MC launches Hospitality and Regional Identity major

June 2, 2022

A new major will be available for Maryville College students this fall that will offer signature learning opportunities at RT Lodge and other distinctive dining, lodging and event establishments in the area.

Hospitality and Regional Identity is being added to the 2022-2023 College’s catalog following recommendation by the faculty and approval by the College’s Board of Directors last month. The addition brings the total number of programs of study and certifications available to undergraduates to 69. It follows the addition of an Environmental Science major in 2021 and, like Environmental Science, Hospitality and Regional Identity helps position MC as a college “of and for the region” by focusing on how location can influence and enhance the customer experience, as well as meeting a workforce need.

In making the announcement, MC President Dr. Bryan F. Coker said discussions about the major have taken place over several years, but pandemic-related increases in tourism and much evolution in the local industry, especially “high-end” opportunities, made the timing right for the new program in 2022.

“Local hospitality leaders were consulted about the industry’s current and future needs, and we learned of the need for skilled permanent employees who know hospitality and the larger field of management more generally, but who are also knowledgeable about – and appreciative of – the regional context,” Coker explained. “We know that sustainable management of natural and scenic resources and respectful curation of cultural heritage demand a broader range of skills and background knowledge than straightforward management of hospitality properties. With our liberal arts curriculum, we are confident that we can deliver a unique program that will prepare students for successful, interesting and meaningful careers.”

A major in Hospitality and Regional Identity will require 58 credit hours; a minor will require 18 credit hours. Four new courses have been developed that will focus on customer experience, marketing, management and operations and regional identity through food and beverage. Other required and elective courses will draw from current offerings in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies areas. The curriculum leans into Appalachian identity, with students having options to study Appalachian cultural and social history, food traditions, religion and the landforms, flora and fauna of the Great Smoky Mountains. Dr. Jenifer Greene, professor of management, will serve as coordinator of the program.

Donations pledged by industry partners are helping to fund the delivery of new courses, one new instructor position and promotion of the program to prospective students and their families.

According to the proposal approved by the faculty and Board, students who complete the Hospitality and Regional Identity curriculum will be able to: 1.) understand the operations of various components of the hospitality industry and how they relate to each other; 2) understand how to create an exceptional customer experience and how a specific place plays a role in this development; and 3) develop critical thinking skills, have knowledge in theoretical perspectives and methodological techniques, and gain experiential learning opportunities.

Opportunities with RT Lodge

For many future hospitality students, the “experiential learning opportunities” outlined in the program’s learning outcomes will come from RT Lodge, a restaurant, hotel and special event site located on campus and operated through a long-term lease by regional business leaders who are very supportive of the College.

Since it opened in 1998, RT Lodge has been an employer for scores of MC students and graduates, and with the launch of the Hospitality and Regional Identity major, both parties expect to see more students put their academic pursuits into practice there.

“Through our partnership with RT Lodge, we can provide students with a valuable four-year ‘hands-on’ experience that will help equip them with knowledge of local Appalachian food and culture – a contribution to the place-based education, which will be a distinctive of aspect of our program,” Coker said.

Beth McCabe Holman, president of RT Lodge, said she and her team were “thrilled” about the new major and proud to partner with the College on its growth and development.

“The College is a valuable resource to RT Lodge, and it is a privilege to interact with MC students in a working hospitality environment every day,” she added. “What an exciting time for Maryville College and our community!”

The education and experiences offered through a hospitality major can be translated into many areas beyond hotels and restaurants, said Gary Doyle, RT Lodge’s general manager.

“They can be applied to all interpersonal aspects of occupations in business, medicine, religion, sports, arts and education,” he said. “Pairing those with the science of positive regional identity in a broader sense of hospitality would seem a natural field of study for any future city planner, chamber of commerce member or community development professional, among other diverse professions.”

In addition to RT Lodge, students enrolled in the new major may soon be able to gain real-world experience by helping to operate the House in the Woods, a 105-year-old home located in the College Woods that is slated for renovation and eventual use as a College guest house.

Tourism is strong, trending up

Tourism is Tennessee’s second largest industry by employment. As a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Blount County ranked eighth among Tennessee’s 95 counties in visitor expenditures at $337 million in 2020, according to a report issued by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Jobs related to hospitality and tourism in the county have grown from just under 3,000 to more than 4,000 over the last seven years, according to Kim Mitchell, Blount Partnership director of tourism.

“Blount County remains a top destination for travelers domestically and internationally for its tremendous outdoor assets, scenic beauty, music, food, family fun, history, culture and destination sites the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” she said. “All give us an edge against other areas.”

Bryan Daniels, Blount Partnership president/CEO, thanked Coker for leading efforts to get the Hospitality and Regional Identity major instituted, agreeing that it is much needed for the area’s economic growth and development.

“The experiences gained in this major are vital to tourism by the fact that future employees will be equipped with knowledge and skills needed to become leaders in the hospitality industry,” he said. “Programs like this are crucial when it comes to continuing to educate people on the many assets of the region while offering insight into the administrative, operational and commercial activities that make any business a success.”

For more information or to apply, contact the College’s Office of Admissions at 865-981-8092 or admissions@maryvillecollege.edu.

Maryville College is a nationally-ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges. For more than 200 years we’ve educated students to be giving citizens and gifted leaders, to study everything, so that they are prepared for anything — to address any problem, engage with any audience and launch successful careers right away. Located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville, Maryville College offers nearly 1,200  students from around the world both the beauty of a rural setting and the advantages of an urban center, as well as more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last. Today, our 10,000 alumni are living life strong of mind and brave of heart and are prepared, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”