Undergraduate Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition

The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University offers an exceptional leadership opportunity for those working in school nutrition programs in Massachusetts and the USDA's New England Region. The goal of this highly acclaimed five-course undergraduate program is to increase the knowledge and skills of directors and senior management in school nutrition programs.

USDA has established minimum professional standards requirements for school nutrition professionals who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The standards, established in section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act require minimum education standards for new state and local school nutrition directors as well as annual training standards for all school nutrition professionals. The Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has accepted the Certificate in Excellence in School Nutrition as the State-recognized certification for School Nutrition Directors (SND) as outlined in the USDA Professional Standards hiring criteria for SNDs.

Admission Requirements

  • A phone interview with the certificate program director, Cathy Wickham, to confirm the program is well matched to your needs. To schedule, please email Cathy at cwickham@framingham.edu.
  • A high school diploma or HiSET (or GED); applicants must submit an official transcript/document.
  • Currently employed in a school nutrition program in Massachusetts and USDA’s New England region.
  • A letter of recommendation from applicant's supervisor submitted via the Framingham State University online application.


Curriculum

For more information about this program, please visit the John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition web page.

Requirements are accurate to date. However, the University reserves the right to change requirements in the future, and will notify applicants should any changes be made.