History of Baltimore International College

Dr. Roger Chylinski founded Baltimore International College (BIC) in 1972. In the beginning, BIC only offered certificates in culinary arts. In 1978, BIC became a private post-secondary institution, and in 1985 began offering a two-year associate degree. The illustrious 100-acre Virginia Park campus in County Cavan, Ireland was established as part of Baltimore International College in 1987. The Virginia Park campus was originally the county sporting estate of the Marquis of Headfort from the 18th through 20th centuries.

In 1990, BIC purchased the four-story Calvert Center in Baltimore to house programs. The Calvert Center housed offices, classrooms, kitchen labs and a cooking demonstration theater. The next year, BIC purchased Baltimore's oldest private dining club, The Merchants Club, which began in 1882, and reopened it as a center for the College. The Merchants Building now contains classrooms, administrative offices, the Bay Atlantic Club and multiple rooms used for receptions, meetings and other social events.

BIC continued expanding the campus in 1993 with the purchase of the Commerce Exchange Building. The Commerce Building made way for the Learning Resource Center, which houses the library, computer labs, administrative, admissions and financial aid offices, gallery exhibits, and lecture classrooms.

The Mount Vernon Hotel opened in 1993 as well, and marked the continuing expansion of BIC. The hotel doubles as a student dormitory and full-service hotel, as well as a European-style, mid-scale training hotel for students. Located in the historical and cultural district of Mount Vernon, the nine-story building showcases the architecture and design of the early 1900s.

In 1995, Baltimore International College achieved candidacy status with the Accrediting Commission of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and in 1996, received regional accreditation. At the 1996 graduation ceremony, Paul Prudhomme, an internationally known chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and manufacturer of his own all-natural Magic Seasoning Blends, received an Honorary Doctorate of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. In1998, BIC was authorized by the Maryland State Board for Higher Education (MHEC) to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees. The School of Business and Management offered a baccalaureate degree in Hotel Restaurant and Catering Management, and the School of Culinary Arts offered a baccalaureate degree in Culinary Management.

In 2002, Baltimore International College celebrated 30 years as the Mid-Atlantic region's premier culinary and hospitality college.

Campus expansions continued in 2004, when BIC began renovations on the 1976 addition to the former David E. Weglein Elementary School, located in Baltimore's Little Italy. BIC transformed the elementary school into the 32,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center. The Center includes eight new kitchen laboratories, purchasing and storeroom laboratories, an auditorium, and a small park featuring herbs and edible flowers.

In 2006, BIC received approval by MHEC and MSCHE to establish a Graduate Studies Program in International Hospitality Management. The graduate program offers a Master of Science in International Hospitality Management, and welcomed the first class in January 2007. Currently, the Master of Science degree in International Hospitality Management offers classes on-site and online for distance learning.

Notable Honorary Doctorates

2008 - Hon. Sheila Dixon, Ph. D, Mayor of Baltimore City

2008 - George McNeil, Vice President of Ritz Carlton

2001 - Stephen Phillips, Ph. D, President and CEO of Phillips Food, Inc.

1996 - Paul Prudhomme, internationally known chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and manufacturer all-natural Magic Seasoning Blends

1995 - John D. Foise, Ph. D, National President American Culinary Federation

1993 - Hon. William Donald Schaefer, Ph. D, Former Mayor of Baltimore City and Former Governor of Maryland