Programs in 糖心vlog’s Department of Hospitality and Employment Relations have received unconditional reaffirmation of accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.
The Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management bachelor of science and associate of science programs and minors in hospitality management, hotel and lodging management, restaurant and food service management, and special event/tourism management were recognized by the ACPHA with full reaffirmation of accreditation with no written corrective action required.
The ACPHA is responsible for evaluating programs in hospitality management education at the bachelor’s and associate degree levels on a national level. To receive accreditation, programs are judged on mission, administration and governance, planning, curriculum, assistance of student learning, instructional resources, student support services, physician and learning resources, and financial resources. Programs are required to complete a programmatic self-study, an evaluation by professional colleagues, and an evaluation by the accreditation commission that includes a site visit.
“It is extremely rare for a program to receive reaffirmation of accreditation with absolutely no notes or written recommendations for corrective actions,” IUP Interim Dean of the Eberly College of Business Prashanth Bharadwaj said. “The accreditation process is rigorous, and I attribute this success to our hospitality faculty’s professionalism and student-centeredness. The faculty, students, and these programs are a true asset for the Eberly College of Business,” he said.
The programs have been accredited continuously by ACPHA since 1994 and are recognized nationally for excellence, including by Study.com as the highest-ranked program in Pennsylvania. IUP has the largest hospitality management program in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
The department includes some 87 students in the bachelor’s, associate, and minor programs.
“Maintaining accreditation since 1994 has been extremely important to the team,” Department of Hospitality and Employment Relations Chair Jeff Santicola said. “Each one of us—Dr. Nicole Clevenger, Dr. Stephen Shiring, Dr. Yasong (Alex) Wang and I—worked together to achieve an accreditation that required no recommendations for improvement.
“We pass this work ethic on to our students. As department chairperson, I am grateful to be surrounded by such dedicated colleagues in our department and throughout Eberly College of Business. Our students have found great success here at IUP because of our facilities and curriculum, providing numerous hands-on experiences from freshman year through graduation. Our department receives significant support from the IUP administration and the surrounding Indiana community, all of which helps to maintain successful academic achievement and continued recognition from our accreditors,” he said.
The hotel, restaurant, tourism, and event management degrees focus on building leadership skills and enhancing technical skills.
A minor in hospitality management prepares students with fundamental knowledge in the management of hospitality operations. The focus of this minor is on hospitality industry-specific management skills in the areas of employee development, purchasing, managing, and critiquing food production systems pertinent to the hospitality industry.
The hotel and lodging management minor prepares students with industry-specific skills required of today’s hotel professional. Students will learn how to lead front office operations, housekeeping and facilities management, industry standard pricing strategies, revenue management, the role of a hotel sales department, and how to lead with a focus on service management.
The restaurant and food service management minor prepares students with the skills to be a successful food service manager. This minor prepares students to manage and operate the Allenwood Restaurant at IUP by developing skills in food sanitation, food preparation skills, menu planning, front and back of the house operations, and responsible alcohol service.
The special event/tourism management minor introduces students to the planning, organizing, and controlling of special event functions and the social, cultural, environmental, and economic processes linked to the tourism industry. This minor provides the option to select industry-specific courses that meet individual career goals in areas of professional wedding planning, fundraising, catering, festivals, destination management, international tourism, and event management.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.