HRTM Students Gain Real-World Experience Through Classroom Projects 

Students taking two different courses within East Stroudsburg University’s Department of Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management applied classroom learning to gain real-world experience.

One group of students, under the direction of Yongwook “Yong” Ju, Ph.D., assistant professor of hospitality, recreation, & tourism, completed the Commonwealth University Data Analytics Project. Throughout the semester, the student team worked with institutional data from Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania to explore different ways data can be organized, analyzed, and presented to support planning-related conversations. The students developed multiple analytical approaches to demonstrate how data can support planning and decision-making, while recognizing that institutional decisions involve many factors beyond any single dataset or model.

The final project included three student-developed analytical approaches: a ranking-based model, a proportional scaling model, and an outlier-focused model. These approaches allowed students to practice data preparation, model development, data visualization, interpretation, and professional presentation. The students presented their final work to representatives from Commonwealth University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The presentation served as a valuable career-connected learning experience, giving students the opportunity to communicate analytical results to external stakeholders and respond to questions in a professional environment.

Students enrolled in the department’s Event Planning minor participated in one of the program’s first live music concert collaborations with ArtsQuest. Their class, RECR 350: Special Events and Programming, was taught by Stanley Chiang, Ph.D., professor and department chair.

The class worked with ArtsQuest, Pennsylvania’s largest nonprofit arts organization and a nationally-recognized leader in arts, culture, music, and community engagement in Lehigh Valley. ArtsQuest provided the students with valuable hands-on learning opportunities in concert and live entertainment operations. Through this partnership, students strengthened their practical competencies, leadership abilities, and career readiness for careers within the live entertainment, festival, and event management industries. Topics explored through the collaboration included nonprofit arts management and the entertainment industry, artist booking and concert development, marketing and media relations, festival and event operations, and leadership and team coordination.

“Both experiences gave students opportunities to put what they’ve learn in the classroom to work in real-world settings,” said Sylvester Williams, dean of ESU’s College of Business and Management. “These projects reflect ESU’s continued commitment to career-connected learning.”

For more information about ESU’s HRTM department, contact Dr. Chiang by calling (570) 422-3624 or email lchiang@esu.edu.

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