Schulenburg Campus - Dietary Manager’s Program
Dietary managers help plan and prepare nutritious meals for hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, and a host of other foodservice operations. With elevated skills gained from this program at Blinn College, you can earn a certificate that qualifies you for more advanced positions, better pay, and increased long-term opportunities to continue your education and advancement in the foodservice industry. Our program is primarily designed for foodservice employees working in health care facilities who have leadership and management potential.
The program, approved by the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals (ANFP), is offered exclusively at the Schulenburg campus. A solid educational foundation is necessary to successfully complete the course requirements. Having your high school diploma or a GED is recommended before you begin the program.
Blinn's respected certificate program is:
- Guided by leaders in the industry.
- Available in a hybrid format.
- Successful completion rates exceed online programs.
- Known for preparing students to excel on the CDM credentialing exam
About Blinn's Dietary Managers Program
As part of the certificate program, you'll complete 150 hours of classroom work, along with another 150 hours of on-the-job/field experience where you'll be supervised by a qualified specialist, called a preceptor. Your preceptor will coordinate your field experience, check assignments, evaluate your performance and write a letter of recommendation prior to the end of the course. Students are responsible for arranging for a qualified preceptor – usually from their facility.
- Of the 150 field experience hours, 50 hours are precepted hours
- For the precepted hours, 25 Nutrition hours must be precepted by an RD and 25 Foodservice hours must be precepted by an RD, DTR, or CDM, CFPP
Class Schedule and Attendance
The class meets two days per month, is one year long, and is divided into three separate sessions; successful completion of all three is necessary to receive the certificate. (This is not a sanitation certificate.) You may start the course at any session (listed below), but you must start the class at the beginning of the session. Class meeting dates can be found on page 3 of the registration form linked below.
Spring:
Medical Nutrition Therapy - begins in January
Summer:
Managing Food Service Operations - begins in May
Fall:
Food Safety for Dietary Managers - begins in September
Attendance is mandatory and you'll only be allowed to miss two days during the 12-month course. A grade of 70% or higher is required to pass each session. Students must complete all required course work, field experience, preceptor hours & pass each session with a 70% or higher to receive their certificate.
Costs
- Tuition for the three-session course is $924.
- Two textbooks are required and may be purchased directly from anfponline.org.
- A 4-function calculator will be required for quizzes and exams (no phone apps!)
- Students traveling more than two hours to campus should consider the cost of overnight accommodations and meals.
Professional Certification
Students are eligible for ANFP Pre-Professional membership. Graduates will meet the criteria established by the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) to be eligible to take the Certified Dietary Manager Exam. Upon successful completion of the CDM exam, students will earn their CDM, CFFP, and qualify for ANFP Professional membership. Further information on the CDM credentialing exam can be found at cbdmonline.org.
Dietary Manager’s Program Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an approved course?
Yes! The Dietary Manager’s Program at Blinn College, Schulenburg Campus has been fully approved by the Association of Nutrition & Food Service Professionals (ANFP):
PO Box 3610, St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone: 800-323-1908
You will find us listed under Traditional Classroom Courses on their website: www.anfponline.org.
What time do I have to be in class?
Class begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. and breaks for lunch. Class ends between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
What should I bring to class?
Bring the required textbook, pen or pencil, 4-function calculator, and paper or spiral notebook to take notes. Most students find a highlighter very helpful.
I’m driving several hours to come to class and need to spend the night. Is there a convenient place to stay in Schulenburg?
Yes. There are three hotels within sight of the Schulenburg exit of IH-10, all are less than two miles from campus. This is the link to the Greater Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce schulenburgchamber.org where you will find information on the area hotels and lots of helpful information.
Can you give me directions to the Schulenburg Campus?
- For those of you with turn-by-turn driving assistance in your vehicle, our address is 100 Ranger Drive, Schulenburg, Texas 78956.
- From the Schulenburg exit of IH-10, go south on Rt. 77, through two stoplights and under the railroad underpass. Turn left on to either Black Street or South Street. Cross two residential intersections and you will see the Blinn College – Schulenburg Campus.
- Driving north on Rt. 77 from Hallettsville, turn right on either South Street or Black Street. Cross through two residential intersections and you will see the Blinn – Schulenburg Campus.
