USDA has established minimum professional standards requirements for school nutrition professionals who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The standards, established in section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act require minimum education standards for new state and local school nutrition directors as well as annual training standards for all school nutrition professionals. The Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has accepted the Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition as the State-recognized certification for school nutrition directors (SND) as outlined in the USDA Professional Standards hiring criteria for SNDs. 

For additional information about USDA Professional Standards and Hiring Standards for School Nutrition Directors, please visit the USDA Professional Standards webpage and review the Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs.

The program includes three undergraduate courses offered through Framingham State University (FSU), designed specifically for directors of school nutrition programs and managers working in schools who wish to advance in their school nutrition careers. Curriculum is based upon competencies identified by national research conducted by the Institute of Child Nutrition, the Massachusetts Statewide Needs Assessment and USDA Professional Standards and is designed to assure that directors and managers have the knowledge and skills needed to be successful leaders in school nutrition.

The certificate program is designed for remote learning and can be completed within one year.

• Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition Graduation
• Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition
• Enroll in the 2018 Certificate in Excellence n School Nutrition Program
• Three Graduates Complete The Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition at Framingham State University
• Advance Your Career with The Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition program
• JSI Leads the Way to Meet the NEW! Professional Standards
• Certificate in Excellence Tech Project Leads to an Innovative Approach to Nutrition Education

• A high school diploma or HiSET (or GED) or higher; applicants must submit an official transcript/document.
• Currently employed as a manager, assistant director, or director in a school nutrition program in Massachusetts and USDA’s New England region.
• A letter of recommendation from your supervisor submitted via the FSU online application.
• Phone interview with the certificate program director.

Course titles link to course descriptions. Schedule of course offerings is subject to change.

• NUTM 111 – Nutrition in School Nutrition Programs
  SNA Approved Core Nutrition Education Course
  60 hours Nutrition: SLCs 1100, 1200, 1300
• NUTM 333 – Foodservice Systems in School Nutrition Programs
  12 hours Nutrition: SLC 1100; 12 hours Operations: SLCs 2100, 2400;
  28 hours Administration: SLCs 3200, 3300, 3500; 8 hours Communications/Marketing: SLCs 4110, 4160
• NUTM 444 – Management in School Nutrition Programs
  60 hours Administration: SLCs 3200, 3300, 3400

Canvas is the FSU learning platform used for all course materials

Please review the FSU Laptop Requirements to confirm your device meets the minimum requirements.

• Be sure your PC or Mac, is no more than 3 – 4 years old, with internet access, a web-camera, and built-in microphone/speakers 
• You will also use a headset with microphone to connect to laptop during online classes

Please refer to the FSU Tuition and Fees web page for an up-to-date schedule of fees.  For your convenience, we have waived the application fee.

A scholarship is available to help pay for your tuition.

Program Directors:

Cathy Wickham, PhD, RD, CDN
cwickham@framingham.edu

Karen McGrail, MEd, RD, LDN
KMcGrail@framingham.edu