On the rise

A change in name and status for the University of North Texas School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management will give it equal footing with other colleges at UNT and increase the value of students' degrees, officials say.

The school was recently reorganized into the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism.

The reorganization has been 14 years in the making, said Judith Forney, dean of the college.

When Forney arrived at UNT, her No. 1 objective was to increase enrollment.

"It's all about attracting students to innovative, relevant, high-quality programs," she said.

Lea Dopson, associate professor and chairwoman of the department of hospitality and tourism management, said when she got to UNT 10 years ago, the school was at the point where it either had to grow or be absorbed by one of the other colleges or schools.

To attract students, curriculum changes were made and faculty members with diverse backgrounds were added, Dopson said.

"That whole process has been part of our developing into a college," she said.

The reorganization will change the way the departments operate.

"That helps us a little bit with resources," Dopson said.

From the students' perspective, the college has more weight and prestige, she said.

Over the past six years, the college has grown 51 percent, increasing from about 500 students in 2001 to more than 1,500 students in 2011.

"The enrollment has just flowed," Forney said. "In fact, we're almost beyond our capacity."

Dopson said admission and graduation requirements have been taken to a higher level over the years, meaning that the college is not only attracting more students but higher-quality students.

The college now boasts of being the nation's first to offer an online master's degree in merchandising, which it began 1999.

Because hospitality and tourism are two of the largest industries, the college strives to help students be successful in a global environment.

"It's very, very important that our students perceive their role … as part of this global economy," Forney said.

As part of that objective, the college offers a two-year master's degree program in international sustainable tourism, where students spend one year studying at UNT and spend the second year studying at the CATIE International Education and Research Center in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

International sustainable tourism focuses on building hotels, resorts, restaurants and other venues that might attract tourists in a sustainable manner, Forney said. It looks at conservation, energy use, waste material, recycling and the maintenance of properties.

Dopson said the college also partners with institutions in other countries to push its international focus.

"Our growth and reputation internationally has grown in the last three or four years," she said.

The college also strives to prepare students for the growing popularity of social media.

It does so by offering a bachelor's degree in digital retailing, which is a grassroots industry that's maturing, Forney said.

"We just want [the students] to be prepared for successful careers," Forney said.

RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is rmehlhaff@dentonrc.com.