Many low-income families are at risk for food insecurity. In addition, with the aging of America, multigenerational families are becoming more prevalent, resulting in excessive strain and burden on the resources of low-income families. Family and consumer sciences educators need to teach their students about factors that contribute to food…

Family and consumer sciences programs in higher education operate in a dynamic environment of self-evaluation. One common component of the process is the evaluation of teaching effectiveness. This study reviewed some of the critical perspectives on student surveys of teaching effectiveness and then tested a portion of that dialogue by…

Teacher educators have a challenging task of preparing students to enter today's classrooms. Teacher educators in family and consumer sciences (FCS) face unique challenges due to the diversity of content that comprises the discipline. It is imperative that FCS teacher educators use effective instructional methods. This article describes the use of…

College graduates are entering the world of work with record levels of school-related debt despite being generally unprepared to face the financial challenges of life after college. Findings from a needs assessment survey of financial topics of interest to college students and staff/faculty and preferences for how the information should be…

Consuming locally grown foods promotes sustainable development and individual wellness (Waters, 2006). In the United States, the average food product travels 2,000 miles before reaching the consumer (Schlosser, 2001). This distance between producer and consumer is one reason that today's youth lack an understanding of the origin of the food they…

The Taskforce for Higher Education Program Advancement (TFPA) represents five family and consumer sciences organizations, boards, and administrative groups. Its mission "to proactively and collaboratively strengthen FCS higher education programs" has yielded multiple initiatives including a new database. The TFPA Web Interface System…

This phenomenological study examined the acculturation experience of Taiwanese students who attended universities in the United States as exchange students. Hofstede's four dimensions of culture provided a framework for developing questions. Eight exchange students were interviewed. Taiwanese students realized there was a lower power distance…

Microbial foodborne illnesses are a public health problem in the United States. Americans are patronizing restaurants three or more times a week and college students are frequently employed in food service; therefore, this study assessed compliance with and awareness of food safety recommendations among 460 college students. Compliance was…

The influences of the fatalism frequently associated with Appalachian culture on adolescent identity processes were explored. The sample consisted of 91 Appalachian adolescents and 87 non-Appalachian adolescents. Participants completed measures of fatalism (operationalized in terms of higher hopelessness and lower optimism/efficacy scores) and…

Two food pantries were surveyed for nutrition education (NE) interests and experiences. One site provided nutrition education classes; the comparison site was utilized to assess client interest in class topics. "Fixing low cost meals," "fixing quick and easy recipes," and "stretching food and food dollars" were topics…

The Family Economics and Financial Education Project (FEFE) began in 2001 at Montana State University with an annual grant from Take Charge America, Inc., a credit counseling and debt management company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. FEFE's mission is to provide educators with curriculum materials and training to be effective teachers of…

As the demographics of schools change, school leaders and teachers are challenged with meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse population. Schools and classroom instruction must change in response to the community and students they serve. The latest research on secondary school reforms concludes that efforts to create a caring, responsive…

Financial literacy is a national, state, and local concern these days. At one time, the financial unit in high school family and consumer sciences (FCS) classes was as simple as looking at budgets and doing checkbook exercises. However, after students at Meeker High School in Meeker, Colorado began to ask more in-depth questions and realized that…

"Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Appreciation" is an educational partnership between community residents and high school family and consumer sciences (FCS) students in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The program provides 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students opportunities to be actively involved with the…

"Pathways to Success" is the internship component of the school-to-career Child Care program at Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Massachusetts. Its primary purpose is to prepare high school seniors for future education and employment. Through involvement in this 24-week internship, family and consumer sciences (FCS) students gain a…