9/20/2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University President Peter McPherson today announced a gift of software from Lectra Systems Inc. at the inaugural celebration of The Campaign for MSU.
The gift, valued at $2.05 million, will benefit MSU's College of Human Ecology.
Lectra Systems Inc., headquartered in Marietta, Ga., and with offices in Grand Rapids, is a leading software developer for product design and marketing in the global apparel and textile industries.
"This is a landmark contribution to the College of Human Ecology and builds upon three earlier gifts of similar size and significance from Lectra," McPherson said.
This most recent software donation will be utilized in the pioneering apparel and textile computer-aided design - or CAD - laboratories housed in the Human Ecology Building. The labs already use the company's flagship software, U4ia, a powerful product utilized by apparel and textile manufacturers, mills and retailers throughout the world to control all elements of their work from design through production.
The current gift's 22 additional copies of U4ia will add to the laboratories' textile design capacity in prints, wovens, knits and color-matching. Diamino patternmaking software and Graphicspec and Modaris software packages complete the Lectra gift.
"At the heart of this generous gift is Lectra's belief that the encouragement and training of future design professionals is critically important to the global industry," said Lou Anna K. Simon, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Our enrollment in the apparel and textile design major has been unprecedented in the past several years, so the company's focus on MSU is a natural fit."
"The philanthropic position that Lectra Systems Inc. has taken to invest in higher education exemplifies its commitment to make a difference in the future of the industry," Julia R. Miller, dean of the College of Human Ecology, said. "With our faculty efforts and this ongoing company partnership, we can be assured that we are training future professionals possessing the state-of-the-art skills employers demand."
The bachelor of science MSU offers in apparel and textile design is recognized in the industry. Classes emphasize problem solving and design communication skills, while providing professional preparation for the student in the design of apparel and textile soft goods. The program's early use of computer-aided design technology sets it apart from its peers in the way students can approach discovering innovative solutions to functional and aesthetic design problems.
"We are appreciative of the longstanding relationship that Lectra Systems Inc. has with the college," Miller said. "It reflects an industry-academic partnership at its best."