Hotel hurdles
More departments than the hospitality program can benefit from a Holiday Inn on campus property.
University President Michael Rao said at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday that numerous programs could be linked to the hotel, which the Board previously approved for development on the Center For Applied Research and Technology.
Though additional tie-ins may delay the hotel's approval, Rao is rightly emphasizing the hotel's educational opportunities.
The hotel could be an asset to the hospitality program, but that alone is not enough.
Its development could provide internships for engineering students. Business students could help manage the hotel's finances, and public relations students could field phone calls from the media.
And that's only a few options.
Ignoring the plethora of additional opportunities would be inexcusably negligent. Rao cannot simply gloss over what the hotel may offer for students outside the hospitality program.
The CART's amended mission statement mandates an academic tie-in with the university, but that tie should be as strong and extensive as possible.
Rao should carefully consider every potential opportunity for students, and propose each one before signing the lease. Counsel from each college dean and from department chairs could assist his search.
Rushing the decision is the worst thing Rao could do, and his remarks at the Trustee meeting were encouraging. But his survey needs to be more than a step in the right direction - it must be exhaustive.
This is a chance for the university to make the most of an already appealing opportunity. It is now in Rao's hands to use to best benefit students.
