Beyond the Classroom: How Stockton University's Hospitality Program is Redefining Business Education

By Noel Criscione-Naylor,Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, Stockton University

Hospitality education is changing. Today's graduates need more than operational knowledge; they need business acumen, research experience, technological fluency, and the ability to lead in an industry defined by constant change. At Stockton University, the AACSB accredited Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management (HTEM) Bachelor of Science degree program has embraced this evolution, creating an educational experience that prepares students not only for their first job, but for long-term leadership across the global hospitality industry.

At the heart of the program is a faculty whose collective experience spans hotels, casinos, tourism organizations, destination marketing, event management, hospitality finance and executive leadership. Students learn from educators who have not only studied the industry but have also helped shape it, bringing real-world experience, professional networks and current industry practices directly into the classroom. Every full-time faculty member has held significant leadership positions within the hospitality industry, ensuring students gain perspectives grounded in both scholarship and practice.

What makes the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management program different begins with a simple philosophy: hospitality is business. Every student develops a strong foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, business law, management, and ethics while applying those concepts to hotels, tourism, events, restaurants, resorts, entertainment venues, and destination organizations. This business-first approach has become even more intentional with the introduction of the Business Fundamentals in Hospitality Certificate. HTEM students earn the certificate as part of their degree without additional coursework or tuition, while students from any major across Stockton can also pursue the certificate to complement their primary field of study. Whether preparing for careers in communications, health sciences, arts, environmental studies, or public service, students gain practical business competencies that strengthen leadership, customer experience, project management, and organizational decision-making. By combining discipline-specific expertise with a strong business foundation, graduates are better prepared to lead, innovate, and succeed in today's service-driven economy.

Adding to this distinctive business focus is the program's location. Situated just minutes from Atlantic City—one of the nation's premier hospitality, tourism, gaming, and entertainment destinations—students learn within a living laboratory unlike any other. The region provides direct access to world-class hotels, resorts, casinos, convention facilities, restaurants, entertainment venues, destination marketing organizations, and tourism businesses. Rather than simply reading case studies, students experience the hospitality industry firsthand, creating unparalleled opportunities for internships, networking, applied research, and experiential learning while developing relationships with professionals who are actively shaping the industry's future.

While business knowledge is critical, the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management program believes students learn best by doing. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the curriculum. Students complete professional work experiences, internships, consulting projects, industry site visits, and applied classroom activities that connect theory with practice. Beyond the classroom, students regularly engage with industry leaders through exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences at premier hospitality and event organizations. Past experiential opportunities have included partnerships with Live Nation, Cescaphe, Cape Resorts, VIVÂMEE Hospitality, and many others, providing students with access to executive leadership, operational tours, and firsthand insights into how successful hospitality businesses are managed. This fall, students will visit the Javits Center in New York City—one of the nation's premier convention and exhibition facilities—to explore large-scale event operations and meet with professionals responsible for managing one of the industry's most complex venues. These experiences allow students to see concepts discussed in class come to life, while building valuable professional networks, exploring career pathways, and gaining a deeper understanding of the leadership, innovation, and operational excellence required to succeed in today's hospitality industry.

Experiential learning also extends well beyond the classroom through faculty-led study tours that immerse students in destinations where hospitality and tourism concepts come to life. In Spring 2027, students will travel through Utah's renowned Mighty 5 National Parks as part of a Hospitality and Tourism Study Tour, examining destination marketing, sustainable tourism, visitor management and environmental stewardship across some of the nation's most iconic natural attractions. Led by Stockton faculty, these credit-bearing experiences combine academic learning with immersive travel, encouraging students to engage directly with industry professionals, analyze tourism challenges in real-world settings, and develop the global perspective and cultural awareness essential for today's hospitality leaders.

Just as the program continually expands learning beyond the traditional classroom, it is equally committed to reimagining the classroom experience itself. Beginning this fall, the program will pilot a HyFlex capstone course that gives students greater flexibility while preserving the collaborative, high-impact learning experiences that define hospitality education. The pilot reflects the program's willingness to explore new instructional models that better meet the needs of today's learners while maintaining academic rigor and meaningful engagement. This culture of continuous improvement extends beyond the classroom model itself, as faculty regularly pursue professional development to enhance their teaching and student success. Most recently, Dr. Jennifer Aarons completed the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Effective Teaching Certification, further strengthening the program's commitment to evidence-based, student-centered instruction. Together, these initiatives demonstrate the faculty's dedication to continually evaluating new pedagogical approaches that respond to the evolving expectations of both students and the hospitality industry.

Perhaps one of program’s greatest distinguishing characteristics is the emphasis placed on undergraduate research. Faculty actively mentor students through every stage of the research process — from identifying meaningful industry questions and collecting data to presenting findings at academic conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. While many hospitality programs reserve scholarly work for graduate students, Stockton actively engages undergraduate students in applied research that addresses real challenges facing the hospitality and tourism industry. Students work alongside faculty to investigate emerging issues, analyze industry trends, and contribute new knowledge that advances both academia and professional practice.

Recent student-faculty publications demonstrate the breadth and relevance of this work. Research has explored sustainability practices at New Jersey farm markets, redevelopment strategies for Atlantic City, ecotourism development, generational differences in brand loyalty, technology adoption in hospitality, robotics in hotel operations, and the evolving value of hospitality education in an increasingly technology-driven industry. One student publication, Technology Checks in for an Extended Stay under the guidance of Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor, was recognized by the International Journal of Gaming,