The hospitality management industry is growing at a fast rate, with work openings ranging from country clubs and hotels to event planning and restaurant management. Various colleges and universities are now offering an academic program in hospitality and helping students develop an entrepreneurial spirit, versatility, and strategic thinking. Such colleges unlock the potential of both the sector and the nation’s talent pool.
St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) is one of the leading colleges that has been catering to the needs of students since its inception in 1952 within the framework of its Judeo-Christian values, striving for an atmosphere of mutual understanding, concern, and cooperation. Located just 15 miles north of New York City, STAC’s campus offers students quick access to cultural, internship, and career opportunities in one of the world’s most exciting cities. It’s one of the key reasons why students are attracted to STAC.
Great Campus Amenities
STAC is a four-year liberal arts college featuring a 60-acre campus that provides a safe, welcoming place for students to study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The college offers several facilities to ensure that students are enjoying their life at STAC. Following are some of the facilities available on campus:
- Borelli Hall: Is a green-designed, LEED-certified Silver building that features new classrooms with interactive board technologies.
- Costello Hall: Holds the science laboratories, technology theaters, and Azarian-McCullough Art Gallery.
- Spellman Hall: Houses a multi-room technology corridor, with a state-of-the-art communication studio where students produce their own news show, and technology & language labs.
- Lougheed Library: Provides a variety of online research opportunities for students.
- The Bloomberg Professional Laboratory: Provides students with the same platform for news, data, analytics, and research used by the world’s leading banks, corporations, government agencies, and public policy makers, law firms, libraries, energy companies, and media outlets.
- Aquinas Hall: Houses athletic facilities and a fitness center.
- Maguire Hall: Is home to classrooms, art studios, and the Sullivan Theater.
Along with this, the college has a campus ministry office, a health office, and residence life, career development, and counseling services. All these facilities play a crucial role in the enhancement of students’ professional and personal life.
Offering Hospitality Management Courses Along With Experienced Faculty
The courses offered by STAC are developed in line with industry standards, trends, and employer expectations. These courses aim to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to enter the world of hospitality upon graduation. This includes Introduction to Hospitality, Management and Operations in Hospitality, Leadership and Management in Hospitality, Service Technology and Innovation in Hospitality, Hospitality Law, Ethics and Risk, Hospitality Finance and Revenue Management, Hospitality Internship and Event Planning and Management.
With STAC’s hospitality management program, students will stand out from the crowd and become productive members of any team. The program falls under the School of Business that boasts a range of highly qualified and experienced faculty. Angela McDonnell, the Hospitality Management Director and Professor, has over 20 years of experience both in the industry and in teaching. She has worked internationally in Hong Kong, Maldives, Mauritius, and in Europe in the UK, Ireland, France, and Germany. Her experience and passion for the industry are evident in both her enthusiasm for teaching and her commitment to curriculum development.
A Multitude of Courses
Apart from the hospitality management program, STAC offers over 100 majors, minors, and specializations in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, and the School of Education. It also offers students the opportunity to take part in college athletics at Division II, varsity, club, or intramural level. Moreover, the college provides a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with concentrations in finance, hospitality management, management, marketing, sport management, and general MBA. Along with this, STAC provides a Master of Science in Education (MSEd), with concentrations in autism, literacy, and special education, and postgraduate certificate programs in autism, literacy, and special education. It also has a Master of Science in Teaching (MST) program available for individuals without a background in teaching education who are seeking a career change.
Matching Pace With New Trends
At STAC, Hospitality Management students get exposure to new trends, predominantly in teaching and assessment. The college has developed all teaching materials with both new trends and future developments. The main objective of the assessment is to give students access to the industry through business connections and networking. Assessment methods are research-oriented, and students are offered several industry-based evaluations that include a case study of operations using Enterprise Rent-a-Car and a Management consultative report in partnership with the Hilton Hotel group.
Prof. Angela is actively involved in the industry and strives to maintain contact with the industry, working collaboratively with them. The key goal of the program is to create graduates who are prepared and motivated to enter the industry of hospitality.
Financial Aid
STAC’s goal is to help students and their families understand the financial aid process and make a college education affordable. Therefore, the college has elected to participate in the New York State Enhanced Tuition Award Program. Because of this, over 85% of its students receive scholarships and grants as part of their financial aid package. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year so that they can continue education. Also, STAC grants academic and merit scholarships from $5,000 up to 70 percent scholarships. It provides need-based aid from the college as well as athletic grants and all federal and New York State aid programs. As a result, the college has become one of the lowest private college tuition rates in New York State, and scholarships make it even more affordable. It is also a member of the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans enabling a qualified veteran to study with a full-tuition scholarship.
Furthermore, STAC’s staffs are available year-round to help students get all the information they need about qualifying for, applying for, and receiving financial aid.
Numerous Internship Opportunities
For students to develop crucial knowledge and skills essential for career development, STAC offers courses that include a mandatory internship, a type of internship which is decided upon with the student. Internship opportunities are both local and statewide, and other internships include a wide range of Food and Beverage operations. In addition to this, through its extensively active alumni, the college has formed a partnership with Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay and Marina to present various opportunities.
Also, Prof. Angela has formed a Hospitality Community of Practice (HCOP) which acts as a recruitment mechanism to secure internships. Upon graduation, Prof. Angela envisions students securing full-time employment in a supervisory capacity in the industry. In some cases, students who have been highly successful in their internships are accepted into Corporate Management programs.
Overcoming Global Challenges
Today, the Coronavirus pandemic has changed business in every way possible. The education sector is no exception. At STAC, approximately 2000 students who would generally be in a conventional classroom environment on campus had all moved to online instruction. The college mobilized all efforts to have as seamless a transition as possible for its students. Its faculty quickly embraced online learning to ensure that for the rest of the spring semester, students could still study. Administratively, since the onboarding of the College’s new president, Kenneth Daly, he and his staff have been working tirelessly, planning for the safe reopening of the College on September 8th, when on-campus learning will resume. The College is in continuous touch to ensure their students and partners are being served in the best way possible.
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