Visions of Charlotte – Arthur Gallagher Johnson and Wales

Arthur Gallagher, President, Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte
Arthur Gallagher was named president of the Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus in January 2003. Gallagher is also currently on the board of advisors for the Charlotte School of Law.

Are our graduates staying in Charlotte, or are they moving away once they’ve earned degrees?
JWU alumni data suggests that they are finding gainful employment and many of them are staying in the area. We also have evidence that some have come back after testing the waters elsewhere. Joshua Cain ’06, executive pastry chef, Ritz Carlton in uptown Charlotte, relocated to Charlotte after working as a pastry chef in Georgia. Shane Pearson owns Savor on Morehead Street. Our grads are showing entrepreneurship. Senior Stephanie Goldstein recently opened Tasty Yo, a yogurt shop in NoDa. Our students and graduates are working in area hotels, CRVA and Levine Museum of the New South, just to name a few. JWU has strong relationships with Harpers restaurants, Bissell Companies, Marriott, Hilton and Compass Group.  Graduate relocation decisions are influenced by opportunities available in their fields. Charlotte continues to offer reasonable opportunities for our students.

Are we providing enough opportunities for recent graduates? What can we do to improve?
The hospitality industry has been affected by the economy with some restaurant closures, low hotel occupancy, but no major chains went under. There is optimism in the air in part due to the upcoming Spring Expo/on-campus recruiting. Thirty-seven employers are coming to campus for the Spring Expo to hire students for internships/jobs, including: Darden Restaurants, Biltmore Company and Kiawah Island Golf Resort. As the financial sector returns to health, we should see more opportunities for our College of Business students. We have an aggressive plan for getting students on internships in their senior year for 2010-2011. The opening of Ritz Carlton, Springhill by Marriott in Ballantyne, Aria, Taste, Siemens, Electrolux…all created/are creating new opportunities for our students and graduates. The opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and new ownership of the Bobcats are indicators of stability and hold promise for the future.

Who are our biggest competitors for undergraduate and graduate applicants, and how do we compare?
There is intense regional competition – fabulous schools in Charlotte and the region, good institutions that contribute to the supply of talent. Availability of talent attracts start-ups and entices others to relocate to the region. JWU has added value to our accounting program by aligning with the Institute of Management Accountants. The program prepares students to sit for the certification exam. The certification prepares students for career advancement. Demand for our culinary and baking & pastry program continues to be strong with the baking and pastry program oversubscribed.

How do our tuition costs compare with our competitors?
The Charlotte area continues to be a great value for education. Plenty of choices for graduate and undergraduate education, and regional institutions that offer great value, in terms of tuition, cost of living and quality of life. Private schools tend to be more expensive than public institutions, and at JWU we continue to make education affordable by making adjustments to expenditures and passing the savings on to students in the form of increased institutional aid (scholarships). This academic year, JWU gave out $17 million in the form of institutional grants, and we anticipate spending $20 million of our funds in scholarships to our students.

Are we conscious of the large number of college-age students in the area, and what does Charlotte offer them that makes us a draw for applicants? What does Charlotte still lack, and where do we lag as far as higher-education resources and selling points?
A draw for applicants? A robust local and regional economy that presents employment opportunities while students are enrolled and after graduation is important for some. (The Ritz Carlton, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Aloft Hotel, Aria, etc.)  New cultural attractions such as new museums (Wells Fargo Cultural Campus); increased retail in uptown; well-developed transportation network; and the fact we live in a safe community all contribute to providing a good experience. More opportunities for students? Heavily discounted tickets at sporting events such as the Bobcats, Checkers and Knights games. The groups partner with JWU Student Affairs to help boost attendance. What does Charlotte lack? A medical school at UNCC, to complement the hospital system. Charlotte needs more college student gathering places that are not alcohol dependent. Center City Partners is working on this with its Vision 2020 planning. JWU lit a spark for more activity when we opened and Charlotte should keep working on creating a friendly, younger generation-focused city environment…more eclectic life…more color, more vibrancy and more character.

What trends can we expect to see in nearby colleges and graduates in the next few years?
Increased synergy/partnerships with the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, graduate education (law school, new business programs), and a JWU online four-year food service management degree. You will also see increased applications for graduate and professional school as long as employment remains tight, as well as large enrollments at community colleges, as people look to update and improve their skills.

~ Clay Whittaker