The wildcat is out of the bag!

Johnson & Wales University is excited to announce a new deal that names JWU as the Official Education Partner of the Boston Bruins and TD Garden. The five-year-long agreement, signed in summer 2018, will solidify experiential education opportunities for current JWU students, as well as offer an automatic corporate partner scholarship to the approximately 50,000 employees of Delaware North, TD Garden, and Boston Bruins who meet JWU admissions criteria. Employees can enroll in an online undergraduate or graduate degree program offered through the JWU College of Online Education or take graduate or continuing education courses at the Providence campus.

 

“Teaming up with the Boston Bruins and TD Garden is an extraordinary opportunity for Johnson & Wales University that also benefits the employees of Delaware North,” said JWU Chancellor Mim L. Runey, LPD. “The opportunities to innovate menu items for the Legends customers and to develop creative solutions to real-industry challenges offer our undergraduates a professional experience that will help prepare them as future business leaders. Just as importantly, the tuition benefit provided to all Delaware North employees will assist those seeking to advance their career goals.”

Hands-On Industry Experience

Experiential education has always been the cornerstone of a JWU education. As part of the partnership, senior-level students in a Providence Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management (SEEM) course led by Patrick Leary, EdD will be tasked with researching and developing solutions to real-time industry issues. The first group of students will tackle a problematic trend identified by Delaware North leadership that influences operations at the Garden.

In addition, JWU will develop an annual seminar program to be held at that Garden on topics and issues relevant to innovation in the areas of foodservice, hospitality, and SEEM. Segments of the program will be filmed and are slated to air on NESN’s “Behind the B” next year.

“I cannot think of a better educational experience that mirrors the current professional demands of the sports and entertainment industry,” said Leary. “I'm truly excited for the JWU community as many stakeholders will benefit from this relationship, most importantly, our students.”

Showcasing Culinary Excellence

JWU, known nationally as a leader in culinary arts education, will also create a “JWU item of the month” to be served in Legends, a private, members-only restaurant and bar located inside the TD Garden. The restaurant is open exclusively to Bruins and Celtics season ticket holders. Following criteria specified by the Garden’s culinary staff, students in the College of Culinary Arts will develop four new menu items per season over the course of the partnership. The JWU item offered at Legends will change approximately every 20 games. Currently, JWU Chef Matthew Britt is leading his contemporary casual concept classes at the Providence campus in the creation of the first offerings. 

A Power Play for Success

JWU offers more than 50 online degree programs through the College of Online Education, so students can learn anytime, anywhere. Partner employees can take advantage of this flexible and convenient online option or enroll in evening and weekend courses in Providence, giving them the opportunity to further their education however works best for them.

"It is always rewarding for us at Delaware North to form business relationships that are truly symbiotic in nature," said Charlie Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North's Boston Holdings. "The opportunity to collaborate with such a profound educational institution is incredibly exciting for all of us in Boston and Delaware North as a whole."

To read the official announcement from the university, click here.