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Higher education is going through a big transformation — from rising costs and enrollment declines to new questions about the value of a degree. In uptown Charlotte, Johnson & Wales University is carving out its own path, one that tries to leverage affordability, career readiness and its unique strength in food, wellness and hospitality.
In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, managing editor Ashley Fahey talks with Richard “Rick” Mathieu, president of Johnson & Wales’ Charlotte campus, about how the university is adapting to a shifting higher-ed landscape.
Mathieu talks about how JWU is trying to boost college access, the programs the university is expanding based on workforce needs and how the school’s culinary programs continue to shape Charlotte’s growing food scene. The conversation also gets into:
Why affordability and career outcomes now dominate college decision-making
What the “JWU Pledge” is
Why the school offers a three-year hospitality management degree
How JWU bucked national trends with an enrollment increase this fall
The university’s plans to convert an uptown DoubleTree hotel into student housing
New investments in nursing, health sciences and exercise/sports science
The university’s evolving role in Charlotte’s culinary scene — and its Top Chef–winning alumni
How employers are reshaping expectations for hospitality workers after the pandemic
We hope you enjoy the conversation with Rick Mathieu.
This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.
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