Dr. John Griffin, the newly appointed chair of the NMC business department, yesterday said the college’s hospitality and tourism programs have a low enrolment.
“Low pay and competition with government jobs could be among the reasons why a lesser number of students enroll in the hospitality programs,” said Griffin, who was yesterday’s guest at the chamber of commerce meeting at the Pacific Islands Club.
“We will recover, and we will need hospitality managers. We need quality people who will take over our businesses,” Griffin said.
He noted that tourism comprises 50 percent of the work force and 25 percent of the Gross Domestic Product in the island.
“We need the degree program advisors and business concept sponsors to tell us what they need,” he said.
Allowing the students go on internships while studying gives them a chance to earn while they learn, he added.
“Students can get co-op education jobs as part time jobs and we need to offer degree programs that will get them interested so they will not think of going off-island to study,” Griffin said.
He said when students study somewhere else, it costs a lot for the families here.
NMC’s School of Business’ instructors include Larry Lee, Will Maui, Rick Villegas, Shelly Tudela, and Griffin.
Griffin finished his business degree from the University of Maryland, his M.S. in education and M.A. in public administration from the Troy State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Sarasota, Florida
Founded in 1981, NMC has a total enrolment of 2,596 for the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters in 2009-2010.
For more information about NMC’s School of Business, call 234-5498.
