<p><span class="p-body"><i>Apprentice Experience Will Count as College Credit, Cutting Time and Cost of a Degree</i></span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><b>NEW YORK, October 21, 2025 — </b>The <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/"><b>NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS)</b></a> and the <a href="https://www.ahlafoundation.org/" target="_blank"><b>AHLA Foundation</b></a> today announced that participants in the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m-tisch-center-of-hospitality/ahlaf-hospitality-apprenticeship-program.html"><b>AHLA Foundation’s Hospitality Apprenticeship Program</b></a> are eligible for credits toward earning an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/aas-in-hospitality-management.html"><b>Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Hospitality Management</b></a> from the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m-tisch-center-of-hospitality.html"><b>NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality</b></a>.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Through this collaboration, students who have completed their apprenticeships through the AHLA Foundation’s program can earn up to 27 credits from prior on-the-job learning and education toward the 60-credit NYU SPS degree.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">“Our collaboration with the AHLA Foundation will help students receive college credit for previous industry-related work experience, while being part of a learning environment that helps advance career readiness, increases access to global industry opportunities, and can lead to earning a prestigious degree from NYU,” said <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/20815-nicolas-graf.html"><b>Nicolas Graf</b></a>, <b>Jonathan M. Tisch Chaired Professor and associate dean of the NYU SPS Tisch Center for Hospitality</b>. “The AAS in Hospitality Management offers a flexible learning experience combined with rigorous academic coursework that complements skills built as an apprentice, while reducing the time and cost to finish one’s degree.”</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Upon completing the remaining academic credits in the new associate degree, either online or in person, students will be prepared for full-time jobs in the hospitality sector. They will also have the option to continue their studies toward an NYU SPS bachelor’s degree.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">“This innovative collaboration with the NYU SPS Tisch Center aligns with our mission to invest in today’s hotel industry workforce by providing a new accelerated pathway for apprentices to pursue continuing education,” said <b>Kevin Carey, chief operating officer, American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association (AHLA) and president and chief executive officer, The AHLA Foundation</b>. “It exemplifies our industry’s commitment to career growth that also will continue to attract tomorrow’s workforce and the next generation of hospitality leaders.”</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">The NYU SPS AAS in Hospitality Management degree provides students access to resources from both the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and the NYU SPS Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies (DAUS). The Tisch Center prepares individuals from around the world for careers in hospitality management, travel, and tourism at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. DAUS specializes in serving undergraduates with practical, career-connected associate and bachelor’s degrees, offering flexible scheduling options, professional advising, and a range of student support services to ensure students are well-prepared for the next steps in their careers.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">“Our work with the AHLA Foundation underscores NYU SPS’s commitment to student success and bridging the gap between industry experience and academic achievement to create a seamless path for professionals to advance their careers,” said <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/nyu-sps-angie-kamath.html"><b>Angie Kamath</b></a><b>, Dean of NYU SPS.</b>&nbsp;“Our relationships with industry partners like the AHLA Foundation help improve the skills and career prospects of our students, while creating valuable and accessible opportunities for them, and a skilled labor force for employers.”</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Visit the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/aas-in-hospitality-management.html"><b>NYU SPS Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management</b></a> webpage for more information about this degree program. Applications for the Spring 2026 associate degree in hospitality, as well as all NYU SPS undergraduate degree programs, are now available on the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/join/apply-now.html"><b>NYU SPS Undergraduate Application Center</b></a> webpage. Students do not have to participate in an apprenticeship program to apply.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">For additional information on the AHLA and its apprenticeship program, visit <a href="https://www.ahlafoundation.org/apprenticeship/" target="_blank"><b>AHLA Hospitality Apprenticeship Program</b></a>.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><b>About the AHLA Foundation<br> </b>The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association, works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset—our people. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, the Foundation seeks to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. When the people who work in our industry thrive, the industry thrives along with them. The Foundation is funded by grants and charitable contributions from generous individuals and organizations who want to support individuals seeking opportunities to thrive in the hotel and lodging industry. Learn more at  <a href="http://www.ahlafoundation.org/" target="_blank"><b>www.ahlafoundation.org</b></a>.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body"><b>About the NYU School of Professional Studies<br> </b>Established in 1934, NYU SPS is an internationally recognized university that offers diverse students access and opportunity to practical, real-world preparation to thrive in their careers while building the next generation of industry leaders ready to embrace tomorrow’s innovations and challenges and lead change in global workplaces.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">The NYU SPS global community is made up of industry professionals, doers, and trailblazers shaping the future of industries, positioning the School as an idea incubator and innovative center for various fields, including real estate, hospitality, global affairs, sports business, integrated marketing, HR, professional writing, and more.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Today, NYU SPS offers one of the most diverse portfolios of educational offerings at NYU, including graduate degrees, bachelor’s degrees for traditional and degree completion students, associate degrees, continuing education courses, and certificate programs.</span></p>