In an industry populated by many who got their training on the job, current and aspiring meeting planners are going back to school. "More and more universities and colleges are offering degrees in meetings management," says Jim Fausel, associate professor in the hospitality and tourism department of Arizona State University (ASU), who says the majority of students have gone on to work in hotels and destination management companies. ASU student Suzy LaMont went back to school after nearly 16 years as a medical secretary who also planned meetings "to increase my salary potential and ability to move up the ladder." And the influx of planners with relevant undergraduate degrees pushes professional planners to seek the credibility associated with certification. "I hope it sets me apart and provides proof positive to vendors, clients, and peers that I'm very serious about the profession, my skills, and the knowledge that I need to be successful in this industry," says New Orleans, LA-based planner Michelle Jones, a 10-year industry veteran. "Hopefully it will give me the competitive advantage in garnering new business." But some say that the proliferation of meetings-oriented college programs could dilute the popularity of industry certifications. "Now that a great deal of undergraduate programs are offering degrees in this," Fausel says, "there may be a time when a CMP or CMM won't be needed because academia has taken over."