News / Announcements
Bethune-Cookman University’s very own campus fine-dining restaurant — is set to reopen on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., marking the first seating post-pandemic.
With a seating capacity of 52 guests, Cub Paradise Restaurant aims to cater to a diverse audience, including community members, industry partners, administrators, faculty, staff, and fellow students. The facility was recently renovated and upgraded using the proceeds from the Pineapple Achor Ball held in Fall 2019 and 2021.
But beyond providing fine-dining opportunities for the community, Cub Paradise is providing hands-on, practical experience to B-CU students enrolled in the Business Administration Hospitality program. The course employs a Systems Thinking approach, allowing students the opportunity to manage food service systems and lead teams, helping them to plan and oversee both front- and back-of-house operations effectively.
Students majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality and Management Systems must take the HMS 350 Foodservice Systems Management course. This course focuses on leadership and management within the hospitality industry and incorporates Collaborative Experiential Learning (CEL) experiences. The practical application takes place at Cub Paradise under the guidance of the faculty.
Students will work with the course instructor to develop operational, leadership, management, and entrepreneurial skills by making decisions about menus, prices, and staffing, managing budgets, controlling costs, ensuring profitability, and coordinating various tasks to ensure operational efficiency. Throughout the semester, Cub Paradise Restaurant will open its doors eight times, with each seating featuring a specific menu theme determined by the student manager and their designated team.
“Cub Paradise Restaurant serves as a testament to the transformative power of Collaborative Experiential Learning driven by systems thinking in the hospitality business sector,” said Dr. Ruth A. Smith, HMS Chair and Associate Professor. “It provides a rich and holistic educational experience beyond traditional classroom learning, fostering teamwork and preparing students for leadership and management success in the hospitality business industry.”
Everything was made possible by the proceeds from the Pineapple Anchor Ball. These events were planned, managed, and executed by the students in the Event Management course alongside the event's Titanium Sponsors, yet another opportunity for Collaborative Experiential
Reserve your table at cubparadise@cookman.edu.
