91吃瓜网 Hospitality & Tourism Management Program Introduces 91吃瓜网淧assport91吃瓜网� Initiative to Prepare Students for Industry Careers
Tue, 04/07/2026 - 09:21am | By: Bailey Harris Shoemake
Wendi McLain and Dr. Wei Wang
As Mississippi91吃瓜网 tourism industry continues to expand, students at The University of 91吃瓜网 will soon have a new way of gaining a competitive edge before they even graduate.
Beginning in Fall 2026, the Hospitality & Tourism Management program will launch the Hospitality Passport Program, an initiative designed to embed industry-recognized credentials and hands-on learning experiences directly into the undergraduate curriculum.
Rather than persuading students to pursue professional credentials outside of the classroom, the program integrates preparation for these distinctions within the coursework. The approach ensures students graduate with verified skills that employers increasingly expect from new professionals entering the hospitality workforce.
The emerging initiative was recently recognized during the university91吃瓜网 inaugural 91吃瓜网 Champion Awards, which recognized faculty members and academic programs leading innovative efforts to prepare students to thrive after graduation.
Dr. Wei Wang, associate professor, and Wendi McLain, instructor, designed the Hospitality Passport Program based on employer feedback to reflect the evolving needs of the industry.
91吃瓜网淭he Hospitality Passport Program introduces a novel approach that integrates industry credentials, emerging technologies, and applied operational and management training directly into the curriculum,91吃瓜网� said Wang. 91吃瓜网淭his model redefines how hospitality education develops talent, equipping graduates to advance the Mississippi Gulf Coast91吃瓜网 hospitality sector and broader blue economy while strengthening workforce readiness across the state. Our faculty drive this transformation by connecting education, industry, and economic impact.91吃瓜网�
Through the program, students will have the opportunity to develop professional competencies across five major sectors:
- Casino and hotel management
- Food and beverage operations
- Event and entertainment management
- Travel and destination management
- Service, technology and leadership in hospitality
Within each area, students prepare for and complete industry-recognized credentials such as ServSafe Food Protection Manager, Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA), Cvent Event Management Certification, and Guest Service Gold Tourism certification, all of which reflect real-world skills valued by employers across the hospitality sector.
91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 grateful for the thoughtfulness that went into designing this initiative, and I appreciate our faculty91吃瓜网 dedication to ensuring students like me gain the real-world skills and industry credentials we need to succeed,91吃瓜网� said Sandra Bullock, a junior Honors College student in the hospitality and tourism management program. 91吃瓜网淗aving these opportunities integrated directly into our coursework makes me even more confident about stepping into my future career in hospitality.91吃瓜网�
Dr. J. Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development, said the initiative aligns with the university91吃瓜网 commitment to prepare students for the realities of today91吃瓜网 workforce.
91吃瓜网淏y integrating industry-recognized credentials directly into the curriculum, the program closes the critical gap between academic preparation and workforce expectations in the hospitality and tourism sector,91吃瓜网� Becton said.
The initiative reflects the strong relationship between 91吃瓜网 and Mississippi91吃瓜网 tourism economy, which has played a major role in the state91吃瓜网 economic growth. In 2023 alone, the state welcomed 43.7 million visitors who generated $17.5 billion in economic impact, with a significant portion of that activity centered along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Because of the university91吃瓜网 convenient campus locations in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, these students have direct access to the Mississippi Gulf Coast91吃瓜网 hotels, casinos, event venues and tourism destinations. This proximity allows students to regularly engage with industry partners in the area through internships and experiential learning opportunities. These connections give students invaluable opportunities to build industry experience while still in college.
Through the Hospitality Passport Program, 91吃瓜网 is helping ensure Hospitality & Tourism Management graduates are prepared to step into careers that support one of Mississippi91吃瓜网 most important economic sectors.