THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — The Louisiana Bond Commission has authorized $8.1 million to build a new, bigger headquarters for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, Nicholls State University officials said Tuesday.
The final design will be completed by Oct. 1, and the building should be finished by mid-2014, a news release said.
The new building will accommodate the program’s growing enrollment, said chef Randy Cheramie, executive director of the institute.
Enrollment grew from 198 students in fall 2007 to 284 in fall 2011, and the number of students from outside Louisiana has risen from 22 to 38 over the same period, according to figures provided by the university.
The new building will be able to serve about 600 students, university spokesman Graham Harvey said in an email. “The Nicholls administration does anticipate such an enrollment increase in the years to come,” he wrote.
The culinary school is the only American partner in the France-based Institut Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance.
“A four-year culinary degree at Nicholls averages less than $20,000, whereas a student at a private institute can expect to spend $60,000 to $80,000 for the same result,” said Al Davis, dean of University College. “The new facility, with more classroom and kitchen space — as well as updated equipment — will only boost our institute’s strong global reputation for excellence and affordability in culinary education.”
Davis added that some might wonder why the State of Louisiana is investing in a state-of-the-art culinary building while higher education struggles under the strain of significant financial adjustments.
“The answer is simple,” he said. “The future of higher education depends on locating one-of-a-kind programs that will attract students from the state, the nation and throughout the world. Our state government recognizes that the culinary arts program at Nicholls is such a program.”
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Online:
nicholls.edu/culinary
