The Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management was one of three academic units at Virginia Tech to receive a 2017 Exemplary Department or Program Award. This year’s awards theme recognized groups for effectively engaging students in hands-on, minds-on instructional environments.

The department creates and extends knowledge in the fields of consumer studies, fashion merchandising and design, property management, residential environments and design, and family and consumer sciences. Its programs focus on major content areas with a breadth of understanding of the content from various perspectives such as the sciences, design, humanities, social sciences, and quantitative and computational thinking. The department’s requirement for Active Learning – including internships, undergraduate research and independent studies, and national and international study tours – highlights its commitment to hands-on, minds-on learning for students.

Along with the other winners, the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management will receive a portion of the $40,000 award; a recognition ceremony will be held February 8 at The Inn at Virginia Tech.