Long hours and varied work schedules are the biggest barriers to continuing education among people in the hospitality industry, according to a survey by David James, assistant professor of hotel and restaurant management at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
University Outreach and Extension is responding by bringing continuing education to hospitality workers. In August, Extension Teaching will begin delivering off-campus credit courses in hotel and restaurant management at six locations: St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Camdenton, Poplar Bluff and Portageville
"We feel that we should be reaching out to those who can't come to us," James said.
Co-sponsored by the Missouri Restaurant Association, the courses will be delivered over the University's fiber optic network.
"They will help us with staff development and bringing people up in our businesses," said Pat Bergauer, Missouri Restaurant Association regional manager. "No matter what you're doing, you can always learn more."
Two courses will be offered each semester. The first two courses, "Human Resource Management" and "Food Beverage Labor Management," will be offered during the fall 1997 semester. Other courses are scheduled for 1998.
Plans are under way to help students who complete 18 hours of course work to earn a bachelor's degree through correspondence courses and other non-traditional approaches.
Working with the restaurant association, James surveyed members about continuing education needs. "Eighty-five percent of the membership was totally in favor of the program," James said, "so long as it was scheduled properly so they could get away from work. That's why we scheduled the courses for Monday nights. It's usually a slow time for them."
Linda Cupp, Extension Teaching program development specialist, said the courses were designed to serve three audiences: "The professionals and staff of the hospitality industry; high school graduates who are interested in working in the industry, but are unsure about college; and the students of colleges that don't offer these courses with whom we can arrive at collaborative arrangements."
For more information, contact Extension Teaching at (573) 882-3598, or visit the web site at: http://mucourses.missouri.edu/
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