Oregon Coast Culinary Institute

Institutional Accreditation

Southwestern is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation was reaffirmed in the Spring of 2009. Copies of the college’s accreditation, self-study reports, approvals, and certifications are available for review by contacting the Accreditation Liaison Officer or requesting to review copies available at the Library, located in Tioga Hall. NWCCU Accreditation status is granted as an institution; any program accreditation or approvals are granted by other agencies.

Culinary Arts Program / Baking & Pastry Program Accreditation

The Culinary Arts Program through Oregon Coast Culinary Institute at Southwestern Oregon Community College was granted a five-year accreditation by the American Culinary Federation, ACF in 2007. In 2009, the OCCI Baking and Pastry Program was granted accreditation by the American Culinary Federation for a five-year period. The five-year accreditation is the highest level available for initial accreditation by the ACF - the premier professional chefs’ organization in North America, focusing its efforts on offering education, apprenticeship and industry certification. With the accreditation, OCCI’s graduates will automatically gain the title of Certified Culinarian upon graduation, along with their associate’s degrees.

Every single student who graduates from OCCI will automatically be a Certified Culinarian,”

The accreditation is based on a variety of factors including quality of curriculum, instruction, student success, administration of the program and student service. As part of Southwestern, OCCI already enjoys institutional accreditation with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities but this accreditation is a feather in the cap of the OCCI Culinary Arts program by showing its value in providing practical skills and training beneficial to future Culinary Arts professionals.

“Every single student who graduates from OCCI will automatically be a Certified Culinarian,” OCCI Executive Director Shawn Hanlin said. “Even though all of our students already test out adequately for that certification, they automatically will be recognized with that credential for completing the program.” OCCI Executive Director Shawn Hanlin