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Genesee Community College Offers New Fashion Design Certificate

One-Year Program is a Fast-track to Fashion Business Careers

Batavia, NY (04/06/2018) — Officials at Genesee Community College announced this week the addition of a new one-year Fashion Design Certificate program which is open for enrollment this fall! Throughout New York State, there is a shortage of skilled alteration sewers and individuals trained and qualified to use fashion design software. The new certificate program will provide an opportunity for individuals to take GCC's core Fashion Design classes enabling them to start working in the fashion industry, start a small business or work from home in a fashion related capacity.

GCC's mission statement includes a commitment "to providing educational experiences which promote intellectual and social growth, workforce and economic development and global citizenship." The creation of this Fashion Design Certificate provides workforce and economic development in Western New York through the training and education of individuals in the burgeoning fashion design field which is a multi-billion dollar trade.

The new certificate is designed to be completed in two semesters and provides students with the basic principles of fashion design, sewing fundamentals and building an independent fashion business. Courses include topics and skills on basic sewing, draping and fashion technology, principles of fashion design, creative design drawing principles and entrepreneurship. The inclusion of the Entrepreneurship and Professional Sales courses help ensure students are prepared not only for the elements of fashion design, but also to work independently and potentially establish a new business or expand an existing one.

With steady enrollment in GCC's two-year Fashion Business Merchandising/Design Concentrations (FBM), students have gained individualized instruction to bolster their confidence resulting in graduates who are equipped to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year program. The new one-year Fashion Design Certificate, which is comprised entirely of existing courses that are required for the FBM program, positions students to easily apply certificate credits towards an associate in applied science in FBM at GCC. The College also has several articulation agreements with other institutions including the most recently added agreement with LIM and Cazenovia College. Many GCC students transfer to Buffalo State College and Fashion Institute Technology. In addition, GCC offers an innovative program that allows a student to complete their first two years at GCC, third year at Buffalo State and then move onto their final year at F.I.T. Anyone interested in taking advantage of these transfer opportunities is encouraged to contact GCC's Student Success Center at (585) 345-6805 or via email at transfer@genesee.edu.

"The Fashion Design Certificate is the continuation of GCC's very successful, 40-year, signature Fashion program," Professor of Fashion Business Donna J. Ehrhart said. "Fashion Design is a field that draws in diverse individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, traditions and customs-all contributing to its richness. This new one-year certificate creates an opportunity for even more individuals to take a solid first step into the multi-billion dollar global industry."

The new Fashion Design Certificate adds fourth dimension to the GCC's line-up of fashion-related degrees which also includes Fashion Merchandising Management AAS, Fashion Design AAS and two Fashion Business concentrations in E-Commerce and Event Planning. At this time, federal financial aid for the Fashion Design Certificate is still pending.

Anyone interested in exploring GCC's Fashion Business programs should attend the 37th Annual Fashion Show, "Ascendant," scheduled Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the new Richard C. Call Arena.

Advance tickets to the show are $5 per person and are available through Wednesday, April 25, 2018 by emailing fashionshow@genesee.edu. Tickets at the door are $8 per person. For an inside look at the 37th Annual Fashion Show, follow @trendygcc_ on Instagram or Twitter. You can also read GCC student blogs at https://geneseeedu.wordpress.com/blog/ for details.

Additional information about the Fashion Business Program and other degree programs is available at https://www.genesee.edu/academics/programs/business/fashion-design/.

For more information, contact Professor of Business & Computer Information Systems Donna Ehrhart at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6335, or via email: djehrhart@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

For a photograph of GCC Fashion Design students taking measurements in class go to:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/FashionStudentMeasurement1.jpg

For a photograph illustrating the wide selection of bridal wear that was donated to students in preparation of a recent Fashion Show go to. http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/BridalWear.jpg

Media Attachments

A photograph of GCC Fashion Design students taking measurements in class.

A photograph illustrating the wide selection of bridal wear that was donated to students in preparation of a recent Fashion Show.

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