PULLMAN, Wash. — A new educational partnership between Washington State University (WSU) and the Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation will grant thousands of hospitality professionals across the state access to a more affordable Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
“Whether it’s marketing, business development, accounting, or strategic planning, the opportunity to attend graduate school through our agreement with WSU puts an MBA within reach of many of our very busy members,” said Anthony Anton, president and CEO of Washington Hospitality. “Higher education is a game changer. We are delighted that The Education Foundation could put this together with WSU. Our team is dedicated to our workers’ success, from the starting line to ownership.”
Under the partnership, WSU’s Carson College of Business will offer 10 percent in tuition assistance for members of the Washington Hospitality Association and their employees who choose to pursue their online MBA or Executive MBA (EMBA) at WSU. Eligible prospective students will also be exempt from the $75 application fee.
WSU offers four in-demand specializations in its MBA program, including a concentration in hospitality business management that focuses on business skills related to service management, international tourism, and hospitality operations.
“The partnership between Washington State University and the Washington Hospitality Association gives both organizations the opportunity to promote their missions and serve the hospitality and tourism industry in Washington state,” said Cheryl Oliver, assistant dean, Carson College of Business online and graduate programs. “Our top ranked online MBA and EMBA programs are uniquely suited to help hospitality professionals start, grow, and improve their businesses. We are thrilled for the opportunity to help make these programs more accessible for the current and future leaders of the hospitality industry.”
Prospective students who wish to take advantage of the tuition assistance and other benefits afforded by this partnership must meet the minimum requirements for admission into the MBA or EMBA programs. Current students who qualify for benefits under the agreement can begin to utilize the 10 percent in tuition assistance immediately.
This is the most recent in a string of initiatives by WSU to increase access to its academic facilities and programs through strategic partnerships. Partnerships like these serve as integral building blocks of WSU’s Drive to 25 initiative, through which the university strives to achieve a ranking among the nation’s top 25 public research universities by 2030.
“The hospitality industry is one of the largest in the world, with a diversity of rewarding careers. This new partnership will help accommodate the educational needs and aspirations of hospitality professionals in our region with a solid business foundation, preparing them for leadership roles in the many sectors of hospitality,” said Nancy Swanger, Carson College of Business associate dean and director, WSU School of Hospitality Business Management.”
WSU has previously announced similar partnerships with Chick-fil-A, Alaska Airlines, and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
About WSU’s online MBA programs
WSU’s online MBA program is designed to prepare future business professionals to be leaders on a global scale. Students can study a general MBA track or choose one of four in-demand concentrations: finance, marketing, hospitality business management, or international business. For established professionals looking to advance as leaders among leaders in business, WSU offers a top-ranked online EMBA focused on executive leadership.
For more information about the MBA and EMBA programs at Washington State University, visit the Carson College of Business MBA programs website at http://onlinemba.wsu.edu.
About the Washington Hospitality Association
Comprising some 6,500 managers, executives, and leaders in hospitality, the Washington Hospitality Association is the industry’s leading trade group in Washington. The organization, formed in 2016 by combining the Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association, seeks to serve and advocate for industry professionals throughout the state by providing education and training services, publishing industry news and resources, and building a cost-saving network of vendors and partners.
The Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation strives to help grow and improve the hospitality industry by offering access to education and training solutions for members and their families.