Enrollment at Washington State University Tri-Cities is growing as one of its degree programs is struggling.

The number of students seeking a hospitality business management degree at the Richland campus has seen a sharp decline.

“I can count on one hand the number of students seeking that degree currently,” Kate McAteer, the university’s vice chancellor of academic and student affairs, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

Offered through WSU’s School of Hospitality Business Management, related minors in business administration and wine and beverage business management are seeing decent enrollment numbers, McAteer said.

But the dwindling interest in hospitality business management could lead to reduced course offerings or other changes.

“We’re really having to look at it carefully,” McAteer said.

The School of Hospitality Business Management is considered a top tier college program in the industry nationally and globally.

WSU Tri-Cities began offering the hospitality business management degree 10 years ago.

Officials at the Richland campus were largely motivated to launch the degree because of the increasing number of wineries throughout the Mid-Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla valleys.

University officials and business leaders at the time also cited the growing number of hotels and related hospitality businesses in the Tri-Cities that would motivate students to seek a degree to help them move into the industry.

McAteer said the degree had as many as 10 students pursuing it after the first five years of it being available. Then the Covid-19 pandemic happened.

“Just like how the hospitality industry took a hit during Covid, so did the program and it hasn’t recovered,” she said.

It’s not a situation unique to the Richland campus. McAteer said. The Everett and Pullman campuses are also seeing decreased interest in the program.

No decisions have been made on the future of the degree at the Richland campus. University officials are considering several options, including partnering with other educational institutions.

Columbia Basin College offers hospitality courses for positions ranging from a front desk representative to kitchen cook.

The college received $257,000 in state funding in the 2024 legislative session to establish a Hospitality Center of Excellence. Championed by the Tri-Cities Legislative Council and Washington Hospitality Association, the center is expected to address workforce shortages in the industry, encourage innovation and provide training credentials for workers.

CBC did not return a request for comment on the status of the center.