The expanded culinary space allows almost double the number of students to enroll in the culinary arts programs. (Photo courtesy of Delaware Technical Community College)
Delaware Technical Community College is making a major boost to its culinary arts department.
The school will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday afternoon to unveil its newly renovated and expanded culinary arts wing at the Stanton Campus, which now includes 8,800-square-feet of space with state-of-the-art kitchen equipment, industry-standard technology, and a new dining room.
The expansion allows the college to increase enrollment in culinary arts associate degree and baking/pastry diploma programs from 125 students to 225 students.
Delaware Tech’s Culinary Arts Program at the Stanton Campus had reached the point where our facilities could no longer adequately support its students and program requirements.
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In 2020, Del Tech was told by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission that if it did not address our kitchen via renovations and expansion, then future compliance with their accreditation standards would be at great risk.
“Based on research that we conducted as a follow-up to address the concern, we learned that the food service job sector was expected to total 51,200 jobs by 2028 in Delaware and that the industry would generate more than 2,900 new jobs in the state’s economy between 2021 and 2028,” said Dan Ehmann, vice president and campus director of Del Tech’s Stanton Campus. “When turnover or replacement needs were added to this total, then the food service industry was projected to generate 8,800 job opportunities annually in the state through the year 2028.”
The previous square footage of the kitchen was just 1,036 square feet, while the total space for the program was 3,180 square feet.
“Unfortunately, this limitation on space placed a cap on our culinary program enrollment to a maximum student capacity of 125 students,” Ehmann said. “This cap limited the college’s ability to continue to meet present and future workforce needs in the state.”
The project expands the school’s culinary footprint by 5,600 square feet and will enable it to increase student enrollment in the Culinary Arts associate degree and diploma program by 80%.
“Additionally, for the first time, the space will also allow the college to offer new short-term training needs of the hospitality industry through our Workforce Development and Community Education Division, who can offer a Food Preparation Technician Certificate Program,” Ehmann said.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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