Hospitality Foundations Is An Alternate Route to Educational Success

Centennial College offers a number of "Alternate Offer" programs. These undertakings are designed for individuals who apply to, but do not meet admission requirements for a Centennial College post-secondary program.

One such program is Hospitality Foundations, to which applicants cannot apply directly at Ontariocolleges.ca. Instead, they may be sent an offer to enter the program as long as they have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature applicant status (19 years or older).

There are a number of ways in which this program is beneficial in preparing students to enter a more specialized offering once they complete the two semesters of courses in this offering. For example, through a carefully measured pace, faculty members teach students in small-sized classes that allow for more individualized attention. As such, students have more opportunity to clarify any questions or uncertainties they may have. Faculty members are not only experienced by also sensitive to various student needs. Additionally, small classes allow for interaction with other peers through class discussions. Secondly, because many of the students who are not accepted into the program of their choice may not be born English speakers, there is a strong emphasis on the use of English in all its aspects. Thirdly, there is a great range of hospitality courses that offer a strong overview of the industry and the know-how students need to establish a solid base. These include: Geography and Tourism - Western Hemisphere, Geography and Tourism - Eastern Hemisphere and Theory of Food Fundamentals.

Despite its short length, this program does not just include hospitality and tourism courses. Students receive a well-rounded education through a range of other classes that include:

Foundations 1: Developing College Communications Skills/Foundations 2: Building College Communications Skills: In the first of these two courses, students upgrade their English skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening while working with course materials drawn from their program areas. The second course, meanwhile, deals with more advanced lessons in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Life Skills and Job Readiness 1 and 2: Both of these courses are designed to assist students in developing personal and professional goals, and strategies to help them achieve these goals. They also examine students' emotions and identity, and clarify their purpose at college and as they select a career. As such, students become familiar with tools, techniques, hints, ideas, illustrations, examples, methods, procedures, processes, skills and resources that can help them to succeed in developing competencies in each course that they attend. The courses' primary short-term purpose is to support the learning process that students undertake at Centennial College. In the long term, their purpose is to assist students in becoming life-long learners by enhancing their cognitive abilities and interpersonal communication skills.

Introduction to Math 1 and 2: Not only do these courses give students a solid mathematical foundation for college, but they also examine mathematics used in common business settings and common statistical applications. Students learn through classroom instruction and computer lab work.

This programs sets students up to move onto obtaining a hospitality degree or diploma with confidence and the know-how that will ensure they succeed.