Virginia College in Chattanooga announced Monday the addition of Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, scheduled to open fall 2012 at the campus at 721 Eastgate Loop Road. The new program will offer students the opportunity to gain hands-on culinary training and a diversified education in food preparation following the program guidelines of the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission.
“World-class chef instructors, professional teaching kitchens, small class sizes and flexible day-and-night scheduling are what separates Culinard from other institutions like it,” says Ron Patak, vice president of student retail operations at Culinard. “We offer high-caliber training to our students and uphold Culinard’s reputation as one of the South's premier culinary schools.”
Culinard students can choose to pursue a diploma in culinary arts or pastry arts, both of which can be completed in 36 weeks. These programs put students in the kitchen on the first day of class and prepare them for careers in restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, catering companies, hospitals and more. Culinard also offers an online associate degree in culinary arts for students who already have formal training in culinary skills at a post-secondary level, but who want an associate degree and a broader skill base to increase opportunities for employment and advancement.
The culinary school also provides a department dedicated to career services assistance that includes well-known experienced chefs who have existing relationships with potential employers who will offer externship and job placement opportunities to students after graduation.
“We are excited about the opening of Culinard in Chattanooga and the opportunities it will bring to students,” says Virginia College in Chattanooga President Dominick DeLorenzo. “Culinard students will gain skills that enable them to pursue a career in the culinary arts and the chance to turn their passion into a profession.”
Since opening, Culinard has trained more than 1,000 chefs and has been recognized as an exemplary program by the American Culinary Federation. Because of Culinard’s success in Birmingham and Mobile, Ala.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga., and Richmond, Va., Culinard has plans to open two new locations in Greenville, S.C.., and Baton Rouge, La., in addition to the Chattanooga location by fall 2012.
For more information about Culinard or Virginia College in Chattanooga, visit
www.culinard.com or
www.vc.edu/chattanooga. To reach Ron Patak or Dominick DeLorenzo, contact Richard Johnson at 774-0120 or richard.johnson@vc.edu