Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality

Tuition and fees. In accordance with the Florida Legislature and Suwannee County School Board, fees are charged for RTC attendance. The Florida resident rate for a Career Certificate is $2.44 per clock hour (non-resident: $9.78 per clock hour in the catalog), so at that rate this 1,200-hour program’s tuition comes to $2,928.00. Fees vary according to program length and include a tuition fee, a student financial aid fee (10% of tuition cost), a capital improvement fee (5% of tuition cost) and a technology fee (5% of tuition cost).

Approximate total. The catalog’s Florida Resident Total Approximate Cost for the program is $6,168.60. *Tuition Subject to Change. Textbooks are included in the fee statement provided to students; other fees may be assessed as required by an individual program such as state board exam fees, liability insurance, drug tests, and motor vehicle reports.

Non-refundable fees. A $50.00 non-refundable application fee is due when the registration form is submitted for a program. If a class is canceled, the full deposit will be refunded.

Paying fees. All fees are due in full at the end of the ten (10) day drop and must be paid in full before students enter class; programs less than 600 clock hours need to pay prior to the class starting date. Fees may be paid with cash, check, bank debit, credit card, or Apple Pay®. Eligible fees may be deferred when financial aid or veterans benefits are delayed, or under a district-adopted installment payment schedule.

Financial aid. This program is Pell Eligible. The first step to receive any type of financial aid is to apply for federal financial aid (RTC school code 016824). RTC offers two types of federally funded financial aid: Pell Grant and the Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP). To be eligible for Title IV funds, a student must make satisfactory academic progress - GPA, pace and attendance; RTC is a clock hour school and students must attend all hours of each Pell Grant payment period.

Scholarships and other help. RTC awards scholarships through an annual scholarship selection process, including Bright Futures and the RIVEROAK Merit and Academic Development Scholarships. Most programs at RTC are approved for veterans training, and some agencies which sponsor students, such as the Workforce Development Board, may require the federal financial aid application.

Refunds. A 100% refund (less an administrative fee not to exceed $100.00) is issued to students who withdraw up to one week before or on the first day of class; 90% through the first 10% of the enrollment period, 50% through the first 25%, and 25% through the first 50% (less administrative fees, books, laboratory use fees, or non-returnable equipment). No refund is issued once 60% of the enrollment period has been completed, and textbooks and kits may not be returned.

Students prepare for a variety of careers in the culinary arts profession and for advanced education at other culinary institutions. Career paths include dinner cook, institutional cook, cook's helper, baker's helper, fry cook, and short order cook.

Credentials. Certificates of Completion are awarded to students who master program performance standards and meet state reading, language, and math minimum requirements for the program. Industry certification: NRAEF003 Certified Food Protection Manager; AMMSA001 Food Safety and Science Certification.

Placement. RTC Student Services make every effort to help students obtain a job related to their training: local employers contact RTC when job openings arise and RTC attempts to match student skills to job needs. RIVEROAK at a glance: 92% completion rate, 88% placement rate and 100% licensure success rate.

Orientation. Orientation occurs during the first week of each semester. Students are informed about rules and regulations, parking, food services, attendance, counseling, financial aid, programmatic information, the use of technology, and career pathways. All students are issued an email account to access CANVAS (RTC’s instructional platform) and FOCUS® (RTC’s grade and attendance platform).

Dress code. Students are expected to dress appropriately for their program, and most programs have additional dress code requirements. Shop classes may require work boots.

Grading. General programs are graded 90-100 A, 80-89 B, 70-79 C, 60-69 D and 0-59 F; failure to maintain passing grades may result in dismissal from the program.

Live work. RTC accepts live work in Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality; all services are provided by students, and Work Orders are used to bill for materials, shop-use fees, or services.

SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA is for students in this program; the organization provides leadership opportunities and skill enhancement.

Campus. RIVEROAK Technical College (RTC) is a postsecondary technical training and adult education institution under the authority of the Suwannee County School Board. The 20-acre campus is located in Live Oak, with easy access from U.S. Highways 129 and 90 and Interstates 75 and 10.