COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy columbiasc.edu) — May 11, 2022 was an exciting day to be a part of the Columbia College Division of Business, Leadership and Communication (BLC). After an ongoing conversation regarding the mutual benefits of a strategic collaboration, Graduate Columbia, S.C., part of the Graduate Hotels® collection, and the Columbia College Division of BLC have agreed to work together, creating opportunities for students to connect with a reputable, local business integral to the city of Columbia. Graduate Columbia, S.C. will enrich the student experience by providing internship opportunities and on-campus presentations for all business students, especially those within the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management concentration. Columbia College will host workshops and professional development opportunities for hotel staff.
“We are very pleased about this strategic collaboration,” stated Dr. Ezaz Ahmed, Dean of the BLC Division at Columbia College. “We look forward to working with Graduate Hotel to assist us in providing our students with additional opportunities for real-world hospitality experiences, internships, and cutting-edge industry information. Students in the Business Administration degree program at Columbia College have the advantage of taking a concentration to enhance their degree, one of which is Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management. This is also offered as a minor at the College.”
Graduate Columbia, S.C., formerly known as The Inn at USC, is one of over 30 locations across the United States and United Kingdom designed to showcase the unique charm of college towns. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Graduate Hotels have been featured in Traveler, Inc., and Forbes. With a one-of-a-kind business model and unique brand of hospitality, the hotel will provide an exclusive business perspective to students and interns looking to learn more about the industry.
Columbia College is thrilled about the possibilities of this partnership and looks forward to the enrichment of their business student experience. With a mutually-beneficial partnership like this, Columbia College hopes to work with the community to ensure that the promising graduates emerging from Columbia College are encouraged and empowered to remain in the Midlands workforce, aiming to keep our community a vibrant and thriving place for all.
About Columbia College
Founded in 1854, Columbia College educates women and men to build successful careers and live lives of impact. The college’s liberal arts foundation ensures that graduates learn to think critically, develop their curiosity, and nurture a love for learning. With an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Columbia College students benefit from individualized support, engaged instruction, and personal mentorship. With more than 30 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs, students can discover and pursue their passion and purpose.
About Graduate Hotels®
Graduate Hotels® is a hand-crafted collection of hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored towns across the country. Each hotel pays homage to the heritage of its unique town through cultural nods to the local community. Launched in 2014, there are currently 30 hotels across the U.S. and an additional seven hotels set to open including international expansion to Cambridge and Oxford in the U.K. Graduate Hotels is owned by Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners, a vertically integrated global real estate developer, owner and operator, founded by Ben Weprin in 2008 and based in Nashville. For more information on Graduate Hotels®, please visit www.graduatehotels.com.
