The Culinary Academy of Long Island Shuts Down Syosset Campus

The Culinary Academy of Long Island in Syosset announced earlier this week that they will be closing down.

On Tuesday, the academy sent out a press release stating that students, faculty and administrators have been informed that all classes were cancelled, effective immediately, and that the school will cease operations.

In addition to the Syosset campus located on 125 Michael Drive, all campuses operated by Star Career Academy in New Jersey, New York City and Pennsylvania were shut down as well.

The school stated that the closings were due to "the negative financial impact" from continued declining

student population.

"Star Career Academy has done everything in its power to prevent closure after operating for 37 years and
providing a supportive educational environment for thousands of students," the company stated in a press release.

The Culinary Academy claimed that students were told not to report to their campuses by the school’s text-message and email notification systems, as well as social media and Star Career Academy’s website, but student Ronnie Brandafino stated he was caught by surprise.

"It was crazy," he said. "I didn't get any sort of message luckily I keep in touch with my fellow classmates who told me."

Brandafino, a Sayville resident, started attending the academy with the hopes to become a chef back in April. He had been working to get into a culinary school and was working with a local Veteran's group who recommended that school.

"I feel cheated," he said. "There's a million ways they could've handled it and they chose the worst way."

With only five days until he was supposed to get his certificate of completion, Brandafino has still not heard from the school on what to do next. He is unsure if he will still receive the certificate or if he will be able to attend another school and have his credits transferred.

He is hoping to be able to contact the school so they can at least send down the proper channels.

"I've spent well over a year working on this and to have the rug taken from under me is just crazy," he said. "They can't just leave me in the lurch."

In the press release, the school directed students to their website for further information on how to obtain transcripts.

Photo: Facebook.com/Culinary Academy of Long Island