CPCC Culinary Program Accredited by The American Culinary Federation

Central Piedmont Community College’s (CPCC) culinary program recently received notification that the program has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Foundation. CPCC is the only culinary program in the Charlotte area to receive this distinction.

The American Culinary Federation Foundation, Inc., (ACF) is the premier professional chefs’ organization in North America, with more than 230 chapters nationwide and 19,000 members. Understanding that the future of the culinary industry would be determined by the competence of the individuals entering the field, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) established the American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFFAC). The ACFFAC, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), provides regulatory oversight of post-secondary institutions.

The primary function of the ACFFAC is programmatic accreditation. This specialized accreditation is a voluntary action on the part of the institution that requires curriculum, faculty, resources, support staff, and organizational structure all meet or exceed quality standards. Culinary or foodservice programs that are accredited by the ACFFAC have been reviewed against established standards. These programs undergo a self-evaluation and report their findings to the ACFFAC. The ACFFAC then authorizes a fact-finding team to visit the school to verify compliance with the standards. The self-evaluation, the report of the fact-finding team, and the program response to the fact-finding report, are studied. The ACFFAC then grants accreditation to programs that meet the published standards.

“For more than 30 years, CPCC has been a leader in the Charlotte region for culinary education,” states Bob Boll, Division Director for Hospitality Education at CPCC. “This distinction recognizes the outstanding instructors and commitment to quality education we have at CPCC.”

The culinary technology curriculum at CPCC provides specific training required to prepare students to assume positions as trained culinary professionals in a variety of food service settings including full service restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs, catering operations, contract food service, and health care facilities. Course offerings emphasize practical application, a strong knowledge base, professionalism, and provide the critical competencies to meet industry demands.

For more information on the recent accreditation or CPCC’s culinary program, call 704.330.6721.

CPCC is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering 100 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.