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In the back row, from left, are RPTA Associate Professor Jeremy Robinett, RPTA Assistant Professor Young gin Choi, RPTA Professor Minsun Doh, RPTA Interim RPTA Chair Michael Lukkarinen, Interim College of Education and Human Services Dean Katrina Daytner, WIU Board of Trustees Chair Doug Shaw and College of DuPage Hospitality Management Director Jim Mulyk. Pictured in the front row, from left, are WIU Provost and Academic Vice President Manoochehr Zoghi, WIU President Guiyou Huang and College of DuPage Dean of Arts, Communication and Hospitality Brian Carlson.
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Pictured, from left, are WIU Provost and Academic Vice President Manoochehr Zoghi, WIU President Guiyou Huang and College of DuPage Dean of Arts, Communication and Hospitality Brian Carlson.
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WIU and College of DuPage Sign RPTA Articulation Agreement

May 1, 2023

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University and the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL, gathered in Macomb Friday to officially sign four 2 + 2/3 articulation agreements for academic programs within WIU's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA).

The agreement, consistent with the state of Illinois' Culinary and Hospitality Model Programs of Study, allows students who transfer from the College of DuPage to seamlessly pursue a Bachelor of Science in RPTA at Western. The agreements apply to the College of DuPage's Associate of Applied Science degrees in Meeting and Event Planning, Travel and Tourism, Restaurant Management and Hospitality Management and allow transfer into WIU's Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management option.

The agreements signed Friday by WIU President Guiyou Huang and College of DuPage Dean of Arts, Communication and Hospitality Brian Carlson will allow students to transfer between the two schools and complete their bachelor's degree in two or three years, depending on the courses they select.

"College of DuPage is pleased to offer these seamless agreements for our students," said Dean Carlson. "Western's flexible course offerings, award-winning faculty, and hands-on curricula provide the ideal pathway for COD students to pursue their educational goals."

WIU's RPTA department is one of the oldest accredited recreation, parks, tourism and related professions programs in the United States. The program provides students with hands-on opportunities in Western's 6,000 square-foot corporate kitchen, five demonstration kitchens and opportunities running the Knoblauch Café, a 60-person, student run restaurant.

"Western is very excited to formally begin this partnership with the College of DuPage. They do an excellent job of preparing students for the next academic chapter, and we are excited to offer several options for them to complete their bachelor's degrees in meeting and event planning; travel and tourism; restaurant management or hospitality management, as well as an integrated master's degree in just one additional year," said Dr. Huang.

RPTA Interim Chair Michael Lukkarinen said the partnership between the two schools is a natural one because of WIU's strong history of hands-on learning.

"This partnership is a win for all parties involved," said Lukkarinen. "Their belief in our faculty to continue the education of their students speaks volumes to the professional preparation RPTA prides itself in providing students."

Articulation agreements document a pathway between two or more colleges or universities and their academic programs. The agreements outline what courses to take and focus on a specific area of study and help students who complete two years of college before attending the four-year program.

For more information about the four programs and the course requirements, visit bit.ly/WIUTRANSFERRPTA. For more information about WIU's RPTA program, visit wiu.edu/RPTA.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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