The food handler training sessions offered at TCU exist to educate both students and faculty on the importance of using proper procedure and being safe while eating or serving.

According to the City of Fort Worth’s website, the class is offered four times a day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 818 Missouri Avenue. It costs $16 to take the class at this location. For students that want to attend the class at the university and that are not attending for a TCU campus organization, it is $12. Dates for the session are to be announced.

“There’s certain required protocol we have to take within the City of Fort Worth as far as what student organizations and other individuals can do with food on campus,” said Director of Student Organizations Brett Phillips.

Phillips said topics such as appropriate temperature storage, food borne illnesses, sanitation, proper kitchen techniques and the importance of hand washing are discussed at the events.

Sophomore actuary mathematics major Isuru Perera said he chose to participate in the training because he recently became the president of the “ONE” organization on campus, and wanted to know how he could safely provide food for students and visitors attending the meetings and events.

“I found out about the event from the TCU Orgsync website and hearing from other students I have seen around campus helping out with serving food,” Perera said.

The trainings at TCU are instructed by Stan Rush, who is the human resources manager for Sodexo food services on campus.

“The strongest piece of food handling advice I would give to someone would be to wash your hands,” Rush said.

Students and faculty that complete the one hour course at TCU receive a food handler certificate that is valid for two years, Phillips said.

TCU plans to have three food handler training sessions each semester. Specific dates have not yet been determined.