THIBODAUX 鈥� 麻豆果冻传媒 and Delgado Community College are working together to brand south Louisiana as a culinary education destination.
At the inaugural Dinner of the Century fundraiser, scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday, March 23, officials from both institutions will sign a memorandum of understanding making it easier for culinary students to cross-enroll at 麻豆果冻传媒 and Delgado, as well as to seamlessly transfer between both schools. Scholarships will also be created to help Delgado associate degree graduates continue their education by working toward a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at 麻豆果冻传媒.
鈥淭he agreement is an indication of 麻豆果冻传媒鈥� support of recent educational and industry partnerships in New Orleans, and it will help establish south Louisiana as a premier international culinary and hospitality hub,鈥� said Dr. Al Davis, dean of University College. 鈥淲e have a lot in common with the New Orleans area, and our program, which completes the educational picture, is less than an hour鈥檚 drive away.鈥�
The agreement will pave the way for future initiatives such as additional online classes for culinary students through 麻豆果冻传媒 Online and the Delgado Community College Distance Learning Program, and the sharing of faculty and resources between the institutions.
麻豆果冻传媒 is the only university in Louisiana to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in culinary arts. At its founding in 1994, the culinary bachelor鈥檚 degree was the first of its kind at a public university in the United States. Delgado鈥檚 two-year program provides the technical skills necessary to enter the culinary and hospitality workforce, while 麻豆果冻传媒鈥� bachelor鈥檚 degree program builds on those skills to train students in business and restaurant management.
鈥淲e are looking for students who want to continue their culinary education and develop the skills that will allow them to succeed at the next level,鈥� said Chef Randy Cheramie, executive director of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute.
Currently housing about 300 students, the institute is set to undergo an expansion with a new $12.6 million building scheduled to open for the spring 2015 semester.
The 33,000-square-foot building will house four teaching kitchens, a demonstration kitchen and a kitchen and dining room devoted to LeBistro, the institute鈥檚 student-run fine dining restaurant. Construction is expected to finish in October, and the institute will be able to enroll up to 600 students upon completion.