Wichita will soon be home to a new culinary program following Wednesday’s Kansas Board of Regents approval of WSU Tech’s Culinary Arts program. Set to begin in August 2021, the college will offer degrees and certificates that will prepare individuals with little to no industry experience for entry-level and secondary food service positions with the potential for expedited promotion. The curriculum will cover a diverse menu of options, from artisanal breads and pastries to global cuisines classes.
“The Culinary Arts program is exciting for WSU Tech, Wichita and this region,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech “From the leadership to curriculum design to the state-of-the-art educational learning spaces, this program is being built at a standard that some of the greatest culinary schools in the world are built on and has the potential to put Wichita on the map as a place that produces some of the top chefs of this generation and next.”
The WSU Tech Culinary Arts program will be led by renowned chefs and Culinary Institute of America alumni John and Lexi Michael. The pair have a wealth of knowledge and experience in restaurants, country clubs, hotels, and wineries, as well as culinary and hospitality education and administration. WSU Tech’s program places emphasis on maximizing lab contact hours, with expanded options, and providing real-world experience in an urban location within the framework of innovation, sustainability, and accessibility.
“Hands down the most important determination of culinary graduates’ success is their kitchen readiness.” said John Michael, Director of Culinary and Hospitality at WSU Tech, “The program maximizes hands-on learning in both simulated and real-world environments and with over twice the hours spent in the kitchen compared to other similar programs we believe our students will receive the highest level of preparation for the exciting and dynamic industry they are about to enter.”
In true WSU Tech style, the Culinary Arts program will emphasize the importance of hands-on learning with over 1,000 hours in the kitchen, program graduates will be equipped with an expanded level of kitchen experience than graduates of other similar programs in the area. Students will develop the skills to assist in menu development and product development that will in turn assist them in their professional advancement beyond entry-level positions. Drawing on the model set by the greatest culinary schools in the country, the students’ experience will include café, restaurant, banquets, events, and commercial food production – much of which will be available to the public.
“This is a vast industry and it is key in a student’s culinary arts education that they are exposed to a variety of foodservice experiences.” said Lexi Michael, Executive Chef for the Culinary program at WSU Tech “ And some of the most valuable, and memorable, moments in a student’s time in a culinary program are those when they get to serve the public. Plans are already in motion as to how we will provide a well-rounded food experience for the students all while serving our community, so stay tuned.”
Students who enter the Culinary Arts program at WSU Tech will be able to earn a Technical Certificate in as little as one year or an Associates of Applied Science in just two years. Enrollment is happening now. Individuals interested in taking classes should apply today. More information can be found at www.wsutech.edu/culinary.
