COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

The CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE^® is aware of Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement to lift the statewide mask mandate on March 10,2021. We, out of an abundance of caution will continue to require all students, staff, and visitors to wear masks on school property. This requirement is consistent with the advice of health professionals and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Additionally, we will continue to follow the guidelines for the safety of all our students, staff, and visitors including practicing social distancing until further notice.

Sincerely,

Dr. Art. Cervantes
College Director

Greetings CIL students and staff,

As we reach the 7th week of the January term, we wanted to provide an update of events and plans for CIL.

The current plan for the March term is CIL will continue with online instruction for all academics classes with a few exceptions. The cuisine and baking & pastry labs will continue with reduced class sizes.

The protocols have not changed and are listed below:

• Social distancing will be required, 3 people max in restrooms and locker rooms.
• All food presentation will continue to be limited to the lab classes.
• Breaks will be staggered by your chef-instructors throughout the shifts to avoid overcrowding in the break rooms.
• Student and staff will show their ID badge and security will sign them in (to reduce pen sharing).

Security and staff will also enforce the following:

• Mandatory face mask (covering)
• Good hand hygiene
• Cough etiquette
• Cleanliness
• Sanitation will be provided by cleaning staff before each lab shift

Please continue to be mindful of the mask order (Students and staff are encouraged to bring their own mask) and the recommendations from Governor Abbott, Mayor Turner and Judge Hidalgo. CIL will follow these recommendations to the letter and ask that you assist with our compliance.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding during this transition back to normal.

Sincerely,

Dr. Art Cervantes
College Director

Greetings CIL students and staff,

As we enter week 9 of the May term, we wanted to provide an update of events and plans for CIL.

We will be performing a virtual graduation for our May and August graduates from our Amphitheater on August 7th (details on the CIL website).

The current plan for the August term is CIL will continue with online instruction for all Academics classes with a few exceptions (wine related instruction). The cuisine and baking & pastry labs will continue with reduced class sizes.

The protocols have not changed and are listed below:

• Social Distancing will be required, 3 people max in restrooms and locker rooms.
• All food presentation will continue to be limited to the lab classes.
• Breaks will be staggered by your chef-instructors throughout the shifts to avoid overcrowding in the break rooms.
• Student and staff will show their ID badge and security will sign them in (to reduce pen sharing).

Security and staff will also enforce the following:

• Mandatory face mask (covering)
• Good hand hygiene
• Cough etiquette
• Cleanliness
• Sanitation will be provided by cleaning staff before each lab shift

Please continue to be mindful of the mask order (Students and staff are encouraged to bring their own mask) and the recommendations from Governor Abbott, Mayor Turner and Judge Hidalgo. CIL will follow these recommendations to the letter and ask that you assist with our compliance.

We have received and distributed a portion of the grant money received from the Board of Education (details on CIL website). In order to qualify you must have been an “Active” status student in the March term. Many of you retaking labs from the March term were not be eligible to receive funds in the May term but you have not been forgotten. You may still be eligible in the August term for the next distribution.

For questions about your schedule next term, contact your Registrar [email protected]. If you have student account concerns, please email Sam Kellen at [email protected]. Any financial aid questions can be sent to the Financial Aid Manager, Elsa Pina at [email protected].

Thank you for your patience, cooperation and understanding during this transition back to normal.

Sincerely, Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good afternoon CIL students and staff,

Welcome back! We are excited about a small return to normalcy. As we enter into this new normal, here are some of the safety measures that will be in place on campus:

• Signs to be posted at all entrances and throughout the facility on General Guidance and Symptoms of COVID-19 (per the CDC)
• Social Distancing will be required including 6 ft markers in hallways3 people max in restrooms and locker rooms
• All food presentation will be limited to the lab class
• Breaks will be staggered throughout the shift to avoid overcrowding in the break rooms
• Appointments are required for the Boutique (one student at a time)
• Security will provide a handout explaining the expectations for anyone entering the school. Mask also to be handed out if necessary
• At all points of entry, a temporal scan will be performed prior to entry. If the reading is equal to or greater than 100.0 Fahrenheit the person will not be allowed to enter the facility.
• Student and staff will show their ID badge and security will sign them in (to reduce pen sharing)

Security and staff will also enforce the following:

• Mandatory face mask (covering)
• Students and staff are encouraged to bring their own face masks
• Practice hand hygiene
• Cough etiquette
• Cleanliness
• Sanitation will be provided by cleaning staff before each lab shift
• Please cooperate with these protocols for everyone’s safety

Thank you for your patience through this, I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good afternoon CIL students and staff,

Great news! We have been approved to reopen the college for the next term, starting Tuesday, May 26th. There are still some details to figure out but I wanted to let you know as soon as I found out.Look for another email next week detailing more safety precautions about labs and the Bistro. Academic classes and practicum will continue to be held online for next term. For questions about your schedule next term, contact your admissions representative or academic manager Michele Metts at [email protected]. If you need to talk about your student account, please email Sam Kellen at [email protected]. Any financial aid questions can be sent to manager Elsa Pina at [email protected].
Thank you for your patience through this, I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good morning CIL students and staff,

I just have a couple short updates for you today. First, the May 22nd graduation ceremony will be postponed and combined with the August 7th ceremony. Graduates, you will receive more information about the process later this summer. If you have specific questions, please reach out to Academic Manager Michele Metts at [email protected]

Second, CIL has made a formal request for permission to continue with online education for select academic classes and requested clarity on what we can do for lab instruction for the May 26th term. We are still waiting, but rest assured we are doing our best to plan for your education and your safety.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructor or admissions representative. If you need to talk about your student account, please email Sam Kellen at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good afternoon CIL students and staff,

CIL hopes this email finds you well and safe. We wanted to take a moment to update you regarding the rest of this term. Like the majority of the world, we are adjusting to a “new kind of normal”. As of now, students will not be returning on Monday, May 4th. We will continue with online/remote instructions for the remainder of the March term. We currently do not have approval to open the school. We are hopeful that we can reopen at the beginning of the next term, May 26th. The management team will be available on campus beginning May 1st. We will be following all social distancing recommendations by the CDC.

Governor Abbott held a press conference yesterday about his phases for re-opening businesses across Texas. Unfortunately, it did not shed much light on what rules our school should abide by. This will have to be a week-by-week call. I know this is worrisome and frustrating, and I ask for your patience as we try to come to the best decision for you and for the school. Please continue to check your CIAML email for updates. Le Bistro will reopen May 26th.

Also remember that we are here for you during this difficult time. Do not hesitate to reach out. I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructor or admissions representative. If you need to talk about your student account, please email Sam Kellen at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good evening CIL students, staff and alumni

CIL hopes this email finds you well and safe. We wanted to take a moment to update you regarding the rest of this term. First of all, we are continuously monitoring Texas State and Harris County guidelines concerning the spread of COVID-19. We encourage all of you to continue social distancing. As of now, CIL is still planning on re-opening on Monday May 4th.

We are also including a link provided by Click2Houston of the 10 drive thru COVID-19 testing sites across Houston. Please remember that we are here for you during this difficult time. Do not hesitate to reach out. Below are some departmental updates. I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

From the Financial Aid Department:

Active students: You must complete the 2020-21 FAFSA application (if applicable). Please contact the Financial Aid Department for assistance: [email protected].
Apply for the Gaston LeNotre Scholarship, The deadline has been extended to April 20, 2020. You could be awarded up to $5,000. Please contact Sandra Ayala, CIL Scholarship Coordinator [email protected].

From the Academic Affairs Department:

Please be sure to check Canvas daily for course updates, assignments and communication from instructors.
Please check your CIL email daily for important communication from the school.
Please make sure that your contact information is current. If it needs to be updated, please contact Student Accounts at [email protected].

From the Career Services Department:

May Practicum starts May 26th. Practicum meeting date is to be determined. Students please check your student email and Canvas for updates.
For volunteer opportunities please continue to check your emails and Canvas.
Current Practicum Students – Scholarship Application for Relief Funds deadline is April 30th.
If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your instructor or admissions representative. If you need to talk about your student account, please email Sam Kellen at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Good evening CIL students,

I hope this email finds you well and safe. As we as a country continue to do our part to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, I want to share with you the next steps Culinary Institute Lenotre will be making. Please keep in mind that we are not making these decisions lightly – your health, education and safety are important to us. In compliance with the Harris County Judge and the White House, we encourage all of you to continue social distancing and working from home until April 30th. We will reopen the school on Monday, May 4th.

Text book pick up will be organized by Sam Kellen and Helen Ball this Thursday and Friday April 8-9. Each student will be given a scheduled time slot in which you will drive up to the north lobby. We will bring your books out to your car. We will also be following all of the recommended safety protocols. Follow this link and register for a time slot (link here). If there are any questions or concerns regarding book pickup, please email Helen Ball at [email protected].
Academic classes will continue to be held online through Canvas along with adapted assignments. Please email your instructors directly and stay in contact with them. They have been instructed to work with each student to ensure we continue providing a quality learning experience. If you have any Canvas issues please contact our Academic Affairs Manager, Michele Mets at [email protected].

As for the Cuisine and Baking & Pastry labs, they will soon be putting out video tutorials for each level and additional assignments also through Canvas. We appreciate your patience with your chefs as we enter into this “virtual kitchen” world.

If you need to talk to someone about tuition assistance, payment plans, or any tuition related item please contact Sam Kellen in Student Accounts at [email protected].
If you need to talk to someone about financial aid options, please email [email protected].
If you need any other type of support as always feel free contact Career Services at [email protected].

We appreciate your patience while we figure out the next steps for the Culinary Institute LeNotre. This is an uncertain time for us all. Your well-being (physically, mentally and emotionally) is our top priority. Ours is an industry that must be flexible to the time at hand and we continue to do our best to prepare you for your career. Everyone here at CIL wishes the best for you in your future and we will provide you with the best resources. Stay safe, I look forward to reuniting with you all in May.

Sincerely,

Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE^® is monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and is taking under advisement the recommendations of the White House, CDC and local government authorities. CIL is currently scheduled to be closed until April 6th with the staff returning on April 3rd. CIL is committed to our customers (the students), our employees and the communities we serve. In the interim, the CIL instructors are working hard to continue educating during this time of precaution through online classes and remote assignments. Student cooperation during this time is greatly appreciated. Although we do not know how long this crisis will last, we do know that our students and staff need to lean on each other more than ever.

When this crisis ends, the world will need our industry to restore normalcy. We will be called to do what we are training or trained for and that is to unite people through food. The table has always been and will always be a gathering place for communities and families – we will do what we do best and provide comfort in this time to those who need it.

Our Career Services department is here for you and offers life-time job placement assistance for all our students and alumni. If you have lost your employment during the recent restaurant closures, please reach out to [email protected] in the coming weeks and we will try to assist you.

We advise you to follow the recent City of Houston and Harris County order to “Stay-Home-Work-Safe” guidelines. Continue to check your emails and the CIL website for updates.

Sincerely,
Dr Art. Cervantes
College Director

Following safety guidelines provided by the White House and the CDC, CIL will close effective immediately 3/17/2020 and will reopen Monday 4/06/2020.

• All students continue to check Canvas for updates from your instructors and remote assignments.
• Beginning Monday April 6, we will be holding classes and labs Monday-Friday to make up for missed days with your normal scheduled shift.
• Scheduled break of April 15-16 will now be school days as well for makeup.
• Contact your chef/instructor/admissions rep with any questions or concerns in this time.
• We encourage you all to practice good hygiene and keep yourself informed as the matter unfolds. Let’s be a part of the solution, stay safe!

• CIL is monitoring the Center for Disease control’s recommendations and will revise as needed
• CIL is also monitoring absenteeism and will work with our students and staff who are unable to report to CIL for any reason
• If a student or employee has a fever, cough or shortness of breath they will be required to go home and advised to counsel a doctor
• We will be performing additional sanitation of the facilities and all its’ surfaces
• Temperature scanning will begin at all campus entrances as soon as possible
• All events with over 50 people will be cancelled immediately
• We are exploring remote teaching possibilities for the academic classes
• Due to our small student to teacher ratio and smaller class size we believe the risk is extremely low

CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE^® is running class and operations as normal. We take the health of our students and staff seriously and ask you to please get informed on our current COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is reporting additional cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID‑19, bringing the state total to 21; they will continue to update the state case count each day by 10 a.m. Central Time. Public health departments are working to identify any close contacts of the patients while they were sick so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms and quickly tested, if needed. DSHS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state agencies continue their ongoing preparations so that all of state government is working together to limit the spread of the virus and protect Texans. It is also important to note that health officials believe the risk to Texas continues to remain low.

As the COVID‑19 outbreak continues, CULINARY INSTITUTE LENOTRE^® will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional information to our students and staff. We urge you to continue to use verified sources of information about the flu and coronavirus to help prevent the spread of misinformation. DSHS, https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html, continue to be your best resources for all information regarding COVID-19. The attached acrobat file from the CDC titled, “What you need to know about Keeping Workplaces, Homes, Schools, or Commercial Establishments Safe” is a good reference material that can be printed and/or distributed easily.

As an integral part of our community, we urge you to please:

• Stay home when sick;
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your bent arm, and to wash hands after using a tissue;
• Follow proper handwashing techniques which can be found here or down below
• Keep your hands away from your nose, mouth, and eyes; and
• Practice regular desanitization of commonly used surfaces using standard cleaning practices.

Proper Home & Workplace Hygiene — Download