(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—Thanks to a special partnership between Delaware County Community College and Widener University, the College will offer cooking classes at Widener starting this fall. This new opportunity gives students the ability to choose from taking culinary arts courses in Delaware or Chester County. The College offers both an associate degree and certificate in Culinary Arts.
“We are very excited about the partnership between Widener University and Delaware County Community College,” says Joy Dickerson, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Widener’s Center for Hospitality Management. Dickerson adds that Delaware County Community College students will have easy access to Widener’s campus, including parking and a student ID. Widener students will also benefit as they can take advantage of the College’s Culinary Arts certificate program and add it onto their bachelor’s degree.
Students who take cooking courses at Widener (One University Place, Chester, PA) will take classroom and general courses at the College’s Marple Campus (901 S. Media Line Road, Media, PA). The partnership makes the College’s Culinary Arts program more convenient for Delaware County residents and helps students who rely on public transportation. SEPTA bus service runs to both Widener and the Marple Campus.
The Culinary Arts program is also offered in Chester County at the Brandywine Campus (443-455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA). The program offers flexible day and evening courses along with a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from professional cooking to menu planning. After completing the certificate or associate degree, students can transfer into a bachelor’s degree program or pursue a range of careers in baking, cooking, management and more.
The program is managed by Chef Peter Gilmore, who has more than 35 years of professional experience and holds a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Gilmore spent 22 years working under the guidance of Chef Georges Perrier at Le Bec-Fin before opening his own restaurant in West Chester. Gilmore’s French Cuisine received many accolades during its 11 years of operation, including being named by Zagat Guide as one of the World’s Top Restaurants, one of America’s Top Restaurants and one of Philadelphia’s top ten best restaurants.
“I teach as if I was running a restaurant,” says Gilmore. “I teach that way because when the students get into my class they see what the real world is going to be like.”
To learn more about this new partnership, or to apply for the program, visit www.dccc.edu/culinary-delaware-county
