Western Culinary Institute

Infobox_University
name = Western Culinary Institute


established = 1983
type =Private
faculty =135
undergrad =950
president =Jon Alberts
location =600 SW 10th Ave., Suite 400
city =Portland
state =Oregon
country =USA
campus =Urban
type =Private/for profit
nickname =WCI
website =http://www.wci.edu/

The Western Culinary Institute (WCI) is a private culinary school located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. The school is owned by the Career Education Corporation and it is also a partner with the French culinary institute Le Cordon Bleu.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/programs/lcb.asp |title= Le Cordon Blue |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate=2008-10-10] As of 2006, the school had an enrollment of 805 students. [cite web |url= http://www.bhe.mass.edu/library/Motions/2007/AAC07-18.pdf |title= Board of Education Request for Committee and Board Action |publisher= Massachusetts Department of Education |date= April 2007 |accessdate=2008-10-10]

History

Western Culinary Institute was established in 1983, by two local businessmen, Horst Mager and Donald Waldbauer, as the Horst Mager Culinary Institute.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/our_history.asp |title= Our History & Reputation |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate= 2008-10-10] In 1986, it adopted its current name, Western Culinary Institute. The school was purchased by the Career Education Corporation in 1996.Fact|date=October 2008 In 1999, WCI partnered with Le Cordon Bleu so that their graduating students could get a Le Cordon Bleu "dîplome" along with a specialized associate degree in culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant management, or pâtisserie and baking. In 2000, WCI was the first school to offer the Le Cordon Bleu Restaurant Management Diploma,cite news |url= http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=23869 |title= Culinary Institute's on a roll |publisher= "Portland Tribune" |date= August 10, 2004 |last= Bartels |first= Eric |accessdate=2008-10-10] although as of 2008, it does not have a restaurant management program.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/programs/index.asp |title= Programs|publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate= 2008-10-10]

Campus

Western Culinary Institute's facility is located in downtown Portland, in the historic Galleria Building. The building, formerly the Olds, Wortman & King department store, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus includes classrooms, labs, kitchens, a computer lab, a library/resource center and a student-staffed fine dining restaurant.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/facilities.asp |title= Facilities |publisher=Western Culinary Institute |accessdate= 2008-10-10]

Academics and associations

The Western Culinary Institute offers two programs, in which students can earn a diploma or an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) in either culinary arts or pâtisserie and baking. Students also earn a Le Cordon Blue "diplôme" ("Diplôme de Cuisine" or "Diplôme de Pâtisserie"). The diploma programs last 30 to 36 weeks, and the AOS program lasts 60 weeks.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/programs/courseoutline_baking.asp |title= Patisserie & Baking Program - Western Culinary Institute - Course Outline |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate= 2008-10-10] cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/programs/courseoutline_culinary.asp |title= Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Program Course Outline |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate= 2008-10-10]

Western Culinary Institute has been a title sponsor of the ProStart Knowledge Bowl in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The ProStart State High School Culinary Championships are hosted by the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation and include different culinary and hospitality-focused events. Over 200 students from 34 Oregon high schools competed in the 2008 contest.cite web |url= http://www.ora.org/ProStart/ProStartIntro.html |title= Students Feel the Heat at ProStart Competition |publisher= Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation |accessdate=2008-10-10]

The institute is an affiliate with many culinary and educational associations and organizations, including the American Culinary Federation.cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/memberships.asp |title= Affiliations & Memberships |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate=2008-10-10]

Accreditation

Western Culinary Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).cite web |url= http://www.wci.edu/accreditation.asp |title= Accreditation |publisher= Western Culinary Institute |accessdate=2008-10-10]

References

External links

* [http://www.wci.edu/ Western Culinary Institute] (official website)