Experiential Learning and Academic Support - Joy Burns Center/ Knoebel School of Hospitality Management

To the west of our Harper Humanities Gardens is our Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, a distinctive brick building with a bright red dome. Did you notice the pineapple carved on the front of the building? The pineapple is a symbol for hospitality.

At the University of Denver, there are many opportunities for experiential learning. 71% of students complete at least one internship, over 200 undergraduates participate in research each year, 2,000 students participate in over 120 service courses each year, and there are over 100 student organizations with leadership opportunities. 

One example takes place right here at our Hospitality Management school. As I said in my intro, I am a barista at our on-campus coffee shop, Beans, run by students for students. This means that, as a student employee at Beans, my managers are more senior students in the Hospitality Management program. They are able to add to their resumes that they have managed and ran a small business before even graduating from college. This building also houses a Grand Ballroom where alumni events, reunions and even weddings are planned and run by students working in event management. 

In order to make sure you are prepared to dive into all that DU has to offer, first-year students participate in a week-long orientation before the start of classes, where they move into their residence hall early and get acclimated to campus. They are also placed into orientation groups of around 15-25 students, organized by their First-Year Seminar, or FSEM, class. This is incredibly helpful, because you spend a week learning the ins and outs of student life with a smaller group of people, and you continue to grow those friendships for the rest of the quarter as you take your FSEM class with them. 

The professor of your FSEM class serves as your first-year advisor. You will also meet with your academic advisors each quarter, assigned to you through your declared major. If you haven’t yet declared your major, you will be assigned a general academic advisor to help you find your path.

A personalized education is a hallmark of the DU experience – we want to make sure every student is on the right track and able to find support at every turn so you won’t get lost in the crowd.

To get the next stop, if you're facing the front doors of the Joy Burns Center, turn left, and walk (passing the Evan's Chapel) to the SIE Complex on your left with the pointed tower.