| HWC PROGRAMS - Hospitality Bridge Program Frequently Asked Questions |
| Register Now (9am-3pm)! |
| Fall 2008 Registration Location: 226 W. Jackson, 6th Floor, Chicago IL 60606! |
| Classes Meet: |
| 2008 Fall Sessions: September 21 - December 11, 2008 (Mon.-Fri., 9am - 1pm & 1:30pm - 5:30pm) |
| 2009 Spring Sessions: January 12 - April 3, 2009 (Mon.-Fri., 9am - 1pm & 1:30pm - 5:30pm) |
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| What is the Hospitality Bridge Program Curriculum? |
| The Hospitality Bridge Program Curriculum is a twelve week
training program offered by Harold Washington College in conjunction with the Chicago
Workforce Board. The program offers participants training and entry level industry
certification for employment opportunities in Hotels, Restaurants and Retail businesses,
Chicago Housing Authority, and Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. For additional information about the Hospitality Bridge program, please download a copy of
our Fall 2008/Spring 2009
General Registration Info Flyer or our Hospitality
Bridge Program Brochure (Adobe PDF format; get
a free copy of Acrobat Reader to view the brochure).
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| Who are Harold Washington College Business Partners? |
| THOR Equity, Hilton Palmer House Hotel, Macy’s, Illinois Restaurant
Association, and Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association.
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| How long is the program? |
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The program consists of two hundred hours of training that is
conducted five days per week at four hours per day for twelve weeks. At the end of the
training, ninety days of paid work experience is required in order to take the hotel
certification test. This means, ten weeks of class and three months on the job.
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| If I complete the training program what certifications will I receive? |
| Once your training is complete, you will take a series of certification exams.
They are
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| - Hotel entry level certification provided by the American Hotel & Lodging
Educational Institute
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| - Food Service Sanitation Managers license’s for the National Restaurant
Association and the City of Chicago
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| - Retail Customer Service Certification provided by the National Retail Federation |
| Are these certifications widely recognized by the employers that I
might work for?
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| Yes! All of the certifications that are offered are the
nationally recognized entry level industry credentials that hotels, restaurants and retail
stores desire their workforce to have. Each certification is your proof that you have
completed a training program that is based upon the core skills that each industry has
required of its workforce. In some cases a certification is necessary to gain employment.
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| How can I find out if I can get into the program and do well? |
| Each program applicant will be given a placement test prior to the start of the
program so that they can be placed in a position to succeed. The test given is also the City
Colleges of Chicago initial placement exam (View
placement exam testing schedule). If you attended any of the Chicago Public Schools or are a
citizen of Chicago, you will automatically be accepted for educational opportunities at the
college.
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| What if I do not have my high school diploma or GED yet? |
| That is ok. An opportunity will be provided to you within the program for you to
get your GED and the Hospitality Bridge Program training and certifications.
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| What if I have a high school diploma or GED and still do not do well
on the placement test to get into the program?
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| That is ok. All of the WIA providers offer help to assist you in getting
your math and reading skills up to the required score of 7.0 TABE so that you may enter the
program.
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| The program sounds good, but what are the hours? |
| Students are in class Monday through Friday for three to five hours per day
depending on if you are also enrolled in the GED program. Since the program is every day, we do
provide bus passes as part of the program.
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| At the end of the training program, what kind of jobs will I be
qualified for? Will I get help finding a job?
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You will be qualified for several different entry level employment
opportunities such as:
- Hotel – guest services, safety and security, rooms division, front desk
representative, reservationists, PBX operator, bell services attendant, guestroom
attendant, maintenance worker, laundry attendant, public space cleaner, food and beverage
order taker, banquet setup employee, banquet server, bus person, cashier.
- Restaurant – cashier, restaurant server, bus person, host/hostess, expeditor,
banquet and party set up, reservationists.
- Retail – cashier, floor worker, customer service, operator, stock person, public
space cleaner, concessions worker, customer service phone operator.
Yes, through the established partnerships with Chicago businesses in each area, an employee
referral program will be in place to assist program participants in finding employment.
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| What if I want even more, and desire to attend college? |
| You will automatically be eligible to enter the college hospitality/business
management program and continue your education.
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| Does the Hospitality Bridge Program give me any credit toward college? |
Of course! When you complete the Hospitality Bridge Program you will
automatically receive the following college entry level credits:
- 3 credits for completion of Introduction to Hospitality Industries.
- 3 credits for completion of Business internship if you have completed the ninety day paid
work experience.
- 2 credits for completion of Food Service Sanitation Manager training.
You can get a total of eight credits toward your college degree as all three courses that you
will receive credit for are part of the college level Hospitality Management degree program at
Harold Washington College.
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| What if I get a job as a result of this program and don’t like it? |
| That is what is so great about this program. You will learn the skills
necessary to be able to do several different jobs. If one job is not a good fit for you, your
skills will allow you to try something different that you have already been trained to do.
That’s the beauty of the Hospitality and Service industries!
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| Can you tell me one more time, what professional organizations had input into this training program? |
Sure! We are very proud to have all of the following organizations
represented in this program:
- Harold Washington College
- Chicago Workforce Board
- National Restaurant Association (certification provider)
- National Retail Federation (certification provider)
- American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (certification provider)
How Do I Pay For The Program?
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- If you do not have a high school diploma, the GED courses are free for Adult Education.
- The Hospitality Bridge Program is WIA approved, so funds are available for those who qualify.
- The Chicago Housing Authority also offers a tuition funding program for CHA residents.
The Hospitality Bridge Program is Workforce Investment Act (WIA) approved, so funds are available for
those who qualify.
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| The Chicago Housing Authority also offers a tuition funding program for CHA residents. |
| Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Vouchers |
| If
you qualify for the Workforce Investment Act program, Harold Washington College will
accept Workforce Investment Act (WIA) vouchers for the Hospitality Bridge program.
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To see if you qualify for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program, visit or
call a "One Stop Center" listed below:
- Pilsen: 1657 S. Blue Island Avenue, Chicago IL 60608 (Phone: 312.243.5100; Fax: 312.773.5380; TTY: 312.738.0766)
- Westside (CDHS): 10 S. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago IL 60653 (Phone: 312.746.5400; TTY: 312.746.5463)
- Mid South: 4314 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60653 (Phone: 773-538-5627; Fax: 773-358-3113; TTY: 773.538.9832)
- Southwest: 7500 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60652 (Phone: 773.884.7000; TTY: 773.838.5660)
- Northside: 4740 N. Sheridan, Chicago IL 60640 (Phone: 773.334.4747; TTY: 773.334.9804)
WHERE CAN I SIGN UP?
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| City Colleges of Chicago District Office, 226 W. Jackson 6th Floor, Chicago IL 60606 |
| For additional information call 312-553-2880 or send email to HWCHospitality@ccc.edu. |
| Visit The HWC Hospitality "Academic" Program Home Page |
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