Creating Community Connections through a Joint Venture with a Trade Association: A Six-Year Retrospective of What We’ve Learned

Abstract

<p>In the current climate of government funding cuts and competition to attract a declining population of traditional students, universities are embracing a philosophy of connecting the university to the community. Fashion merchandising programs that reside within Family and Consumer Sciences departments have historically maintained links with their communities. FCS adopted a mission of promoting the well being of individuals, families and communities, so embedding FCS programs within their communities proved to be a philosophy ahead of its time. For fashion merchandising programs, internships were a logical tool for creating these community connections and complying with university mandates.</p>