The Bermuda College's Associate Degree and Diploma programmes for Culinary Arts have received accreditation from the prestigious American Culinary Federation.

The Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Foundation (ACF) met in January and granted the two programmes a Conditional Grant of Accreditation for three years, ending on December 31, 2010.

The accreditation requires faculty to participate annually in continuing professional development for technical and instructional skills and for the programmes' effectiveness to be continually assessed.

Chairwoman of the Division of Business Administration & Hospitality Gina Graham said that she was pleased with the distinction, noting that it was a solid reflection of the quality of instruction offered by her faculty to Bermuda's students.

"This area of hospitality has been one of the original focuses of the College since the days at Prospect," she said in a press release.

"It's extremely gratifying to note that the College's standard has been maintained after all these years and with this distinction now has international recognition.

"Well done to the faculty!"

Vice president and chief academic officer Dr. Larita J. Alford offered her congratulations.

"I am pleased with the work of the Hospitality Team in attaining this certification," she said. "It is the aim of Bermuda College to ensure that all of its programmes are of a standard that is internationally recognised."

Both the College's Associate in Applied Science in Culinary Arts and the Diploma in Culinary Arts programmes are now listed on the ACF website at: http://www.acfchefs.org