Pedagogy and Professional Development

Putting Education to Good Use: Undergraduate Volunteering at a Non-Profit Organization

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Abstract

The design and merchandising fields lend themselves to an array of extracurricular opportunities for undergraduate students. These extracurricular activities often highlight students’ abilities in design and merchandising such as: student-run fashion shows, life and style concept publications, intern/externships, and freelance design work. Motivated, hardworking undergraduate students who seek employment in design and merchandising often take advantage of these opportunities. There is however, a key area of experience often missing from design and merchandising education, community service engagement. A unique opportunity presents itself to fill the gap of service learning among undergraduate design and merchandising students. In design and merchandising degree programs typical majors include: fashion design, merchandising management, interior design, and housing studies. In this distinctive consortium of majors students have the opportunity to apply educational competencies to the non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity (H4H).

Keywords: service learning, non-profit, volunteer, curriculum

How to Cite:

Howell, A., (2013) “Putting Education to Good Use: Undergraduate Volunteering at a Non-Profit Organization”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 70(1).