The Practicum Manual

Practicum

To be eligible for graduation, all students enrolled in the Department of Hospitality Management are required to fulfill a minimum of 800-hours of on-the-job, paid work experience in the hospitality industry; 200 hours must be earned through University Hospitality Services after matriculating in the major (UHS is the campus organization that oversees campus dining, campus catering, and the New England Center). This work experience may be completed over several summers or during the academic year. For transfer students, a minimum of 400 practicum hours must be completed after matriculating in the Hospitality Management Department. Please see Practicum requirements for further information.

UHS / WSBE Student Practicum Manual

Guidelines for Student Employment: The following guidelines have been established to assist you during your practicum work experience with University Hospitality Services (UHS). This is a living document and is subject to change. Changes will be posted on the department Website and when significant changes are made they will be noted in a Preface to this document. In the event of a change, every reasonable effort will be made to make these changes available to students currently conducting the UHS / WSBE Student Practicum.

Purpose

The purpose of any practicum or other hospitality work opportunity is to ensure that you obtain meaningful work experiences within the hospitality industry prior to graduation. The practicum commences with the two, 100 clock-hour requirements and the journal and work report rests on the ability to reflect critically on what constitutes ‘best practice' across the full spectrum of professions within the hospitality industry and specifically with the work experience for the 100 hours. Critical reflection is best facilitated by a balance of experiential and theoretical learning combined with time for active reflection. Our belief, as supported by the recruiters who come to campus, is that a variety of employment experiences will improve the employability of seniors at graduation time.

Objective

The principal objective of the Practicum requirement is to reflect on the practical application of knowledge and skills in real work environments and to ensure that your education has the essential balance between theory and practice. This thinking goes beyond craft or technical knowledge that serves day-to-day functioning within a work environment, and it is intended to establish a broader perspective from which questions of value and systemic rationality can be addressed. To achieve this, students will be encouraged to develop a dialectical approach that opposes and reexamines practice, drawing out contradictions and possible solutions. In attaining this objective you will be able to:

• Test your career interests and gain valuable work experience in the various segments of the hospitality/service industry;
• Recognize, develop, and practice skills necessary for your future career;
• Put classroom theory into practice in the "real world" and utilize this practical experience in future academic assignments;
• Compare and contrast different types of organizations, company cultures, and work environments;
• Explore different departments/areas within an organization, gaining invaluable perspective regarding issues, concerns, and behaviors of employees at various levels; and
• Improve your marketability upon graduation.

Fulfilling and Calculating Your Practicum Requirement

1. UHS Practicum for Credit (HMGT404 and HMGT504)

The 200-hour, on-campus paid practicum is a winning formula. The collaborative effort between the Department of Hospitality Management and University Hospitality Services ensures that first- and second-year students will have a work opportunity that helps build the initial rungs of one's career ladder under the guidance of the Hospitality Management Department and UHS.

HMGT 404 - UHS Hospitality Practicum, 1 Credit hour. Cr/F

HMGT 504 - UHS Hospitality Practicum, 1 Credit hour. Cr/F

Students enrolling in the Hospitality Management Major as a Freshman will be required to enroll in HMGT 404 which can be completed as a continuing course in the second semester of Freshman year. They must complete 100, paid clock-hours working within the UHS auspices and complete a weekly journal of their experiences and reactions to that experience that shall be submitted to the course instructor on the first of each month during the semester (October, November and December in the fall semester and March, April and May during the spring semester).

Students enrolling in the Hospitality Management Major as a Sophomore will be required to enroll in HMGT 504 which can be completed as a continuing course in the second semester of Sophomore year. They must complete 100, paid-clock hours working within the UHS auspices and complete a weekly journal of their experiences and reactions to that experience that shall be submitted to the course instructor on the first of each month during the semester (October, November and December in the fall semester and March, April and May during the spring semester).

A work report, consisting of 5 pages typewritten and supported by at least 5 current references (within the last 5 years), is to be submitted at the conclusion of the 100 clock-hours. The work report shall identify the unit or units within the UHS organization for whom the student worked (name of supervisor, campus address and phone number) and text that describes the work relating the work to the references and what the student feels that s/he got, or did not get, out of the experience.

The requirement for the practicum is, therefore, to produce a journal that demonstrates:

• Observation
• Reflection
• Evaluation and contextual planning

One will notice that the essential skill of critical reflection and reformulation of practice is not tied to a specific work environment, but to developing a students' ability to reflect on practice and ultimately transform practice based on new sets of relevant values. As an educational outcome the practicum steps beyond training into the realm of education in its broader objectives of changing a knowledge base that informs action.

Upon completing 100 paid, clock-hours and a satisfactory work report from the UHS supervisor, on time (monthly), satisfactory submissions of the personal journal, a grade of Cr or F will be assigned. 1 Cr.

NOTE: Students enrolling as Freshman will be required to complete both HMGT 404 and HMGT 504. Students enrolling as Sophomores will be required to complete HMGT 504. Students enrolling as Juniors in the major will NOT be required to complete either HMGT 404 or HMGT 504.

In all cases, all students will be required to complete a total of 800 paid, clock-hours of an approved work experience(s) within the hospitality or an allied industry as a requirement for graduation.

UHS Practicum Expectations

The practicum is a paid employment opportunity and thus you are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times. You will clock-in and clock-out just as any other student employee, and you will be compensated on a bi-weekly basis. UHS Practicum Stipulations

You will be provided with a handbook at the beginning of your first employment opportunity with UHS. The following list some of the basic expectations of this DHM/UHS Practicum:

• Dress appropriate to the position--Your supervisor will inform you of the appropriate attire for each position that you fill. It is your responsibility to report to work dressed and ready to go.
• Timeliness--You will sign up for a given time period. You will be expected to clock-in at that time ready for work and to complete each shift. You will be provided a phone number to call in case an emergency prevents you from coming to work. If you fail to make a shift you must coordinate with your supervisor to ensure that you make up the hours prior to the end of each semester.
• Disciplinary Action--As with any job, you may be subject to disciplinary action should you fail to adhere to the guidelines as outlined in the employee handbook.
• Types of work experiences normally sought and approved-Defined by the Hospitality Management Department for the practicum requirement, employment in any of the industry segments listed below will be considered for practicum credit purposes:
• On-Line DHM-UHS Practicum Manual

2. Work Practicum outside the University

The remaining practicum hours may be completed over one summer, a combination of summers, during intersession, or during academic semesters outside the University System within the hospitality industry. Employment in any of the industry segments listed below will be considered for practicum credit.

Industry Segments

• Airlines
• Casino/Gaming
• Conference Centers/Services
• Contract Food Services
• Convention Facilities
• Cruise Ships/Tours
• Event Planning
• Country and City Clubs
• Lodging:
  • Hotel
  • Resort
  • Spa
  • B&B
  • Health Facilities
• Managed Services
• Parks/Lodging/Camps
• Professional Associations/Academic & Professional Publication
• Restaurant
• Software/Hardware Vendors
• Sports/Entertainment/Leisure
• Stadiums/Arenas
• Travel/Tourism:
  • Travel Agencies
  • Meeting Planning
  • Visitor Bureau

Job Functions Operations Business/Campus Dining Catering Facilities Management Finance Front Office Full Service Restaurant Housekeeping Human Resources Quick Service Restaurant Reservations Retail Rooms Sales/Marketing Real Estate Brokerage Development Finance Property Management	Consulting/Finance Hospitality Consulting Environmental Financial General Management Healthcare Information Systems Investment Banking Real Estate Sales/Trading Marketing Brand/Product Management Market Research Advertising/Public Relations Sales/Marketing

Students Please Note: This list is not all-inclusive. To determine if a position qualifies for practicum credit, please come to the Hospitality Management Administrative Assistants Office to speak with the program administrator.

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Gourmet Dinner Assistants, Teaching Assistants, and Peer Advisors:

No practicum-credit will be given for employment from any educational assistance or educational organization job.

Fraternities, Sororities, or Social Organizations:

To receive practicum credit for your work at a fraternity, sorority, or social organization, it must be a paid position (such as steward), and you must have a full-time employee fill out your practicum credit form. Volunteer work on a committee (such as event planning) will not count towards practicum credit.

Self-Employment:

To receive practicum credit for your own business, you must petition in advance so that appropriate verification procedures may be set in place.

Employment Verification Forms

You are responsible for obtaining employment verification from your employer. Both you and your employer must complete and sign the appropriate sections of the Employment Verification Form. The Department of Hospitality Management retains the right to verify the accuracy of the information submitted. Any misinformation will be considered a violation of the Univeristy's Academic Honesty Policy.

Upon receipt of the completed Employment Verification Form the Department of Hospitality Management will email you to notify you of the specific amount of practicum hours you have completed.