The mission of New England Culinary Institute is to be the recognized leader in delivering hands-on, standards-based education for the food and beverage industry.

New England Culinary Institute is dedicated to providing a high quality, student-centered, and career-focused education, which is grounded in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality and restaurant management. By actively participating in NECI's reality-based curriculum, engaging with working food and beverage operations, and completing extensive internships, students are prepared for professional advancement in a dynamic world. Through NECI’s varied learning methodologies, students develop a broad range of skills and the flexibility that will help them adapt to the diverse opportunities in a quickly-evolving food and beverage industry. Toward that end, NECI embraces four Cornerstones of Distinction: small classes that promote active learning; strong reliance on learning by doing and real-life experience; an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning that supports NECI’s concept of the educated person; and a focus on promoting excellence in professional conduct and ethics.

Purposes of New England Culinary Institute

New England Culinary Institute is dedicated to the principle that all students should be recognized as individuals who have a right to learn and develop academically and personally in a supportive environment. To accomplish this, New England Culinary Institute has established the following principles:

• Promote measurable development of skills in technical and liberal studies through a Standards-based educational model
• Encourage progressive personal and intellectual development through a varied and challenging student experience (curricular, co-curricular, and internship).
• Prepare students for career advancement in a dynamic industry and a changing world through a focus on professional skills of communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking.
• Support students in understanding their role in society by embracing diversity, encouraging community involvement, and promoting global awareness.
• Model best practices in the food and beverage industry by maintaining market-driven and guest-focused food outlets as learning laboratories.
• Expose students to a diversity of career pathways in the food and beverage industry.
• Promote greater understanding and appreciation of food, wine and the dining experience through outreach to guests, the local community and society as a whole.
• Value our connection with the state of Vermont, the environment, and the agricultural community by embracing local and sustainable cuisine, promoting the chef-farmer connection and modeling environmentally sensitive business practices.
• Maintain strong relationships with the food and beverage industry to ensure a current and appropriate curriculum, to enhance internship and employment opportunities, and to promote graduate success.
• Develop opportunities for faculty and staff to model both life-long learning and outreach to the professional and greater community.
• Promote pride in the institution and professional networking through the ongoing communication with alumni.

Values of New England Culinary Institute

New England Culinary Institute’s success depends on the success of each individual engaged with the organization. The following values guide us in our work and in our pursuit of New England Culinary Institute’s mission: Commitment, Positive Attitude, Teamwork, Dedication, Flexibility, Integrity, Loyalty, Passion for NECI, and Service Excellence.