The Program

While you are attending the Cotton Institute, you will participate in a four-week residential program designed for people entering the cotton industry as well as for those who want to expand their knowledge of the trade.

As a future leader of the industry, you are introduced to all phases of cotton production and marketing, such as:

An overview of the history, economics, standards, and trends of the production regions of the world.
The position of the cotton industry itself in a global economy.
The harvesting, processing, and utilization efficiencies in use throughout the world.
The manufacturing process, including fiber types and properties in their end use, and fiber conversion costs.
The purchase of cotton, including typical trade terms and conditions in the various markets of the world.
The movement of cotton from the field to the textile mill, including the world transportation infrastructure, delivery problems, tariffs, inspection services, insurance claims, and payment procedures.
The appropriate use of various risk management tools available to producers, merchants, and spinners; forward contracts, futures and options contracts; explanation of minimum price and maximum price contracts utilizing options.
The fundamentals of futures and options trading, including the daily management of simulated cash and futures positions.
International trading rules, organizations, arbitration procedures, the settlement of claims, and the enforcement of awards and claims.
The basic considerations of doing business in a trans-cultural environment and the ethical implications of contracts, contract law, and the importance of contract sanctity in the world trade of cotton.
Electronic trading platforms

The course of study and training provides an introduction to the principles, practices, and importance of instrument testing, visual cotton classification, and standardization including:

The physiology of cotton, the importance of fiber properties and characteristics for end use by spinners, and the market valuation of those fiber properties.
The fundamentals and science behind electronic instrument measurements of cotton fiber quality.
Hands-on viewing of instrument testing for all primary measurements.
New developments in innovation and technology for cotton classification.
The visual determination of various grades of cotton encompassed by the Universal Cotton Standards.
Background and understanding of the Universal Cotton Standards Agreement, international signatories to the Agreement, and domestic Advisory Committee.
Universal Cotton Standards annual matching and periodic Universal Cotton Standards Conference.

Overviews, hands-on demonstrations, and field trips will take place to provide the class with clear understanding of the U.S. classification and standardization systems and their importance to global cotton marketing and the U.S. cotton industry.

Field trips will be conducted to provide students with valuable on-site demonstrations and instruction. Locations will include key facets of the supply chain including cotton production, ginning, warehousing, classification, merchandizing, and manufacturing.

Institute Certification

Successful completion of the Cotton Institute is based on passing the requirements as well as participating fully in all aspects of the program, including field trips and all extra-curricular activities planned by the Institute. Participant performance is evaluated throughout the program. The Institute reserves the right to deny certification to any student who does not meet these requirements.