(June 5, 2009, New Orleans, La.) - The University of New Orleans and Delgado Community College signed an articulation agreement on June 5 designed to provide a seamless transition for students who complete Delgado's Hospitality Management associate degree program and wish to obtain a bachelor of science degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism administration at UNO.

 

Delgado Chancellor Ron D. Wright and UNO Chancellor Timothy P. Ryan signed the agreement at UNO officially establishing the "2+2 program" that allows students who complete the courses prescribed in Delgado's Hospitality Management degree program to transfer up to 51 semester hours for degree credit and enter UNO's 120-semester-hour HRT baccalaureate program as juniors.

 

Also signing the agreement at the ceremony were Joe King, UNO provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Deborah R. Lea, Delgado vice chancellor of learning and student development; Jim Logan, dean of the UNO College of Business Administration, of which the Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration is a part; Warren R. Puneky Jr., dean of the Delgado Business and Technology Division, of which the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Department is a part; John A. Williams, professor and director of UNO's Kabacoff School; and Mary P. Bartholomew, director of Delgado's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program.

 

"This agreement is great news for our hospitality students and great news for our region's hospitality industry," Wright said. "It enhances college students' ability to make steady, consistent, timely and efficient progress toward a bachelor's degree. Advancing from Delgado's associate degree program to UNO's baccalaureate program will give these students the best possible education and training to succeed in an industry that is one of the region's largest economic drivers."

 

"Louisiana's hospitality industry employs more than 140,000 residents, representing 7 percent of the state's workforce, and supports the second largest economic driver for our state - tourism," she said. "The world renown we have earned as a top tourism destination depends on industry employees providing the very highest level of hospitality service. This new education partnership between two of Louisiana's top hospitality programs will benefit all involved by preparing pipelines of graduates to enter the hospitality workforce faster, more efficiently and with the very best training and education possible."

 

Logan emphasized the importance of accessible education that allows graduates to meet industry needs as soon as they enter the workforce. "The University of New Orleans College of Business Administration is committed to ensuring higher education opportunities exist that allow our graduates to receive the education they need to add value immediately when they join an organization," Logan said. "With great partners like Delgado, we are able to meet this goal for an important segment of our local economy, and to ensure that education is affordable and available to all students."

 

"The Kabacoff School is delighted to be part of this articulation agreement that brings together two programs that are so essential to the hospitality community," Williams said. "Leaders of our industry have strongly advocated for this synergistic approach to providing advanced education in hospitality."

Puneky credits the exceptional spirit of cooperation between the two state institutions for the development and strong support of the program. "This agreement represents another milestone in the ongoing efforts by UNO and Delgado to collaborate in new and creative ways that provide students with broader access to higher education, enhance their educational experience, and help them contribute to our regional economy as exceptional employees," he said.

 

This Hospitality Articulation Agreement is the second "2+2" agreement signed to date between UNO and Delgado. The first, a Business Administration Articulation Agreement signed in September 2007, allows students to complete the courses prescibed in Delgado's Business Administration Associate of Science degree to transfer and obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the UNO College of Business Administration.

 

Delgado's Hospitality Management Associate of Applied Science program is the only two-year collegiate program in Louisiana or Mississippi accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Hospitality Management Programs (CAHM). The program provides academic instruction and practical experience in the field of hospitality. Courses include instruction in hospitality operations and management, travel and tourism, hospitality accounting and law, food and beverage management as well as convention management. The program offers concentrations in Hotel and Lodging Management, Tourism and Food and Beverage Management. It is designed to provide trained personnel for entry level and mid-management positions in the hospitality industry and is also designed for students who wish to continue with their studies by matriculating into a baccalaureate degree program.

 

The University of New Orleans Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Bachelor of Science program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Through its fine teaching and advising faculty, students gain an abundance of work experience and unlimited career opportunities through the continual contact and support of the local hospitality industry. Students can select to concentrate their studies in food and beverage operations, convention and event management, tourism, or hotel and lodging management.

 

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