Kellogg Community College starting this fall will offer a new certificate program to prepare students for professional work in the hospitality industry.
KCC’s new Hospitality Management Certificate consists of five courses totaling 16 credits, including three new courses categorized under a new HOSP course identifier. The program is designed for graduates to pursue immediate employment or further education upon completion, including an option to complete KCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Business Management degree with a concentration in Hospitality Management.
Required Hospitality Management Certificate program courses are:
- ACCO 101: General Accounting
- BUAD 101: Introduction to Business
- HOSP 101: Hospitality Management
- HOSP 102: Special Event Management
- HOSP 103: Customer Service Excellence
ACCO 101 and BUAD 101 can be taken as early as the Summer 2025 semester, and students can sign up when summer registration opens April 7. The new HOSP courses are anticipated to be offered starting this fall; registration for the fall semester opens April 21.
The new credential – which was formally approved by KCC’s Academic Cabinet and the College’s Board of Trustees in May 2024 – will prepare students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the fields of hospitality and tourism management. The program is ideal for individuals who aspire to a career working in hotels, restaurants, resorts, event planning, tourism or any other sector of the hospitality industry.
The credential also is the only local higher ed Hospitality Management credential available to area students, with the closest similar offerings located in Grand Rapids.
KCC Dean of Workforce Development Bobby Beauchamp said the hospitality talent pipeline in the Battle Creek area is strong and, in conjunction with KCC’s new Hospitality Management Program, will yield positive results in the community for years to come.
“KCC’s new Hospitality Management Certificate Program will provide a successful, sustainable program of study that will generate top talent, community-wide enthusiasm and vibrancy in the downtown Battle Creek area and surrounding communities,” Beauchamp said. “This new program will present students with enhanced employability and transfer options while also bringing strong economic development opportunities throughout the KCC service district.”
The College hopes to work with area partners including FireKeepers Casino Hotel and DoubleTree by Hilton Battle Creek – which opened a new location downtown last fall – as well as additional organizations to offer students hands-on, real-world experiences in the industry. The program needs analysis presented to the Board last year included official letters of support from local community partners including 6PM Hospitality Partners, Battle Creek Unlimited, the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau, FireKeepers and Michigan Works! Southwest.
“Support for this program extends deep into our local community,” Beauchamp said. “Such support is evidence that a clear and present need exists for this program and that key stakeholders see its value.”
In addition to the KCC certificate, Hospitality Management students also will have the opportunity to test for any of several industry certifications to enhance their education and employability in the field.
More information about the new Hospitality Management Certificate Program is available online at kellogg.edu/hospitality or by contacting Hospitality Management and Office Information Technology Professor Darcy Henning at 269-565-2195 or henningd@kellogg.edu.
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