Do I fit in? Impact of race on hospitality student perceptions of departmental climate

Abstract

ABSTRACTRecent reports by the NAACP show there is lack of minorities in upper management positions in the hospitality industry. One possible reason this deficiency exists is that the pipeline of qualified minority hospitality program graduates is slow. This study examined the perception of cultural climate held by hospitality students about their department as a possible antecedent of this stagnation. Current students in hospitality programs evaluated the cultural climates within the department and its effect on satisfaction using the Student Perception of Racial Climate Scale (SPRCS) and items from the Cultural Attitudes and Climate Questionnaire (CACQ). Results indicate a positive attitude toward cultural climate in hospitality management programs; however, both minority and nonminority students highlighted a lack of minority role models both in the classroom and the industry. Theoretical and practical implications for hospitality education and the industry are identified.