Central New Mexico Community College students who have an associate degree or are near to obtaining one in the Hospitality and Tourism Program now have the opportunity to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from New Mexico State University - all without ever stepping outside of Albuquerque.
Starting in fall 2013, CNM students can study to earn their Bachelor of Science degree from NMSU by taking a series of face-to-face and online courses. As current CNM students or CNM graduates, they could qualify to begin classes at NMSU as juniors. Students with associate degrees in the hospitality field from other schools are also welcome, if their degree work is aligned with NMSU curriculum.
According to the Tourism Association of New Mexico, the tourism industry contributed approximately $5.5 billion to the economy last year. As a leading industry in the state, hospitality careers continue to be in demand.
"This is an exciting partnership between CNM and NMSU designed to give hospitality and culinary students in the central and northern part of the state the opportunity to get a bachelor's degree in their field without leaving the area," said Donna Diller, Dean of CNM's School of Business & Information Technology. "Many of our students have families and jobs and are not able to leave and attend school in Las Cruces."
NMSU has the only hospitality related bachelor's program in the state that encompasses hotel, restaurant and tourism management.
"As the land-grant university in our state, NMSU has long understood our mission to serve all of New Mexico. The growth of this partnership will enable us to offer a dynamic baccalaureate program beyond the Las Cruces campus," said Janet Green, director of NMSU's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management.
A preliminary information session will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 9, at CNM's new culinary arts dining room at 725 University Blvd., at the corner of Basehart and University.
NMSU will hold an advising and information session from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the NMSU Albuquerque Center, 4510 Indian School Road NE.
The initial offerings will consist of two courses: Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Marketing and Hospitality Management Accounting.
The hospitality marketing class will be a combination of face-to-face lectures and some online learning. It will be offered every other Wednesday from 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 28. The hospitality accounting class will be conducted completely online. Most classes will be held at the NMSU Albuquerque Center. Advanced-level cooking classes will be conducted in the new culinary arts building on the CNM Main Campus.
For more information contact Julie Correa at NMSU's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, 575-646-5918 or jzumwalt@nmsu.edu.