features including our partnership with Fachochschule Nagold in Germany, the annual fashion trip to New York City, campus-based programs that enhance students’ practical learning, our relationship with the MAGIC Show, and internships. Our degree program is kept current via regular curriculum reviews; input from local advisory boards, alumni and industry experts; student internships; industry guest lecturers; faculty research and consulting; and student programs.

Our impressive track record for placing students after graduation is a very positive element of the program as well as the significant number of graduates who hold leadership positions within the industry.

The U.S. fashion, textile, apparel and retail markets in total equaled roughly $600 billion in size in 2009 with a full and part-time employment base of more than five million people annually. In recent years, Northwood has made a strong effort to enhance our program positioning and curriculum development by providing faculty and students the opportunity to attend the MAGIC Show in Las Vegas. It’s estimated roughly 73% of all clothing, shoes and accessories sold in the U.S. are purchased via this one-of-a-kind trade show. We are attempting to develop via the MAGIC Show the same relationships within the fashion industry we have for our Automotive Retail Management and Automotive Aftermarket curriculums. This includes input for curriculum re-design, employment opportunities, advancement opportunities and over time, a national advisory board.

On our Michigan campus, the program is chaired by Jill Ouellette. Under her leadership this curriculum has grown and students’ experiences are continually enhanced, with the signature student-produced event being the annual Style Show. Although style shows had been a tradition for many years in this program, nine years ago Town & Campus (T&C) partnered with the FMM department, and T&C members mentored the students. Through their efforts the community and the campus were brought together while upgrading the quality of the Show itself. Skills gained by the students include a variety of professional and personal skills such as time management, oral communication, poise, professionalism, conflict resolution, creativity, motivation, interview skills, etc. Year after year Associate Professor Ouellette has watched the students transform through their participation in the Style Show. “They are different people (after the Show) from when they started,” she notes.

While the number of students on the executive committee of the Style Show may be from 14-17 people, it takes approximately 100+ students and seven months of planning to make the event happen. Retailers from Detroit to Gladwin, Michigan lend clothing, and local businesses contribute hair and make-up styling as well as staging. Each committee member receives a DVD of the show to take into job interviews. The bottom line of this endeavor? Students get jobs because of their experiences with the Style Show. Between the first-class DVD and the extraordinary skill-set gained, our students emerge far above other job applicants.

Academically, the students will enjoy enhanced programming in the near future with a study abroad opportunity in Europe in December 2010, and the change to semesters will offer greater opportunity for day trips to businesses and community engagement through Service-Learning projects. Additionally, the International Costume Collection, which is shown during various Northwood and community-sponsored events, offers significant learning opportunities. The Fashion Club, a student group, is an active campus organization.

Kirsten Cowan chairs our Texas campus FMM concentration. With the growth of this program in her able hands, much has already been accomplished. Our Texas campus students, just like their counterparts in Michigan, produce a first-class Style Show, putting as much work in and learning equally as much as well. Alumni also participate. Instructor Cowan notes, “I had an alumna email me about wanting to help out with our fashion show this spring, something she does for a living. So on another level, our show has the potential to encourage students to pursue a career in fashion show productions.” The Show also offers students increased internship opportunities. Like our Michigan campus’s event, the Texas Style Show is used as a recruitment tool for incoming students.

The entrepreneurial spirit is well developed in our Texas campus Fashion students. One student owns her own jewelry and accessory business called Pinkie Promise. Her line will be featured in the Style Show again this year. Another student is using the business plan she created in her Theories and Practices class to start her own business in her hometown of Kirbyville, Texas when she graduates this spring.

Our specialty curricula are signature Northwood University offerings. Each year they strengthen and grow, helping us retain our unique academic niche.

A future message will feature our Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management program.

We hope you had a chance to watch alumnus Jon Montgomery, ’01 TX, in last Friday’s Skeleton event in the Olympics. It was a thrilling competition - made even more so by the pleasure of watching Jon win a gold medal for his home country of Canada. We extend our heartiest congratulations to him.

Have a great weekend!

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)

pretty@northwood.edu

Feb 26, 2010
	Fashion Marketing and Management The Northwood University bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Management (FMM) is a well established program on our Michigan campus and is a highly regarded and equally well-positioned program on our Texas campus. Both programs compare favorably to the more than 300 similar academic programs across the United States. In addition to a strong curriculum, our Northwood FMM program offers unique features including our partnership with Fachochschule Nagold in Germany, the annual fashion trip to New York City, campus-based programs that enhance students’ practical learning, our relationship with the MAGIC Show, and internships. Our degree program is kept current via regular curriculum reviews; input from local advisory boards, alumni and industry experts; student internships; industry guest lecturers; faculty research and consulting; and student programs. Our impressive track record for placing students after graduation is a very positive element of the program as well as the significant number of graduates who hold leadership positions within the industry. The U.S. fashion, textile, apparel and retail markets in total equaled roughly $600 billion in size in 2009 with a full and part-time employment base of more than five million people annually. In recent years, Northwood has made a strong effort to enhance our program positioning and curriculum development by providing faculty and students the opportunity to attend the MAGIC Show in Las Vegas. It’s estimated roughly 73% of all clothing, shoes and accessories sold in the U.S. are purchased via this one-of-a-kind trade show. We are attempting to develop via the MAGIC Show the same relationships within the fashion industry we have for our Automotive Retail Management and Automotive Aftermarket curriculums. This includes input for curriculum re-design, employment opportunities, advancement opportunities and over time, a national advisory board. On our Michigan campus, the program is chaired by Jill Ouellette. Under her leadership this curriculum has grown and students’ experiences are continually enhanced, with the signature student-produced event being the annual Style Show. Although style shows had been a tradition for many years in this program, nine years ago Town & Campus (T&C) partnered with the FMM department, and T&C members mentored the students. Through their efforts the community and the campus were brought together while upgrading the quality of the Show itself. Skills gained by the students include a variety of professional and personal skills such as time management, oral communication, poise, professionalism, conflict resolution, creativity, motivation, interview skills, etc. Year after year Associate Professor Ouellette has watched the students transform through their participation in the Style Show. “They are different people (after the Show) from when they started,” she notes. While the number of students on the executive committee of the Style Show may be from 14-17 people, it takes approximately 100+ students and seven months of planning to make the event happen. Retailers from Detroit to Gladwin, Michigan lend clothing, and local businesses contribute hair and make-up styling as well as staging. Each committee member receives a DVD of the show to take into job interviews. The bottom line of this endeavor? Students get jobs because of their experiences with the Style Show. Between the first-class DVD and the extraordinary skill-set gained, our students emerge far above other job applicants. Academically, the students will enjoy enhanced programming in the near future with a study abroad opportunity in Europe in December 2010, and the change to semesters will offer greater opportunity for day trips to businesses and community engagement through Service-Learning projects. Additionally, the International Costume Collection, which is shown during various Northwood and community-sponsored events, offers significant learning opportunities. The Fashion Club, a student group, is an active campus organization. Kirsten Cowan chairs our Texas campus FMM concentration. With the growth of this program in her able hands, much has already been accomplished. Our Texas campus students, just like their counterparts in Michigan, produce a first-class Style Show, putting as much work in and learning equally as much as well. Alumni also participate. Instructor Cowan notes, “I had an alumna email me about wanting to help out with our fashion show this spring, something she does for a living. So on another level, our show has the potential to encourage students to pursue a career in fashion show productions.” The Show also offers students increased internship opportunities. Like our Michigan campus’s event, the Texas Style Show is used as a recruitment tool for incoming students. The entrepreneurial spirit is well developed in our Texas campus Fashion students. One student owns her own jewelry and accessory business called Pinkie Promise. Her line will be featured in the Style Show again this year. Another student is using the business plan she created in her Theories and Practices class to start her own business in her hometown of Kirbyville, Texas when she graduates this spring. Our specialty curricula are signature Northwood University offerings. Each year they strengthen and grow, helping us retain our unique academic niche. A future message will feature our Entertainment, Sport & Promotion Management program. We hope you had a chance to watch alumnus Jon Montgomery, ’01 TX, in last Friday’s Skeleton event in the Olympics. It was a thrilling competition - made even more so by the pleasure of watching Jon win a gold medal for his home country of Canada. We extend our heartiest congratulations to him. Have a great weekend! Keith A. Pretty, J.D. President and CEO Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 989.837.4203 (phone) 989.832.9590 (fax) pretty@northwood.edu