Las Vegas Sands and Nassau Community College have agreed to make the college the primary employee training center for the proposed Sands casino/resort at the Nassau Coliseum property.
The public-private initiative would be contingent on Sands being successful in securing the opportunity to develop its proposed multi-billion-dollar entertainment complex at the Uniondale site.
The college, part of the State University of New York system, is known for its associate degrees, certificates and workforce development programs in diverse fields of study, including hospitality, culinary arts, business, humanities, theater and technology, according to a joint statement from the school and developer. The collaboration, which will include an internship and experiential learning component for NCC students, would be aimed at supporting sustainable job growth and economic development on Long Island and throughout the New York metropolitan region.
“The creation of a new industry with thousands of jobs in multiple sectors is a tremendous opportunity not only for our students but for the diverse populations we serve as a community college,” Maria Conzatti, acting president of Nassau Community College, said in the statement. “Enhancing our curriculum with training programs, mentorship, and internship opportunities in conjunction with an industry leader like Sands, provides an opportunity for adult students, career changers, and all community members to be placed on successful career paths.” c
Sands says its hospitality education initiatives span contributions to higher education institutions, scholarship programs, on-property and industry-supported training opportunities for students and hospitality professionals, and mentorship support from company leaders and experts.
“Our company has a strong track record of partnering with a variety of educational organizations to put people on pathways to success in the hospitality industry and help them build the skills they need to increase their earning power,” Robert G. Goldstein, Sands’ chairman and CEO, said in the statement. “We are making the same commitment to the Long Island community and have an excellent partner with an aligned vision to do so in working with Nassau Community College. We look forward to investing in people with any skill set or background who have a desire to be part of this exciting new industry planned for Long Island.”
The collaboration between Sands and Nassau Community College would lead to programs in hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage, according to the statement.
Genette Alvarez-Ortiz, acting vice president of academic affairs at NCC, said that the college is currently renovating a free-standing building on its north campus to serve as the home to its Culinary Arts program, which offers the Associate in Occupational Studies degree. The building is expected to be completed in 2024.
“The college’s programs are designed to educate individuals for a wide-range of jobs in current and emerging fields,” Alvarez-Ortiz said in the statement. “We offer excellent programs for particular skill areas such as food service and nutrition, sales and marketing, cybersecurity and information technology, world languages and cultures, and theater and music.”
When Sands developed its previously owned resort in Bethlehem, Penn., the company said it had established a similar collaborative relationship with Northampton Community College that included co-development of curriculum to train local workers for resort jobs, on-site student learning opportunities at the resort, coursework taught by Sands representatives, internships and other events and programs.
In Las Vegas, the company co-founded and continues to support the Sands Center for Professional Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Harrah College of Hospitality, according to the statement. The company says it recently established a $1 million scholarship program to help advance hospitality careers in Singapore in conjunction with its Marina Bay Sands resort, which also regularly hosts, trains and employs hospitality students on site through a variety of developmental programs.
Article: https://libn.com/2023/01/30/ncc-to-become-training-center-for-proposed-casino-resort/