Hospitality Management Excellence at
Cornell
University
By Nazneen Malik
The Cornell School of Hotel
Administration has one of the most comprehensive hospitality
management programs in the world. Founded in 1922 as the first
of its kind, the Hotel School has had a tremendous impact on
the development of the hospitality industry. Through providing
its students with world-class education, state-of-the-art facilities,
and full-time, involved faculty members, the Ivy League school
continues to be a prominent leader in its field.
The Hotel School “is
currently exploring different ways to synergize with the Culinary
Institute of America (CIA),” says
Brad Walp, Director of Enrollment Management. A relationship
is already forming. “Several CIA students are currently
doing internships in the Statler Hotel, which is an on-campus
Hotel,” he continues, “some of our students take
one, two, three week courses that are offered during summer
and winter breaks at the CIA.” As both schools are renowned
in their respective fields, the educational opportunities that
will be afforded to students from a solid relationship between
the two will be phenomenal.
The Hotel School currently
offers a four-year, Bachelor of Science program in which students
study various areas of hospitality management such as Financial
Management, Law, Information Technology, Communication, Human
Resources Management, and Marketing and Tourism. Students major
in Hospitality Administration and can choose to concentrate
in one of four areas. They can also participate in the Management
Intern Program which gives students the opportunity to work
for a company, thereby allowing students to gain invaluable
experience and knowledge. Class sizes are small and liberal
arts courses are integrated into the curriculum, giving students
a balanced education that is conducive to learning. Tuition
for the program is $30,000 per year.
The Hotel School also offers
a twelve-month, full-time, Master of Management in Hospitality
(M.M.H.) program to develop leaders in the hospitality industry.
Students are required to complete three online courses before
they even arrive at the school. The M.M.H is a terminal professional
degree program and the average age of admitted students is
28. Many of the students are career changers or are already
part of the hospitality industry with at least 3.5 years of
experience. Total tuition for the degree program is $48,000.
More than 100 companies
come to the Hotel School to offer summer employment and post-graduate
jobs. Most graduates often have a job upon graduating and
often accept positions in the Food and Beverage and Real
Estate industries, Banking and Finance, and Technology companies.
Admission to the undergraduate
program at the Hotel School is highly selective and is based
on a student’s academic
profile, a required interview, and a demonstrated passion
for the hospitality industry. “Last year 82 percent
of admitted students had some form of hospitality work experience,” says
Walp.
For students who are
unsure if hospitality management is right for them, the Hotel
School participates in Cornell University’s
Summer Honors Program for High School Sophomores. During
the three-week program, students take a course in Managerial
Communication from a business perspective. By learning how
to write effective business correspondence and making business
presentations, students get the opportunity to decide if
a career in hospitality administration is something they
would like to pursue. Walp advises those students who want
to work in a business environment, enjoy personal contact,
and are excited by selling to seriously consider a career
in hospitality management.#
For more information
on the degree programs offered by the Cornell School of Hotel
