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PCC’s Desert Vista Campus Hosts Forum on Restaurant-Industry Jobs

May 18, 2012

Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus is hosting dozens of food industry professionals at an event next week aimed at raising awareness of job opportunities in the culinary profession.

The Culinary Arts Breakfast Reception will feature students and adjunct faculty talking about their experiences in the programs, as well as Skyline Country Club Executive Chef Issa Moussa talking about working with PCC Culinary Arts students in his restaurant.

Organizers say the event has four goals:

  • Raise awareness of PCC Culinary programs
  • Foster a network with local and regional restaurants, resorts and other food preparation establishments
  • Create an employment/internship clearinghouse for both Culinary Arts and students, and foster new relationships within the industry
  • Develop a pool of potential adjunct and substitute instructors.

“Through this event, we hope to build upon existing industry partnerships and create new ones," said Nina Corson, Academic Dean at Desert Vista Campus. “The best way for the college to stay current in the culinary field is to have our industry partners advise us. We strive to give our students the skills and knowledge that the industry demands.”

The College has two culinary arts programs: the Culinary Arts degree program and the Center for Training and Development’s Culinary and Food Industry Training Programs. Both are based at Desert Vista Campus. Many local chefs are adjunct instructors in the programs. The College also has culinary components of its Hotel and Restaurant Management Program, based at Northwest Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Road.

The CTD trainings are open-entry/open-exit with five concentrations, focusing on skill development in a production kitchen. Approximately 25 to 30 students total complete training each year, and CTD has an approximately 90 percent job placement rate. The degree program, which is a combination of classroom and kitchen skills work, admits 135 students per year, 90 in the fall and 45 in spring.

Both programs us the production kitchen at Desert Vista Campus. Starting with the Fall 2012 semester, the kitchen will be in use seven days a week for a total of 81 hours, up from six days a week for a total of 74 hours.

Students completing CTD training or the degree program have gone on to work for such local restaurants and resorts as Lodge on the Desert, Acacia, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa and The Westin La Paloma.

According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants have added more than 560,000 jobs nationally in the past two years. The restaurant industry is the nation’s second-largest private sector employer, with a workforce of nearly 13 million, and is one of the strongest job creators in the U.S.

Restaurant owners or managers interested in attending this event should call 206-5105 to see if seats still are available.

  • What: Culinary Arts Breakfast Reception
  • When: 8:30-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, 2012
  • Where: Ocotillo Room, Pueblo Building, Desert Vista Campus, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz
  • Info: 206-5105

CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu