Event Management

Through excellence in teaching, scholarship, experiential learning, and community engagement, the Event Management program takes a holistic approach to educating and preparing future event professionals dedicated to producing dynamic and diverse events.

Students and their parents have become aware the event industry offers an excellent opportunity for future employment from recent news reports, evidenced by the explosive growth of professional festival and event associations such as IFEA, MPI, PCMA, HSMAI, and ILEA. At HPU, our goal is to prepare students to be knowledgeable and visionary leaders in whichever field of event management they select to become involved.

Teamwork

In the people-driven, relationship-based event industry, collaboration is key. At HPU, we foster a supportive environment where students frequently work in diverse teams, preparing them for the dynamic and interconnected world of events.

Creativity

Our clients look to us for cutting-edge ideas that push boundaries and create unforgettable experiences. We equip our students with a solid foundation in essential event design elements while encouraging them to think outside the box, brainstorm innovative concepts, and unleash their creative potential.

Resiliency

In the fast-paced and ever-changing world of events, the ability to bounce back from challenges is crucial. We instill in our students the importance of maintaining a cool, calm, and collected demeanor, even in the face of adversity. With a resilient mindset, our graduates are ready to tackle any obstacle that comes their way.

Adaptability

Flexibility is a must-have skill for event professionals. We teach our students to ‘go with the flow,’ think on their feet, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. By cultivating adaptability, our graduates are prepared to thrive in the dynamic and unpredictable world of events.

At HPU, our Event Management program emphasizes communication, balance, composure, impact, and value in the services industry. By promoting and emulating these essential skills and values, we ensure that our students are wellequipped to succeed in their chosen careers and make a lasting impact in the event industry.

Are you looking for hands-on experience in the dynamic world of event planning? Our students have taken the initiative to create a student government-funded club called Planning on Point (PoP), which provides exclusive opportunities to engage with the industry and develop valuable skills.

As a member of PoP, you’ll have the chance to:

1. Volunteer at local events, working alongside experienced professionals and gaining practical experience in event setup, execution, and teardown.
2. Welcome renowned event professionals and speakers to campus, learning from their expertise and gaining insights into the industry through workshops and discussions.
3. Tour iconic event venues, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring an event to life in various settings, from grand ballrooms to picturesque outdoor spaces.
4. Attend prestigious industry conferences and events, such as:
   • North Carolina Association of Festivals & Events (NCAF&E) showcase in Charlotte, NC
   • Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings, and Events (IMEX) America in Las Vegas, NV
   • International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Convention and Expo
   • Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) annual and regional events
   • And many more!
5. These experiences provide unparalleled networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with industry professionals worldwide. You’ll also gain exposure to the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in the event planning field, keeping you at the forefront of the industry.
6. Pursue specialized training, such as bridal certificate programs, to develop niche expertise and stand out in the competitive wedding industry.

The Best

HPU’s Event Management program has consistently been recognized as the best in the industry. We’ve proudly received the Pinnacle Award for the Best Event Management bachelor’s degree from the International Festivals & Events Association since 2016 (2016-2023).

Student Success on a Global Stage

Our students shine in prestigious competitions, internationally showcasing their skills and knowledge. In the recent Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Global Student Competition, two HPU teams made it to the Top five finalists, with one team emerging as the overall winner! HPU was the only school with two teams represented among the finalists, beating out teams from renowned universities across North America, South America, and Australia.

Join the Best, Become the Best

By choosing HPU’s Event Management program, you’ll join a community of driven, talented individuals passionate about creating unforgettable experiences. Our award-winning faculty, industry connections, and hands-on learning opportunities will help you develop the expertise and confidence to succeed in this exciting and dynamic field.

At HPU, we believe engaging in research is crucial to a well-rounded event management education. While our primary focus is on providing exceptional teaching and hands-on learning experiences, our dedicated faculty members have gone above and beyond to mentor undergraduate students in their research endeavors.

Since 2022, our event management faculty has worked closely with students to develop research projects that align with their personal interests and passions. This collaborative approach allows students to delve deeper into topics that fascinate them while gaining invaluable experience in conducting academic research.

Showcasing Student Research

We are proud to share that our event management undergraduate students have been provided financial assistance through HPU Undergraduate Research and Creative Works program (URCW) to present their research at regional, national, and international conferences. These experiences allow our students to showcase their hard work and insights and network with industry professionals and academics from around the world.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills for Industry Success

Engaging in research is an excellent way for students to expand their knowledge and develop critical thinking skills that are highly valued in the event industry. Our students position themselves as innovative problem-solvers and strategic thinkers by learning to ask thought-provoking questions, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions.

Preparing for Graduate Studies and Beyond

Participating in undergraduate research provides a solid foundation and a competitive edge for students considering pursuing a research-focused graduate program. By gaining experience in research methodologies, data analysis, and scholarly writing, our students are well-prepared to excel in advanced academic settings.

By choosing HPU’s Event Management program, you’ll have the chance to work alongside dedicated faculty members committed to supporting your research interests and helping you develop the skills needed to succeed in the dynamic world of events. Join us and discover the power of undergraduate research in shaping your future as an event management professional!

This course familiarizes students with the field of event management using a conceptual framework developed through definitions, models, and case studies. The primary focus of study centers on the formulation of event management strategies across a diverse typology, with special emphasis on the planning, development, and production of events. Topics include historical foundations, project management, staff/volunteer management, sponsorship, marketing, stakeholder relations, customer service, basic operations, economic impact, and creative program planning. Opportunities for experiential fieldwork in on- and off-campus events will be an element of the course.

• Sample projects: Discovering Event Associations and the Group Event Partnership Project

This course presents a sequential model of the event planning process as it relates to the five basic elements of program planning. The course has three primary topic areas: (1) the understanding and implementation of event planning models; (2) types of evaluation; and (3) evaluation methods. Topics include the principles and philosophy of project management, planning cycles, processes, and models, service mapping, evaluation tools and techniques, and data analysis. Required fieldwork at on-campus and off-campus events will provide additional experiential elements for this course.

• Sample projects:
  • Event Evaluation Project
  • Class Planning Activity Project

This course presents fundamental communication theories as applied in various public speaking, interpersonal, and small group communication contexts and provides both a theoretical foundation and a practical framework for future studies in the Communication area.

This intensive class will help event management students map out a strategy for a successful career within the event industry. Specifically, students will develop strong networking skillsets and abilities by emphasizing written, oral, and interpersonal/group communication with a focus on professionalism and presentation skills. Students will discover the importance of building relationships as well as the use of mentors, colleagues, and associations. This course is designed to guide students as they prepare an effective resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn portfolio for the job search process. Students will also learn how to be successful in interviews and understand the expectations of professionals in the industry.

• Sample projects: Crafting your Cover Letter, Standout Resumes, and Informational Interviews

This course delves deeply into the many operational aspects of event management. Topics include legal issues, risk management, site design, budget/financial controls, revenue generation, safety/ security, sustainability, vendor coordination, attendance/crowd management, accessibility, facilities and equipment, traffic and parking control, permitting, and basic fireworks. Opportunities for experiential fieldwork in on- and off-campus events will be an element of the course.

• Sample projects: Operational Logistic Project (comprised of 3 main components), and Better Porta-Potty Project

This course focuses on the budgetary and financial control aspects associated with events. Topics with include generally accepted accounting practices, revenue generation, grants, philanthropy, purchasing, pricing, cost-benefit analysis, and return on investment. Students will gain hands-on experience using Excel and other software programs to create event budgets. Students will also participate in experiential fundraising by devising unique revenue generation concepts specific to events and investigating economic impact study opportunities.

• Sample projects: Monopoly® Accounting Project, Revenue Generators in Non-profit Events, and Creating an Event Budget

This course focuses on event marketing and sponsorship in terms of media design and its relationship to production design and experience design as the three building blocks of modern event management. A conceptual framework will review traditional marketing practices for students without a marketing background while introducing the experiential and facilitating components used in event marketing and their extension to event sponsorship. There will be emphasis on examples and case studies that spotlight marketing and sponsorship best practices and success. The student will learn how to formulate event management marketing and sponsorship strategies that are customer-centered experiences. Stakeholder theory and the process of exchanging event benefits for sponsor’s assets will be a specific focus of study. Other topics will include particle markets, concepts of infusion and enhancement, tangible and intangible property, and the strategic creation, selling, and servicing of sponsorship deals.

• Sample projects: Creating an Event Marketing and Promotional Plan and Sponsorship Proposals

This class focuses on staff, volunteer, and contractor management as well as board governance, all in relationship to events. Topics will include management theories and practices, policy making, human resource issues, motivation, ethics, collaboration, problem solving, hiring/orientation/training/evaluation, and leadership in special situations.

• Sample projects:
  • Leadership Lab Project, Volunteer Fieldwork Assignment, Informational interview Project
  • Landscape Analysis

This course explores principles of risk management, ethical leadership analysis, and basic legal principles governing the event industry and management of special events, festivals, meetings, conventions, and exhibitions. This course covers the functions of the law, legal environment, legal reasoning, and legal issues within the event industry. Students will examine risk and ethical issues as they relate to legal reasoning regarding contracts and contract concepts, torts, property rights law, insurable risks and liability issues, and the impact of law on the economic enterprise in the event industry. The overall objective is to enable future event professionals with the knowledge and skills to recognize, analyze, and evaluate risk and legal issues for the purpose of making and articulating appropriate decisions in the event industry.

• Samples projects: Event Risk Assessment, Creating a Risk Management Plan, Risky Events and Lawsuits, Contracts for Events

This course provides an introductory but comprehensive overview of the methods and strategies of experience design, program planning, scheduling, theme creation, innovation, execution, and evaluation in experience industry settings. The interrelationship between built and natural environments with structured and cocreated experiences will be emphasized. Through the examination of the conceptual and creative applications of design, students will learn vital components of event design and production that are the most challenging but the most rewarding in creating a better overall event experience.

10-minute Experiences

Discovering Experiential Podcasts, Problem Solving using Design Thinking Methodologies, and Visual Brainstorming using the Event Canvas

This course will use a seminar format to facilitate the examination and discussion of production, experience, and media design as contemporary issues, trends, and challenges in the field of event management. It will employ a critical thinking skills template for problem topic identification, the logical analysis of related articles and research, and to provide criteria to direct evaluative reasoning.

• Sample projects: Group Event Partnership Project and PCMA Event Proposal Student Competition

Eligible students will participate in a second internship related to event management and have a 2.5 overall GPA and a minimum of 16 credits from the Event Management major, including an introductory course in EMG and an advanced level EMG course, and have completed 60 credits overall.

• Sample projects: Internship Symposium Poster Presentations

Meeting and Conference Planning

This course specifically addresses the meetings and conference planning industry, which has long been recognized as a major market sector in the tourism and hospitality industry. The course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex and diverse nature of the meetings industry by addressing aspects that include, but are not limited to strategic meeting management, accommodation management, destination marketing, technical services, food and beverage considerations, technology, and the globalization and culture of the meetings market.

* Also offered aboard as a Maymester class. Ask the Faculty for more information about this amazing international experience!

Fairs and Festivals

This course explores the rich history and unique culture of fairs and festivals. Largescale public events require a specific set of skills that will be reviewed in this class. Students will learn about the challenges of and solutions for working in the public and non-profit event sectors with a special focus on fairs and festivals. Throughout the course the link between various local and global cultures, communities, identities and lifestyle narratives as they are both constructed and experienced in the festival context will be investigated.

* Also offered abroad during every other Maymester

Weddings and Milestone Events

Weddings and milestone events represent a significant aspect of the special events industry, building connection, and celebrating transitional periods in people’s lives. This course examines the unique aspects of planning an event that is significant yet personal in nature, typically one that is once in a lifetime and affirms the need for professionals with expertise in the area of weddings and milestone events.

Major Sporting Events

Major sporting events represent the pinnacle of the global mega events industry, driving economic impact and social transformation. This course examines the distinctive characteristics and strategic initiatives that set major sporting events apart from other large-scale gatherings. This course demonstrates why sporting events command unique consideration.

Internship in Event Management II

Eligible students will participate in a second internship related to event management and have a 2.5 overall GPA and a minimum of 16 credits from the Event Management major, including an introductory course in EMG and an advanced level EMG course. Student must have successfully completed EMG 4811.

Many of our students have found success by combining their passion for event management with a minor in one or more of the following:

• Hospitality Management
• Media Production
• Sport Management
• Strategic Communication
• Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Leadership Studies
• Entrepreneurship
• Fashion Merchandising
• Social Innovation.

By tailoring your education to your specific interests and career goals, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the diverse challenges of the event industry and make a lasting impact in your chosen field.