CNE, OSU-Stillwater partner to offer distance graduate program

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

(September 16, 2008  TULSA, Okla.) – Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates Cherokee Casinos, and Oklahoma State University are teaming up to offer a distance learning master’s degree program in hospitality administration, two firsts for the university.

Part of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, OSU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration has 440 students in its undergraduate program and 65 master’s and doctoral candidates. Its partnership with CNE will be the first time an HRAD degree will be offered via distance learning and the first time OSU has partnered with a corporate entity to offer a degree program on-site. Prior to its partnership with CNE, OSU did not offer any hospitality coursework outside of the university’s Stillwater campus.

“The program is a great opportunity because it opens doors for our employees to expand their education and career paths without having to leave their job or the community,” said CNE chief executive officer David Stewart.

The job outlook for the hospitality industry is bright, not only nationwide, but in Oklahoma especially. During the next decade, 23,000 additional food service jobs are expected to open up statewide. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor expects gaming-related positions to grow by 23 percent by 2016. With the increased number of jobs, additional training is necessary to ensure qualified candidates are filling the positions.

“This partnership is another example of a state, tribal and business collaboration that is very effective in providing real solutions to tough challenges that are facing Oklahoma. In this case, the challenges are ensuring greater access to higher education for Oklahomans and a qualified workforce for Oklahoma businesses. Like any other company that is growing rapidly, we are using this as an avenue to attract and train quality employees right here in Oklahoma,” continued Stewart.

Thirty-four hours are needed to complete the degree. The program’s first class will be able to graduate in summer 2010. After taking two “fast-track” courses in July and early August, participants start regular classes Monday and Wednesday evenings for 16 weeks starting in mid-August.

Courses are taught using a teleconferencing format that broadcasts lectures live directly to CNE facilities in Tulsa, Roland, Tahlequah and West Siloam Springs. The instructor and students at all locations, including the traditional classroom on OSU’s campus in Stillwater, are able to interact with each other. The program’s first class has five student-employees: two in West Siloam Springs, one in Claremore and two in Tahlequah.

“The innovative format for program delivery allows us to leverage technology to enhance students’ educational experience without compromising the quality of interaction among students, faculty and peers,” said Radesh Palakurthi, HRAD graduate program coordinator.

Top reasons for OSU choosing CNE as its first corporate partner include CNE’s rapidly growing need for hospitality professionals, CNE’s track record of commitment to educating its employees and OSU’s outreach mission, including its ongoing efforts to partner with more minority organizations.

OSU’s hospitality administration graduate program recently finished second nationwide in a survey conducted by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, the official journal of the Council for Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education. More degree programs, including a bachelor’s degree, are under consideration for future expansion of its partnership with CNE.

CNE is the retail, gaming, entertainment, hospitality and cultural tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation and operates seven casinos, located in Tulsa, Claremore, Roland, West Siloam Springs, Fort Gibson, Sallisaw and Tahlequah. CNE also oversees a horse racing track, a full-service Cherokee Travel Plaza, two Cherokee Outpost convenience stores, six retail tobacco shops, three gift shops, two golf courses and three hotels.

CNE employs more than 3,200 people across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. The company’s minimum wage is $8.25 per hour, higher than the federal minimum wage of $5.85 per hour, and provides employee benefits considered to be among the top in the state. CNE expects to hire an additional 1,000 employees in the coming year.