By Linda Brothers

   With the large increase in RHIT majors, the department faculty has organized a student advising system to assist students with course selection and program planning. Effective for spring 1997 counseling, Dr. Avgoustis will advise all freshman students and meet with all transfer students (either within IUPUI or from another university) to evaluate transfer credits. Mr. Bennett will counsel all Associate of Science degree sophomore students and all Bachelor of Science sophomore and junior students. Seniors and Consumer and Family Science Transfer majors will be advised by Dr. Brothers.
This structure will ensure that faculty has a sufficient amount of time available to meet with all students. It is important to note, though, that at a critical time any of the faculty will assist a student. A list will be posted to show all students their class rankings so that counseling appointments can be made when the spring schedules are released in October.

Course Credentials
By Linda Brothers

    The criterion to establish expertise in RHIT L29 I: Food Production Principles Laboratory will be Certified Working Chef. This is a nationally recognized achievement from the American Culinary Federation and provides uniformity of kitchen work experience. The department faculty has determined that this is the only appropriate way to recognize expertise for the laboratory course. The credential of Certified Working Chef does not exempt a student from RHIT 291: Food Production Principles lecture.

Addition of New Professional Certificate
By Sotoris Avgoustis

   The RHIT Department, in its efforts to give students more selection in career decisions, is introducing this fall a new certification program titled "Convention and Meeting Planning Specialist Certificate". New courses have already been added to the department’s current offerings to allow students to concentrate in this new and exciting field.

   Completion of the five courses identified below with a grade of C or better within a five year time period will qualify an IUPUI degree seeking student or graduate non-degree student to be awarded the certificate.

RHIT 171: Introduction to Convention Meeting Management (3 credits)
RHIT 271: Mechanics of Meeting Planning (3 credits)
RHIT 302: Industry Internship (2 credits)
RHIT 315: Special Event Management (1 credit) New course!
RHIIT 316: Management of Sports Events (I credit) New course!
RHIT 317: Seminar Planning (I credit) New course!
RHIT 318: Issues in Convention and Meeting Planning (I credit) New course!
RHIT 471: Exhibit Marketing (3 credits) New course!
See certification form inside. For more information please contact the RHTT Department at 274-2599, or pmay@hyrax.iupui.edu.

Camp Brosius
By Jim Bennett

   This past May, students in the L29 1 class spent time at Camp Brosius in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in conjunction with the Department of Physical Education’s camp management program. Based upon verbal comments as well as survey feedback, students thought the experience was a rewarding one. Dean Kellum, the faculty, and the PE students were enthusiastic in their praise of the RI-UT students and the fantastic food they prepared. The best praise of all was when several PE students claimed to have gained weight and that their clothes had become too tight? In assessing RHIT student response to their camp experience, several changes have been implemented for next year’s camp. Although the dates have yet to be finalized, it is important for anyone planning to take 291/L291 next May to contact Dr. Brothers to indicate their interest. Thanks to all of this year’s L29 1 students for making this another great camp! Don’t forget to checkout the pictures!

The Per Moller Scholarship

   When Per Moller died on March 11, 1996, many stories were told of high standards in service, his cordiality and his encouragement of younger people in the hotel and conference center field. He left rich legacies as the quintessential host and as a mentor. Both are legacies worth continuing. A scholarship in Per Moller’s honor is being established for students in the Department of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management on the IUPUI campus. It is a campus he served with distinction in his seven years (1989-1996) as general manager of University Place Hotel. Whether the guest was a government leader from halfway around the world or the spouse of a hospital patient, their comfort and well-being were of prime importance to Per Moller.

   He also was a supporter of the RHIT programs, employing both students and graduates and making University Place facilities available for instruction. His pride in his chose field was reflected in the encouragement to learn he gave to his team.

   If you are interested in supporting The Per Moller Scholarship Fund, the scholarship goal is $25,000. The Indiana University Foundation is administering the fund. Contributions can be made to this account # 37-P01307-3 through the department by October 4.

Degree Candidate Forms
By Pat May

   All students anticipating graduating in December with either an Associate or Bachelor’s degree MUST complete a degree candidate form by 9/23.

Upcoming Events

9/14: Travel & Tourism Society Second Annual Car War 11:30 - 2:30 pm, 3535 East Kessler Blvd.
10/4: Travel and Tourism & Restaurant Hotel Society members trip to Colorado Springs.
10/Il: Second Annual Service Scholarship Steak Dinner IUPUI Union Building, Hoosier Room 5:15 -7:00pm

National Tourism Week Was Held May 5-11, 1996
By Cathy Keefe

   The thirteenth-annual National Tourism Week was celebrated Nationwide May 5-11, 1996. Sponsored by the Tourism Works For America Council, National Tourism Week’s purpose is to emphasize that travel and tourism is America’s largest services export industry, second-largest employer, and third-largest retail sales industry. Travel and tourism is a $430 billion industry, directly employing 6.3 million Americans.

   Tourist Appreciation Day, always the Wednesday of National Tourism Week, was celebrated on May 8,1996. This day is designed to recognize travelers as “Super Stars” and to show appreciation for their patronage. Approximately 1800 communities participated in National Tourism Week with awareness campaigns that told the industry’s success stories on a local level. Tourism awareness campaigns are designed to inform residents, legislators, industry employees, travelers, and media of the importance of travel and tourism to their community.

    " National Tourism Week is the perfect vehicle for delivering the message that travel and tourism is vital to the U.S. economy,” said Bill Fisher, Council chairman and executive vice president of the National Restaurant Association. “It’s great to see so many communities showing that tourism ~ work for America!”

    Members of the Council’s grassroots network have been sent the latest edition of The Tourism Awareness Resource Handbook. The Handbook is an invaluable resource for organizations and communities in planning tourism awareness campaigns.

Indianapolis Presented with Access to Freedom Award
By Cathi Wineland

   The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (IC VA) was honored by the Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped and Elderly (SATH) with its prestigious Access to Freedom Award during the 82nd Annual Convention of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (IACVB) last month.

   The Access to Freedom Award is given each year to an IACVB member bureau, which has made the greatest strides to advance accessibility and awareness of travelers with disabilities. The award was first presented in 1995 during the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism to Albuquerque, NM. The award was presented to William K. McGowan, Jr., president and CEO of the ICVA by Fred Fuller, a member of the SATH Board of Directors along with Richard Gilliland, president/CEO of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau.

   The ICVA was honored for its programs to ensure the city’s attractions are accessible, easy-to-use, and comfortable for handicapped visitors. The ICVA offers information to visitors with disabilities through publications and specially trained telephone operators and visitors center staff.

   "The ICVA is committed to making our city available and convenient to each and every visitor, regardless of disability,” said McGowan. “We will continue to search out ways to make our informational materials, our facilities, and our personal services as helpful and effortless as possible.”

   The ICVA is a membership organization that markets greater Indianapolis as a destination for conventions, meetings, trade shows, group tours and pleasure travel. Direct visitor spending accounts for $1.2 billion of the Marion County economy and supports 37,000 full-time jobs.