Uniondale, NY (March 10, 2023) – Global resort developer Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), Long Island University (LIU), and Nassau Community College (NCC) have agreed in principle to create a new, comprehensive hospitality program for Long Island’s college students. The partnership creates a bridge between LIU and NCC, empowering NCC graduates to advance their 2-year associate’s degree to a 4-year bachelor’s degree at LIU’s nearby campus.
“Sands believes in the power of true partnership and we strive to create an environment of collaboration around all of our developments. We are extraordinarily proud to be working with Long Island University and Nassau Community College to build a world-class hospitality program, creating new pathways to success for Long Islanders,” said Ron Reese Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs for Las Vegas Sands. “We want to make sure that any Long Islander that has the desire to be part of this exciting new industry can build the skills and confidence to join us.”
“The creation of new studies specializing in hospitality management and culinary arts will offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to successful careers,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline. “We are proud to partner with the Sands Corporation and Nassau Community College to build a stronger economic foundation for our region and create pathways to numerous career opportunities in hospitality and culinary arts.”
The strategic partnership will generate new career opportunities for Long Island’s students and graduates interested in hospitality management and culinary arts industries, both of which are expected to see significant local job growth if the Sands proposed resort and entertainment center is built. Through this partnership, Long Island University will seek approval for additional Bachelor’s and Master’s degree offerings that support in-demand careers in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.
“Nassau Community College’s proximity to the proposed world-famous Sands resort and entertainment center would place our students at the forefront of the hospitality, culinary arts and business industries,” said Dr. Maria Conzatti, acting president of Nassau Community College of the State University of New York. “In addition, our students will have the opportunity to master the craft of culinary arts inside a modern learning laboratory that is opening next year at 108 Duncan Avenue on the NCC campus in Garden City, New York. NCC alumni with an associate’s degree who wish to further their education toward a bachelor’s degree in business hospitality and related majors can seamlessly transfer to one of the nation’s leading private institutions, Long Island University Post campus in Brookville, Nassau County. Locally educated students with convenient access to professional job opportunities will translate into a wide range of economic and societal benefits to the Long Island community.”
Today’s announcement follows the announcement that Nassau Community College will also be partnering with Las Vegas Sands to develop a workforce development training hub. Nassau Community College is recognized for outstanding associate’s degrees, certificates, and workforce development programs in diverse fields of study, including hospitality, culinary arts, business, humanities, nutrition, theater, and technology. The collaboration between Sands and Nassau Community College is expected to lead to programs in hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage. Sands and Nassau Community College will explore a variety of learning models, including internship and experiential learning components for NCC students. Together, paired with the new continuance program at LIU, this collaboration will support sustainable job growth, economic development, and new career opportunities for students on Long Island and throughout the New York metropolitan region.
This partnership is an extension of Sands’ long history of partnering with educational organizations, investing to build a strong local workforce, and advancing the skills of the hospitality industry in the communities it calls home. The company’s hospitality education initiatives span contributions to higher education institutions, scholarship programs, on-property and industry-supported training opportunities for students and hospitality professionals, and mentorship support from company leaders and experts.
Other examples of Sands’ collaborations with educational institutions include its relationship with Northampton Community College near its previously owned resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In Las Vegas, the company also co-founded and continues to support the Sands Center for Professional Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Harrah College of Hospitality. In addition, the company recently established a $1 million scholarship program to help advance hospitality careers in Singapore in conjunction with its iconic Marina Bay Sands resort, which also regularly hosts, trains and employs hospitality students onsite through a variety of developmental programs.
The public-private initiative would be contingent on the Sands being successful in securing the opportunity to develop a multi-billion-dollar resort complex on the site of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Sands is proposing a Long Island integrated resort development that would include outdoor community spaces, four and five-star hotel rooms and a world-class live performance venue honoring the long legacy of live music at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The resort also would feature celebrity chef restaurants, experiential events and venues, and flexible meeting and convention space, with ballrooms. Other planned amenities include high-quality casino gaming, representing less than ten percent of the project’s total square footage; a luxurious day spa; a swimming pool and health club; and a variety of other entertainment programming.