Ski Resort Operations and Management - Diploma
Overview
Based in Nelson, BC, you will be at the centre of epic mountain culture and have easy access to world-class ski resorts where you can sharpen your ski, snowboard and networking skills. Covering all aspects of ski resort operations, this program gives you a unique blend of management skills and industry knowledge to prepare you for lasting leadership roles.
The curriculum contains articulated business and tourism courses transferable towards any college or university in BC, and specific industry course content not available at other post-secondary educational institutions.
Stay Ahead in a Changing Industry
The Ski Resort Operations and Management Program is reviewed annually by an advisory committee of senior ski industry representatives to ensure that content is current and that graduates are equipped with the latest practical knowledge and skills.
The program aims to accelerate the movement of graduates into supervisory and management-level positions. The program relies heavily on the ski industry to provide direct exposure to virtually all aspects of indoor and outdoor operations. It offers close contact with industry operations through field trip visits that introduce students to industry supervisory and management personnel.
Field trips give students first-hand exposure to all aspects of resort indoor and outdoor operations. Direct meetings with ski industry managers and supervisors at resorts allow students to explore job opportunities for their work term and after graduation. Program graduates share their stories of building successful ski industry careers.
Course Diversity Helps Broaden Opportunities
During the first three terms, spanning 14 months, students take 22 courses focused on tourism, business and operational subjects that prepare them for a role in the ski and snowboard industry, including two five-day and one three-day field trips to different ski regions in British Columbia and Alberta.
During the fourth term, students undertake a 21-week paid work term at a ski resort, which may lead to full-time employment. The work term is a co-operative education endeavour involving both employer and college supervision of the students' work experience. Students choose their work placement and negotiate with employers to determine possibilities for job rotation and other learning opportunities. Students receive one on-site visit from an instructor during the work term and must complete a major written report and verbal presentation to receive credit for this work term.
Get Professional Training
- Tourism marketing, customer service and human resources
- Ski area construction, risk prevention and management
- Lift, grooming and snowmaking functions, maintenance and regulations
- Resort communications and organizational leadership
- Computers, database management and web design
- Accounting, budgeting and business management
Careers Include
- Administration, human resource management
- Guest services, rental and retail operations
- Sales, marketing and special events
- Cat and heliskiing operations
- General management
- Ski patrol and avalanche control
- Snowmaking, grooming and terrain park operations
- Lift operations, maintenance, construction
- Ski and snowboard schools
This program is held at Selkirk College's Tenth Street Campus in beautiful Nelson, BC.
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Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will be able to:
- Explain terms, concepts and theories relevant to the Canadian ski industry
- Demonstrate developing critical and creative thinking skills
- Apply emerging problem-solving skills
- Communicate effectively and efficiently in various formats to a variety of stakeholders, consistent with industry expectations
- Outline professional and ethical standards within their field
- Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner in academic and work-related environments
- Apply basic accounting principles as required
- Apply the basic principles of organizational behaviour, management theories and human resource management
- Competently use standard industry technology in operations, communication and record keeping/data collection
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of ski industry operations and their value to the economy
- Apply industry-specific government health, safety and environmental standards and regulations
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College as outlined in college Policy
8611: Admissions, applicants must meet the following Ski Resort Operations and Management program requirements to be considered fully qualified:
- Any English course at the Grade 12 level with a minimum of 67%. For international applicants, IELTS 6.5 overall band score (with no band less than 6.0), or equivalent on other internationally recognized English language proficiency tests. If an international student applies with an IELTS of 6.0 overall score (with no band less than 5.5), then they would need to meet the requirements below.
- Applicants who lack the specific English admission requirements may still gain admission to the program with the understanding that they will complete English or Communications at the grade 12 level with a minimum of 67% in the first year of their program. This course must be completed to be able to advance beyond 30 program credits.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Once the above admission requirements have been met and the student has been accepted to the program a student must:
- Submit a completed Application Questionnaire to the coordinator.
Once the questionnaire has been submitted, the student will work with the program coordinator to schedule an in-person or remote interview. The interview is intended to provide the students advice on how to best succeed in the program but is not a condition of admission.
- This is a popular program; candidates are strongly advised to apply early.
- It is strongly recommended that students have keyboarding skills and an understanding of Microsoft Windows prior to program commencement.
- This program has an enrolment objective of 30 students per year. Students are accepted on a first come, first served basis subject to meeting all program registration requirements.
- Field trips are a requirement of the program. Transportation and travel expenses are an extra expense to be paid by the student. Approximately $500 should be budgeted to cover these expenses.
- Students must acknowledge that they are in good health, able to stand for long periods of time, and able to lift up to 25 kg.
1. General
a) Entry to the program will be at the commencement of the Fall semester. Entry may be limited by prerequisites, space limitations, and/or completion of preadmission assessment. International entry may be limited where international student enrolment targets or limits have been met.
b) Accepted applicants will be placed in particular classes and/or sections by the school chair or designate.
c) No class or section switches will be permitted without the express approval of the school chair or designate and the instructor.
d) A student admitted to this program will be given preferred access to its courses.
2. Part-time Study
a) Subject to space limitations and prerequisite requirements, a student who wishes to take fewer than the maximum number of courses in any semester may do so with approval from the school chair.
3. Work Term
a) Participation in the paid work term is mandatory for graduation from the program. See Part IV Work Term Policy for more details.
In order to receive your credential in your program you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 and can carry no more than one (1) failing grade in the previous semester courses to be promoted to subsequent semesters.
A. PROMOTION
1. A student must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00 and can carry no more than one (1) failing grade in the previous semester courses to be promoted to subsequent semesters. Promotion from the first year to the second year also requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 and no more than one failing grade in first year courses. Any student with more than one (1) failure during the first year of the program must have the school chair’s approval to progress to the next semester and may be required to withdraw.
2. A student will not be permitted to exceed a full semester course load except with the permission of the school chair or designate.
3. A student whose progress in a course is not satisfactory may be required to withdraw from the course and take an upgrading course which may be associated with an additional cost.
4. Two (2) failures in a course are normally cause for withdrawal from the program. A third attempt at a course may be made at the discretion of the school chair or designate.
5. Any student who has left the program because of unsatisfactory performance may be readmitted with the approval of the school chair or designate after consultation with faculty members and if there is space within the program.
B. GRADUATION
1. Credentials:
a) Diploma in Ski Resort Operations and Management
2. Requirements: (see Policy 8617: Graduation)
a) The requirements for graduation for the Ski Resort Operations and Management Diploma program includes the successful completion of the following courses with a cumulative GPA of
2.0 and a minimum passing grade of "P" in all courses.
Courses
SROM151 - Marketing
SROM 151 Marketing examines the roles and functions of marketing in the tourism industry. The principles of customer service excellence and service recovery are discussed in detail. You are lead through the five steps of the Marketing Planning Process discovering how product, price, plan and promotion (4 P's) are used in the marketing of tourism products and services. You will conduct a case study analysis of an existing company to demonstrate knowledge of marketing concepts studied.
SROM155 - Computer Applications
SROM 155 Computer Applications will provide the student with a general introduction to computers and Microsoft application software. Setting up and using email and Moodle is emphasized, as assignments will be submitted to the instructor via this venue. The student will also explore and utilize the web and/or online libraries, searching for information for class assignments.
The student will assimilate the basics of Microsoft Word with regards to correct formats for posters / announcements, résumés, research papers, envelopes, letters, tables and newsletters including all page and print enhancements. Form letters, mailing labels and directories are also covered using the Mail Merge function. The student will also cover the basics of Microsoft Excel, using a number of commands to enhance a worksheet, chart sheets, templates and graphs. Page and print enhancements will also be utilized. The final section covers the integration of Word and Excel.
SROM158 - Ski Area Risk Prevention and Management
SROM 158 Ski Area Risk Prevention and Management focuses on the identification, analysis and evaluation of the accidental risks involved in operating and managing a ski resort. The course examines methods of managing accidental risks including skier safety programs, operating procedures, risk financing and insurance, and the implementation of a risk management administrative program. The course also examines ski area liability cases, and examines the key aspects of employee safety programs.
SROM152 - Ski Area Marketing and Special Events
SROM 152 Ski Area Marketing and Special Events. In today's competitive recreation and tourism marketplace, competent ski area operators understand the essential role marketing plays in keeping ski lifts, cafeterias and lodges busy. In SROM 152, you will explore how ski resorts use primary and secondary market research, advertising media, social media, brochures, consumer ski shows, news releases and special events to boost skier visits. There will be a large hands-on component where the class will have an opportunity to create and run an event.
SROM153 - Organizational Leadership
SROM 153 Organizational Leadership. This course is designed to help prospective supervisors understand how individuals and organizations function effectively. It provides students with a working knowledge of the formal relationships between employees and management in the work place through the study of leadership styles, motivation, group dynamics and conflict resolution. Students will gain an understanding of the skills required to lead people and contribute to a team effort. This course also examines changes in society and how they are influencing organizations relating to employee and management roles in time management, stress management, and problem solving.
SROM156 - Exploring Solutions Through Technology
SROM 156 Exploring Solutions Through Technology course will explore industry-specific database and information management systems, investigate the database and information needs for ski areas, research database use by various ski hills and resorts, and report findings to the class. Through hands-on experience, students are also given the opportunity to engage in ski area Point of Sale (POS) software systems.
SROM160 - Ski Resort Guest Services and Snow School Operations
SROM 160 Ski Resort Guest Services and Snow School Operations personnel perform many functions at ski resorts and ski areas. As front line employees, they must be equipped with excellent customer service skills. Quality service delivery, product sales techniques and administrative skills are all employed by staff members working in Guest Services operations. Snow School Operations is an integral part of a Ski resort's services. With the proper management techniques a snow school could be a major revenue center for the resort. The function, quality and performance of front line instructors as well as supervisors and management of the snow school can make or break a beginner ski/snowboard experience. SROM 160 is presented to provide students with some of the practical knowledge required to sell ski resort products and deliver services to ski resort guests. The size of the ski resort determines the makeup of this operating department and the complexity of systems used. The ability to adapt and design delivery and product sales systems for different size operations will be emphasized. Interfacing management requirements for statistical information and guest controls with the practical design and application of systems and procedures is a requirement for the efficient operation of this operating department. This course will also focus on Snow School Operations from a management perspective. An emphasis will be put on staffing, scheduling and programming.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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