Partnership allows JCC bachelor's in tourism

Students can now get a bachelor of science degree in hotel, resort and tourism management in Watertown through a new joint program between Jefferson Community College and Paul Smith's College.

"This means students can finish their education locally. You get a Paul Smith's College education without needing to relocate," JCC President Carole A. McCoy said.

Mrs. McCoy and John W. Mills, president of Paul Smith's, signed a memorandum of understanding activating the partnership program Wednesday afternoon.

This kicks off JCC's new higher-education initiative, meant to give JCC students an opportunity to receive a bachelor's degree locally.

"We understand that a lot of these students are working, and the increased access to different degrees is geared toward them," Mrs. McCoy said.

As part of the initiative, JCC will get a new building, the Higher Education Center, projected to be finished at the end of January.

There will be more signings with other four-year institutions for bachelor's programs in other subject areas. The target is to have five more agreements by the end of January, Mrs. McCoy said.

The significance of a tourism management program is large in this area, because it's an important industry to the local economy. Tourism management is also becoming a more popular subject of study, Mrs. McCoy said.

"We're all about meeting the learning needs of this community, and this is a growth field in this area," Mrs. McCoy said. "It's also an area that is starting to require credentials more and more. This isn't something that people even majored in years ago."

The new program will allow students to take a class one night per week. There also will be some online and distance-learning elements. Students will earn a bachelor's degree in five semesters, said Kathleen J. Herd, assistant professor at Paul Smith's.

Ms. Herd estimates that about 10 students will enroll in the program for the spring semester, but that interest will grow as more people learn about the new program offering and as JCC gets the word out to more people in the community.