TATM Strategic Plan

Vision Statement

“Excellence in Driving Innovation and Leadership in Global Textiles and Fashion”

Mission Statement

“The TATM Department will foster an inspiring, student-centered, learning and research environment to shape the world of textiles and fashion”

Areas of Focus

Knowledge seekers:  Undergraduate and graduate students, life-long learners

Academia: Global community of textiles and fashion universities, including administrators, faculty, staff, students

Industry/Community: Global textile and fashion industry that includes value chain (fiber --> retail, plus auxiliary firms) and the community that ties with Fashion and Textile Design (FTD) and Fashion and Textile Management (FTM)

Government: Global entities that tie with textiles and fashion

Core Values

Academic Excellence: Innovative educational experiences through continuous learning and growth.  This includes the commitment to a student-centered learning environment to shape the “new world of textiles and fashion.”

Excellence in Research and Creative Artistry: Focused, innovative problem solving with the highest research standards. Diverse approaches, using scientific research methodologies as well as creative artistry, are respected and valued.  Mentoring graduate students regarding the process is a critical component of research and creativity excellence.

Global Connectivity: Responsive to academic and industry communities with connections via education and research is critical to economic development.

Service and Outreach: Responsive to the global community (university/academic/professional organizations, industry --- textile value chain, government) to yield solutions to enhance economic development.

Innovation: Innovative problem-solving for all efforts to prepare future leaders in industry and government.

Departmental Goals

Goal 1:  Be the premier institution in providing creative thinkers and qualified leaders to the global textile and fashion industries.

Goal 2:  Drive economic development in the textile and fashion industries.

Goal 3:  Be recognized as the premier academic institution for research, innovation, and leadership in textiles and fashion.

Fashion and Textile Management (FTM) Program
Fashion and Textile Design (FTD) Program

Areas of Focus: Knowledge Seekers, Academia, Industry/ Community/Government

Goal 1:  Be the premier institution in providing creative thinkers and qualified leaders to the global textile and fashion industries.

Objective:  Develop innovative and high quality programs and recruit students.

Tactics:

1. Utilize expertise of Industry Advisory Boards (FTM IAB; FTD IAB), industry organizations and associations, and the business community to provide perspectives useful to faculty in developing innovative and relevant course content.
   1. These may include guest speakers from the Board (or designates from their representative companies) as well as Executive-in-Residence personnel and other speakers.
   2. Use feedback from IAB Board visionary speakers (i.e., from Fall IAB meeting) to evaluate gaps and needed content in curriculum.  (Annual evaluation of the curriculum by FTM & FTD faculty (via TATM C & C) is needed)
2. Expand analytical focus in FTM program (undergraduate, graduate).
   1. Continue to build analytical resources (databases, case studies, other) in the Textile Management Science Laboratory.
      1. Expand resources to include global textile production, global economics and global market data.
      2. Software: Supply Chain Management, Pricing/Economic, Product Life Management – PLM, Product Assortment, and other related software programs.
      3. Databases: Direct links to global textile production, market, and consumption databases, including acquisition of proprietary software databases.
   2. Incorporate analytical learning experiences in each FTM course as well as other industry and government resources (personnel, print sources).
3. Expand Fashion and Textile Design focus to incorporate aesthetic, functional, expressive, and technical design components.
   1. Develop gallery exhibition space to support display of fashion and textile design objects
   2. Secure storage facilities and initiate building of textile and fashion resource library including samples, industry trend forecasts, product design resources, database of trade organizations, etc.
   3. Enhance collaborative experiences with College of Design via FTD program, etc.
   4. Initiate planning for Design Innovation Center
4. Enhance “real world” experiences for students with problem solving opportunities.
   1. Combine design and marketing challenges to incorporate product, market research and innovation.
   2. Expand grant funding activities to broaden the curricula, including globalization aspects.
      1. Potential funding opportunities include: Cotton Incorporated, U.S. Department of Education, Entrepreneurship funding sources, OUTDOOR, and related funding organizations.
   3. Increase opportunities for structured internship and externship experiences for students
5. Collaborate with Student Services and Industry Advisory Boards to recruit best students.   
   1. Active participation by FTM and FTD faculty via: Open Houses (College, University), Executive-in-Residence programs, STEP programs, and related scholarly programs (i.e., DECA).
   2. Connect with College of Textiles’ alumni and IAB as well as appropriate companies.
6. Annually analyze (and assess) the FTM and the FTD programs, with active ways to attract students.
   1. Website development for FTM and FTD program to include timely inclusion of student activities.
   2. Other online marketing of program.
   3. Ongoing laboratory displays available for daily visitor tours as well as events including open house and industry research day.
   4. Present College of Textile programs at all conferences (integrate PR and recruiting in presentations).

Goal 2:  Drive economic development in the textile and fashion industries.
Areas of Focus: Knowledge Seekers, Academia, Industry/ Community/Government

Objective:  Enhance industry-based education and research to support economic development via the Industry Advisory Boards, funded research projects, and Design and Marketing Challenges.

Tactics:

1. Expand industry based education with a global value chain perspective. 
1. Course content focusing on global value chain (fiber-> consumer, plus auxiliary firms).
2. Broader scope of potential industry partners (i.e., sectors, plus auxiliary organizations).
3. Expand focus on partners producing and marketing diverse end-use products (representation of apparel, home textiles, transportation, nonwovens, industrial/technical, nonwovens).
2. Expand industry-based research via creative problem solving approaches (product, marketing, innovation, strategy).
3. Expand funded research capabilities for more comprehensive funding from industry and government sources.
4. Support economic development through teaching, research and extension.
1. Partner with TexED and Institute of Textile Technology (ITT) for short courses, special projects, seminars.
2. Identify five key industry issues and organize an annual seminar in conjunction with the FTM Industry Advisory Board meeting.
3. Partner with industry and government organizations to build, maintain and utilize the Textile Management Science Laboratory.
5. Grow emphasis on entrepreneurship within curriculum and industry driven student experiences.

Goal 3:  Be recognized as the premier academic institution for research, innovation, dissemination of knowledge and creative scholarship, and leadership in textiles and fashion.
Areas of Focus: Knowledge Seekers, Academia, Industry/ Community/Government

Objective: Strengthen the global leadership position in Fashion and Textile Management and Fashion and Textile Design.

Tactics:

1. Disseminate research and creative output internationally.
1. Active leadership and research/ creative scholarship presentation/participation in academic and industry conferences, exhibitions and seminars. This includes active participation in relevant associations.
2. Active participation in industry meetings (i.e., sought out as speakers for conferences).
3. Network and partner with leading global universities on a regular basis.  These would be TATM peer-institutions, as identified by TATM faculty (i.e., Hong Kong Polytechnic, Donghua Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University).
2. Enhance reputation of program.
1. Work with Industry Advisory Board members to market and brand the FTM and FTD programs.
2. Evaluate benefits and relevance of program accreditation (FTM – AACSB?, 2015; FTD – NASAD, 2012?).
3. Build relationships with global and local design community.
3. Serve needs of community, industry, government and society by engaging in relevant scholarship.
4. Recruit and retain internationally recognized faculty.
1. Named professor in Fashion and Textile Management by 2012.
2. Designer-in-Residence program (FTD program) established by 2012.
3. Provide TAs and RAs outside of project focused research to allow the development of new areas and of theoretical foundations.
4. Balance faculty workloads with addition of new faculty.
1. FTM:  Named professor, Professor in Practice, other
2. FTD:  Design position (Compact Plan), Designer-in-Residence, other