Last month, the USDA released the proposed rule for the establishment of minimum national professional standards and training requirements for school nutrition professionals. These standards will require all personnel of school nutrition programs to complete annual continuing education and training. Additionally, new hiring standards for nutrition directors will be put in place.
The Certificate of Excellence in School Nutrition Program offered by JSI at Framingham State University offers school nutrition professionals a unique opportunity to advance their education with undergraduate course work.
The program, which consists of five undergraduate courses designed specifically for school nutrition directors and managers, aligns with the requirements proposed for professional standards. Courses can then be easily applied towards an associates or bachelors degree program. Curriculum is based upon competencies identified by national research conducted by the National Food Service Management Institute and is designed to assure that directors and managers have the knowledge and skills necessary to support nutrition and education goals.
With one semester behind them, the students returned in January 2014 to start the course, Computer Applications in School Food Service, taught by Karen McGrail. They met
on-campus for the first of three Saturday classes over the semester – the rest of the classes are conveniently held online via desktop conferencing on Wednesdays after school. The students spent part of their Saturday using and evaluating the JSI Recipe Tool. This new tool developed for Massachusetts schools by JSI, allows the user to enter recipes to analyze, save, share, and print to comply with the state competitive food standards. Interested in learning more? Watch this video to learn more about the JSI Recipe Tool.
JSI is accepting new students for the fall 2014 semester of the Certificate in Excellence Program – email us at johnstalker@framingham.edu for more information.
