The State University of New York (SUNY) Manhattan Education Opportunity Center (MEOC) provides free academic support for eligible New Yorkers seeking to earn their High School Equivalency diploma and prepare for college. MEOC also offers career training programs in Certified Microsoft® Office, Electronic Health Records, Security Officer Training and other areas.
A new initiative, the Hospitality Training Program, will join those offerings in Fall 2016. This 15-week program is geared towards individuals interested in earning a competitive certification to work in the restaurant, hotel and hospitality, and tourism industries in New York City.
Open House August 16
An Open House for the Hospitality Training Program will be held Tuesday, August 16 in two time slots: 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The Open House will take place at SUNY MEOC, 163 West 125th Street, 15th floor, Upper Manhattan at the corner of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard and West 125th Street.
SUNY MEOC staff will be on hand at the Open House to share information about the program curriculum, student eligibility requirements and more.
The Hospitality Training Program responds to regional workforce trends and was developed with input from local businesses and hospitality specialists.
Students who successfully complete the program will earn a National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) ManageFirst Customer Service Certification in one of two tracks. Students completing the restaurant track will earn an NRAEF ServSafe certification, and those who complete the Hotel and Hospitality track will earn an NRAEF ManageFirst Hospitality and Restaurant Management Certification.
Focus on customer service
In addition to coursework at MEOC, “participants in the program will take part in hands-on, experiential learning at one of our hotel or restaurant partners, and work directly with customers under the guidance of seasoned hospitality professionals,” says Carmel M. Paleski, MEOC Director of Operations.
She also stresses that, “customer service is at the core of the training. Whether you are a server or a concierge, you are expected to have stellar customer service skills.”
Eligible students for the Hospitality Training Program must have earned their high school diploma or its equivalent. They will be required to take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) as part of the MEOC admissions process, and must earn a score of at least 9.0 in Reading and 7.5 in Mathematics.
To learn more about application deadlines and requirements, call the MEOC at (212) 961-4400 or email admissions@man.eoc.cuny.edu.
SUNY MEOC is administered by BMCC/CUNY.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- MEOC offers certificate program through National Restaurant Association Education Foundation
- Open House is Tuesday, August 16 at MEOC
- Students work directly with customers under guidance of hospitality professionals
