INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, CSAR RITZ
SuFFIELD, Connecticut
The College and Its Mission
The International College of Hospitality Management Csar Ritz (ICHM), located in the town of Suffield in northwest Connecticut, is the only Swiss college of hospitality management in the U.S. It is one of four internationally acclaimed HOTELCONSULT Csar Ritz colleges, with affiliate campuses in Switzerland and Australia. The mission of ICHM is to prepare students for successful careers in the hospitality industry by combining the renowned Swiss art of hotel management with American business techniques.
With a maximum of 120 students on a 56-acre residential campus set among woods and rolling lawns, the College occupies a former seminary, St. Alphonsus College. Hospitality faculty members have extensive professional experience and instruct alongside liberal studies teachers of the highest caliber. Students receive intensive course training over four 11-week terms. This training is reinforced by a paid internship in prestigious hotels of the U.S.
The internship is an essential component in the program at ICHM. The resulting combination of professional, academic, and practical training provides graduates with a firm base for managing their careers. The internship also supplies ICHM students with a competitive edge in finding employment when they leave the College. The College's Director of Internships and Placements helps guide students in their career development, and HOTELCONSULT has a network of 10,000 alumni to give yet further guidance. In addition, the College organizes career fairs twice each year. The College has a 100 percent placement rate, a record of which it is very proud.
ICHM students are encouraged to actively participate in the social and recreational life of the College, in much the same way that they assume significant responsibilities in managing their academic progress and professional comportment. Because students are very involved in many aspects of College life, a great sense of community has developed at ICHM.
Academic Programs
Associate of Science Degree in Hospitality Management The first year of the program consists of two 11-week terms, followed by a six-month (810-hour) internship. The first two terms of study are very hands-on, with courses based in practical skills and hotel industry norms. The internship that follows is carefully structured and supervised and enhances the concepts previously introduced in the classroom.
In their second academic year, students develop skills in business planning and strategy, and learn about control procedures and staff management. The second academic year is followed by an optional 810-hour internship, with an option to prolong the internship contract by six or twelve months. Studying abroad is available to those qualifying students who want to take terms three and four in ICHM's affiliate campuses in Switzerland or Australia. (More information on study abroad is in the Off-Campus Programs section.)
Certificate in Hospitality Management Candidates holding a bachelor's degree in a different discipline or those with professional hospitality experience may choose to enroll in the certificate program in hospitality management. This one-year program consists of two 11-week terms followed by an internship of at least 810 hours. It is designed to provide graduates with the skills and experience necessary to enter the hospitality industry with confidence.
Special Program Services Career fairs are held twice each year, wherein students and alumni are selected for 810-hour paid internships and positions of longer duration. The fairs are attended by recruiters from approximately thirty leading hotel and resort properties, typically five-star hospitality establishments. Many students receive multiple internship offers. In addition, individual hotel and resort properties often recruit directly on campus.
Transfer Arrangements Course-credit transfers must be comparable to ICHM courses and must have been awarded by an accredited institution. The student must have earned a minimum C grade (2.0 GPA) for transfer credits to be considered. This information must be provided on official sealed transcripts mailed directly to ICHMs Office of Admissions.
Off-Campus Programs
Students with qualifying grades may wish to take their second year of studies at either the campus on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, or at the campus in Sydney, Australia. The Switzerland option enables students to gain a Swiss Diploma in Hospitality Management. Students electing to go to Sydney receive an Australian Diploma in Hospitality Management. In addition, all students who successfully complete their program, having spent their first year of studies at ICHM, receive an American Associate of Science degree. Students who wish to complete their studies in Switzerland or Australia must give written advice to the ICHM Dean of Academic Affairs before the end of the first term of their first year.
Credit for Nontraditional Learning Experiences
Credit may be awarded for prior professional experience in the hospitality industry. For details, applicants should consult the Registrar.
Costs
Expenses for the 200506 academic year include tuition of $15,900 and room and board of $4978. Each student is required to purchase books, uniforms, and supplies.
Financial Aid
To help eligible students meet their educational expense, the College offers financial assistance programs such as scholarships, grants, low-interest loans, and part-time employment opportunities. The College's Financial Aid Officer is happy to work with families on an individual basis to help them plan the cost of education.
Faculty
The student-faculty ratio at the College is 15:1. All full-time faculty members have student advising responsibilities and are involved in the administration of the College. The faculty members have a wide range of international hospitality experience, a diversity that supports the College's mission of offering students an intellectually challenging education in a multicultural environment.
Student Body Profile
The College attracts students from the United States and nearly thirty different countries each year, representing many different cultures. Most students are in their early twenties and, for many, English is a second language. Some are seeking a change of career, others have already obtained advanced qualifications in a different discipline, and all are drawn to the dynamics of international hospitality.
Student Activities
The Student Committee organizes sports, activities, theme nights, and excursions and serves as a representative of all students. Officers of the Student Committee are elected by a democratic vote and arrange meetings and activities with the Coordinator of Student Services. In addition, within the College is a voluntary organization called the Ritz Guild. Its members plan and coordinate events to benefit the local community, often with the help of civic organizations such as the Lions Club and the House of Bread. Each year, Ritz Guild members are given official recognition for their contributions. The College maintains several vans for student activities around the region.
Facilities and Resources
In 2003, the College moved from rural Washington, Connecticut, to a larger, more convenient campus in Suffield, Connecticut. The new location offers an array of activities and amenities to ICHM students.
The meal plan is provided by ICHMs sister school, the Connecticut Culinary Institute, with which it shares a campus. Students can enjoy an excellent regulation-size gymnasium and a modern exercise facility. There are also sports fields and hiking trails on campus. The area has many fine theaters, music venues, restaurants, clubs, and dancing. There are also many well-regarded museums and historic sites within a short distance.
ICHMs spacious library offers more than 10,000 volumes plus numerous industry periodicals and videotapes. The Colleges computer labs are all connected to broadband Internet services, and the entire building is a wireless broadband environment as well.
Location
The College is situated on 56 wooded acres in Suffield, Connecticut, a charming New England town. Next door to the campus is Six Flags New England Amusement Park, with a new $140-million water park. The 135,000-square-foot building is located minutes from Springfield, Massachusetts, and Hartford, Connecticut. It is a short drive to Boston and New York City and only 10 minutes from Bradley International Airport.
Admission Requirements
The College requires U.S. applicants to submit a completed application form, $100 application fee, official high school transcripts or GED scores, and two letters of recommendation. SAT scores are not required but are highly recommended. Students for whom English is not the first language are required to show proof of English competency. The College seeks applications from both U.S. and international citizens and welcomes motivated students who have a desire to succeed in international hospitality management. The cultural mix of ICHM benefits students as they move towards their chosen profession. Because of the unique nature of the College and its program, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule an on-campus interview. Prospective students may take advantage of the Vis"itor Information Program (VIP), wherein they can stay on campus for up to two nights and participate in classes and campus activities. Applicants should contact the Office of Admissions for details.
Application and Information
The College accepts applications throughout the year for its August, November, February, and Aprilstarting dates. Applicants are notified of their admission status shortly after their forms are received, usually within two weeks. For application materials and additional information, students should contact:
