The Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming (SITG), housed at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) at San Diego State University, is pleased to announce the co-creation of an Executive Training Program with the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA). The Program will be formally announced at the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Trade Show in San Diego on Monday, May 12, 2014 by SITG Endowed Chair Katherine Spilde and AIGA Executive Director Valerie Spicer. The Training will be offered for the first time at the AIGA Expo November 5-7, 2014 in Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Both the SITG and AIGA are committed to the goal of developing a curriculum that provides a global vision for tribal gaming education and development. In particular, the Executive Training Program will emphasize cultural sensitivity and competence, government-industry relations and industry intelligence from the perspective of native nation building. Challenging some traditional assumptions in casino operations, the Executive Training Program will teach gaming operations from the whole property perspective with an emphasis on the emerging Integrated Resort (IR) Model in Indian Country. Additionally, the Program will support the diffusion of the “nation building” model for tribal gaming by highlighting the ways that tribal governments across the United States (US) have used gaming revenues to stimulate tourism, spark economic development and strengthen institutions of government. As other nations contemplate casino gambling globally, the Program will explore best practices in nation building from Indian Country in the US and examine tribal gaming from a global perspective.
“The global gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing hospitality and tourism sectors world-wide,” said Katherine Spilde, Endowed Chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming. “We look forward to using our research and experience with tribal governments in the US to work with tribal gaming industry partners on solving real-world issues, anticipating market needs and filling a leadership role for the gaming industry in this area of the world.”
AIGA Executive Director Valerie Spicer is committed to jointly developing custom curriculum for the tribal gaming industry and noted, “In particular, we are excited about the development of a professional class of hospitality experts who will enhance the tribal gaming industry in Arizona and, we hope, across the United States. The synergy of the Sycuan Institute and AIGA can catapult tribal gaming into a leadership position within the global gaming industry by linking the study of casino gaming and the project of nation building in new ways.”
Spilde added that, “As the new curriculum is developed, this unique partnership can provide numerous benefits for tribal governments as well as for the University. For example, our partnership has the potential to improve business performance through strengthening tribal government gaming management resources and creating a pipeline for students to both work and study. The Academic research component at the Institute can address regulation and other policy issues that would benefit from a research foundation and an objective analysis of the facts.”
Spicer added, “The University provides faculty resources, expanded educational opportunities, visibility and community awareness for tribal gaming; our Tribes and operators, on the other hand, provide professional guidance on course development, access to executives as guest speakers and mentors, internship opportunities for students, industry information and potential data for research analysis and funding. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership between the Sycuan Institute and encourage other tribal organizations to consider the similar partnerships that can contribute to both an improved business environment and better gaming policy.”
SITG and AIGA agree that by committing to cultivate a professional workforce, develop and document “best practices,” build a meaningful and rigorous gaming literature and share successful gaming innovations, both organizations can strengthen tribal gaming in ways that continue to benefit native people, tribal government and gaming employees, casino resort patrons and tribal and local communities.
About the Institute: The Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at SDSU was endowed by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in 2005. Under the terms of the endowment, the Institute has created an academic curriculum leading to a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Tribal Casino Operations Management. The four courses required for the Tribal Gaming emphasis include casino operations, casino marketing and public relations, legal and regulatory issues and an introduction to tribal gaming’s social, political and cultural context. An elective course on responsible gaming is also offered. All five courses are now being offered fully online by SDSU. For more information about the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, please visit htm.sdsu.edu/sycuan.
About the AIGA: The Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA), a 501 (c) 6 non-profit organization, has a membership of 17 tribes representing 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. AIGA was established on November 21, 1994, by Arizona tribal leaders. The Association is committed to advancing the lives of Indian peoples – economically, socially and politically – so Indian Tribes in Arizona can achieve their goal of self-reliance. The Association is committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of Tribes striving for self-reliance by supporting tribal gaming enterprises on Arizona Indian lands. Speaking on behalf of its member Tribes with one, unified voice, AIGA serves as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for Tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development. This organization is deeply committed to maintaining and protecting Indian sovereign governmental authority. For more information about the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, please visit www.azindiangaming.org.
