International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute program pairs students with staff-challenged restaurants. Effort helps ICASI’s future chefs struggling with tuition cost
Chefs toss their toques in the air to celebrate their graduation from the International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute in Chester Township. (Courtesy of ICASI)
Despite, or perhaps because of, the pandemic, the International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute in Chester Township has a record number of applicants for its professional cooking programs this fall.
Recently named one of the top culinary schools in the country, ICASI has six-month certificate programs and two-year diploma programs for its students.
Tuition, among the least expensive in the country, range from $10,140 for a certificate program to $23,050 for the diploma program at the nationally accredited professional school.
“But those who have been unemployed or downsized are having problems paying the tuition,” said Loretta Paganini, founder of the school.
Future chefs Max Wagner, left, Nat Bezi and Lev Spraviero have just begun their second year in a diploma program at ICASI. (Courtesy of Loretta Paganini)
Meanwhile, restaurants, nursing homes, caterers and other food-service providers are having trouble getting and keeping chefs and other personnel. “Help wanted” and “Apply within” signs are everywhere.
So Paganini has played matchmaker and devised a program in which students work in local kitchens as they attend ICASI programs and their food-service employers will help pay their tuition up to $10,140. Because the school places students in internships for some of their training, ICASI administrators are well acquainted with local restaurants and other food-service providers.
It may be a win-win scenario for both students and the pandemic-stressed food-service industry.
Loretta Paganini, who opened the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute in 2002, has developed a program that places ICASI students in jobs that ease the burdens of their tuition’s. (Janet Podolak)
In an Ohio Restaurant Association survey of operators, more than 90 percent said a workforce shortage is their top concern. Many restaurant workers, dislodged from their positions during the pandemic, found other jobs, some had childcare issues and others have relied on an extension of $300-per-week federal unemployment benefits in place through September.
More than 300 Ohio restaurants closed during the pandemic, while many lacking the needed workers had to reduce their hours, impacting their ability to recover. Some are applying for funds from a $100 million grant, approved in June and aimed at assisting recovery for those in the hospitality business.
ICASI students should come to their jobs with competency in the kitchen because knife skills and practical knowledge with sanitation are basic programs learned early in their training. Because many of its students have jobs and other commitments, ICASI staggers its largely hands-on classes to allow completion of requirements in the evenings and on Saturdays.
“When employers come to us, we assess their needs in terms of the work they need done,” said chef Jenn Thomas, director for ICASI’s admissions program. “We then look at our pool of students and match the needs with our students’ skills. They work out the details of the tuition opportunity between them.”
ICASI founder Loretta Paganini, left, and Pastry Arts Chef Kerry Fleisch show off a cake made for the retirement party of St. Anselm pastor the Rev. Tom Sweeney. (Janet Podolak)
The chef shortage was so extreme for Guarino’s, in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood, that co-owner Scott Phillips Jr. stepped in to work in the kitchen, a job he hadn’t done in 15 years.
“We didn’t have the staff to stay open, but we’re Cleveland’s oldest restaurant, and we couldn’t close,” he said.
Its fine reputation and appealing patio, combined with the desire of people to eat out again more recently propelled a boom in business.
“Guarino’s has had its busiest months in its long history this past summer,” Phillips said.
Phillips reached out to ICASI to find the help he needed.
“And now that we’ve hired a pair of ICASI students to help in the kitchen, we’re keeping up with the new business,” he said. “One is doing prep work, while the other is working on the line as a chef.”
Guarino’s has a one-year contract with the students, who are being paid for their work as well as receiving tuition help.
“They’re getting a full ride for their education and are doing an excellent job for us,” said Phillips, who interviewed several candidates before choosing the pair he hired.
Every food-service entity negotiates its own plan for employee pay and tuition assistance, Paganini said.
At a time when some chains are closing dining rooms due to staffing challenges, Yours Truly — which has nine Northeast Ohio restaurants, including those in Mentor and Mayfield Village — has adopted shorter new hours to meet the employee shortage.
“We’re also looking at facilitating online orders that people can pick up then sit down in the restaurant to eat,” said partner Larry Shibley.
“We’re also planning a new line of disposable cutlery and dinnerware so we can eliminate the need for a dishwasher.”
He hopes to work with ICASI on a tuition opportunity plan to secure reliable employees for his kitchens.
International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute
Where: 8700 Mayfield Road, Chester Township.
Info: 440-729-7340; icasi.edu.
To learn more: Contact Jenn Thomas at admissions@icasi.educ.
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