Originally published October 29, 2010
A new hospitality major will be added to the Family and Consumer Sciences Department next fall because of student and faculty interest, as well as societal need.
“We’ve wanted to add this major for many years now,” said FCS department chair Nina Collins. “Both students and faculty have shown interest in it for quite awhile. Plus, there’s a large societal need for it. Millions are employed by the hospitality industry.”
Provost David Glassman said he agreed.
“We are very excited about this new major,” he said. “There is a strong marketplace demand for leaders in the hospitality industry and there is also strong interest among prospective students for Bradley to offer this major.”
The hospitality major is being set up to introduce students to many different types of careers within the industry, Collins said.
“This new major will prepare students for careers in the hospitality industry, including those in event planning, hotel management, restaurant management and tourism,” she said. “The HLP major at Bradley will help students find successful careers in this exciting industry.”
There was one main reason it has taken so long to introduce the major to campus, Collins said.
“We’ve wanted this major for several years, but there was a big constraint,” she said. “We didn’t have a learning lab for those going into restaurant management. However, we have Lydia’s Lounge now, and that provides that opportunity.”
In order to receive a hospitality major, students will be required to complete a minimum of 640 internship hours, Collins said.
“In their internships, students will have to work the front of the house and back of the house in hotels to get some experience in the industry,” she said. “The internship experience and the rest of the curriculum will provide worldwide possibilities for employment.”
So far only one new faculty member will be hired for the hospitality major next fall, Collins said.
“We will be hiring a program director for next fall,” she said. “Any other hires depend on enrollment. Resources go where there is need, and then those decisions are made by the Provost rather than the department itself. If we need more faculty members, that will be decided later.”
For now, plans to recruit new students are being worked out, Collins said.
“Admissions is currently working on developing a social networking marketing plan, probably on Facebook,” she said. “Plus, there has already been a lot of student interest, so I think it’s going to become a very popular and exciting new major for our students to consider.”
