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April 11, 2019SUNY Schenectady to Offer New Mobile Food Service Certificate Program
With the rise of popular food truck festivals, the mobile food industry continues to grow. Now, SUNY Schenectady will provide students with an avenue to enter the industry through the College’s new Mobile Food Service Certificate program.
The 26-credit program, which will be offered for the first time in Fall 2019 through the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism, will prepare students to work for or start their own mobile food service operation. Students will take courses with topics including menu development, equipment maintenance, codes and regulations, sanitation, and marketing.
Mobile food service is an expanding market segment in the food service industry. In fact, the industry was forecasted to increase by $140 million U.S. dollars by 2020, according to Statista Research and Analysis. Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady, noted that this new academic program responds to that increase.
“We have seen such growth in the food service industry and this program directly responds to the popularity of the mobile food area,” Dr. Moono said. “We will offer students a comprehensive program so that they are prepared to hit the ground running for employment or to start their own mobile food business,” Dr. Moono said.
Dr. Penny Haynes, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs/Provost, explained that several of the courses students will take were designed by chefs who are faculty members at the College. Alumni who own businesses in the mobile food service industry provided input and key knowledge areas while the program was being developed.
“The certificate program was designed to deliver the same high quality course instruction that we have in all of our programs,” Dr. Haynes said. “It is essentially a culinary classroom on wheels.”
Ann Fleming Brown, Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, added, “Our new Mobile Food Service
Certificate is an excellent example of how the College responds to growth in business and industry, with a one-year program crafted to provide students the opportunity to enter this exciting field.”
“Dr. Moono and his team at SUNY Schenectady continue to look for new opportunities for our residents in growing and unique workforce fields,” said County Legislator Rich Patierne, Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Education and Libraries. “We can now add Mobile Food Service to the growing list of certificates as we continue to provide our students with the skills and experience necessary to pursue new and exciting jobs.”
