MU Hotel and Restaurant Management Program now offers undergraduate track in events planning
The University of Missouri now offers an undergraduate track in Conference and Events Planning through the Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) program. Conference and Events Planning is one of three tracks in the program. The others are Lodging Management, and Food and Beverage Management.
"Students in this track receive specialized study in planning, organizing and conducting events that range from large corporate meetings and trade shows to tourism excursions, product promotionals and entertainment events," said Jim Groves, HRM department chair.
"The events planning industry is a growing field of opportunity," said Julie Hosmer, program coordinator. "Our classes are designed to give students hands-on experience planning multiple types of events," she said. "When students graduate, they will have planned several events making them very competitive for meeting or event planning jobs."
Students in the event planning track are encouraged to join professional associations such as ISES and MPI. Students receive valuable learning in these professional associations that complement their university learning. ISES has partnered with the HRM program by sending event planners and suppliers like Josie Littlepage, Marianne Moore, and Erin Shulte to speak in class and give students a realistic perspective of the industry.
The students have also formed their own association called Mizzou Meeting Planning Professionals (MMPA). The purpose of MMPA is to offer students more experience in the field of event planning. MMPA has created a reputation for assisting local event planners in the most professional manner as well as planning events for the university in areas where there is no event planner. Their support is requested several times each year. Recently MMPAconducted a fashion show to display to students proper business attire.
Last semester students in the Special Events Management class coordinated and conducted 11 live events. Some of the events included a sand volleyball tournament that raised over $1,200 for the Ronald McDonald House; a sexual assault awareness and prevention program that raised nearly $2,000 for a local women's shelter; an event that collected gently used prom dresses and sold them at reduced prices to local high school students; coordinating and hosting the founder of Jimmy John's sandwiches, Jimmy Liautaud; and of course, a couple pub crawls. After all, these are still college students but they are well on their way to becoming experienced event planners.
Requirements for students in the track include a course in Special Events Management, Conference and Meeting Management, Destination Management, current events in event planning, and a financial management course. About 75 students are enrolled in the events study program.
If you wish to recruit interns or offer career opportunities, contact Julie Hosmer, Resident Instruction Assistant Professor,Hotel & Restaurant Management Program at hosmerj@missouri.edu or Stephanie Chipman, Director of Career Services at chipmans@missouri.edu.
--From ISES St. Louis
