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New England Culinary Institute

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Coordinates: 44°15′35″N 72°33′36″W / 44.2598397°N 72.5600889°W / 44.2598397; -72.5600889
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New England Culinary Institute
MottoLearn it by living it
TypePrivate for-profit culinary school
ActiveJune 15, 1980 (1980-06-15)–March 2020 (2020-03)
PresidentMilan Milasinovic
Students200
Location
Montpelier
,
Vermont
,
U.S.
ColorsMaroon and White
Websitewww.neci.edu
New England Culinary Institute, Harris Hall

The New England Culinary Institute (NECI) was a private for-profit culinary school in Montpelier, Vermont. It was open for 40 years before shutting down as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2]

History

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NECI was founded on June 15, 1980,[3] by Fran Voigt and John Dranow. The first NECI class, conducted by Chef Michel LeBorgne, had seven students. The enrollment rose to approximately 800 in 1999,[4][5] but fell to 500 in 2015[6] and to around 300 at the beginning of 2017.[4] A second campus was operated in Essex, Vermont, from August 1989 through August 2009.[6]

The institute ran a number of restaurants in Montpelier, and also provided food service for Vermont College and National Life. It was accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.[7]

By the 2010s, enrollment in culinary institutes in the United States was in decline, and culinary programs nationwide were closing.[4] The institute discontinued all credit-bearing academic programs in the summer of 2021. The institution's official statement about the closing stated that "the pandemic proved to be the burden that we could not overcome. As directed by the State of Vermont we closed all our retail operations in March 2020, which severely limited our ability to continue to deliver a college level, hands on culinary education, on an economically viable basis."[8]

In December 2020, because of the pandemic, NECI had to close. Alumnus Alton Brown, students, faculty and other staff had just celebrated the 40th anniversary of the institution's start.[5][9][10]

Academics

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The institute offered the following credentials:[3]

  • Certificate in Professional Cooking
  • Certificate in Professional Baking and Pastry
  • Associate in Occupational Studies
  • Bachelor of Arts

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ Duffort, Lola (December 28, 2020). "New England Culinary Institute to close down in the spring". VTDigger. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "New England Culinary Institute to close after 40 years". Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gentry, September 2016 Connie. "America's Top 22 Culinary Schools". FSR. Retrieved May 10, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c Allen, Susan (January 29, 2017). "Culinary schools struggle with enrollment decline". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Bakuli, Ethan. "Vermont-based NECI can't 'overcome' pandemic. Chef Alton Brown's alma mater will close". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "New England Culinary Institute History". 2007. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Accreditation and Degree Granting Authority". neci.edu.
  8. ^ "Welcome to New England Culinary Institute – NECI". New England Culinary Institute. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Duffort, Lola (December 28, 2020). "New England Culinary Institute to close down in the spring". VTDigger. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Duffort, Lola (December 28, 2020). "New England Culinary Institute to close down in the spring". VTDigger. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Hallenbeck, Brent (October 26, 2017). "Alton Brown returns to Vermont, where he began his path toward Food Network fame". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  12. ^ "Groomed – Paul Hogan Host Bio – TV Shows – W Network". October 11, 2008. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. ^ "Best New Chefs 2007". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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44°15′35″N 72°33′36″W / 44.2598397°N 72.5600889°W / 44.2598397; -72.5600889


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