DIETETICS & NUTRITION MISSION

STATEMENT

The Didactic Program in Dietetics at The University of Mississippi is dedicated to preparing future professionals for dietetic internships, related work experiences, and post baccalaureate studies.

GOALS

Goal 1: Provide students with a high quality didactic learning environment.

Goal 2: Provide opportunities for students to develop and explore their personal and professional interests, and to value life-long learning.

Goal 3: Provide opportunities for students to develop and apply skills in communication and leadership.

Goal 4: Provide opportunities for students to participate in professional organizations and develop a commitment to the dietetics profession.

Goal 5: Prepare graduates for professional service in dietetic internships, employment, or to pursue higher education opportunities.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Goal 1: Provide students with a high quality didactic learning environment.

1. When surveyed, 80% of students responding will indicate that they perceive resources as being utilized effectively to support classroom/laboratory instruction.

2. When surveyed, 80% of graduates responding will indicate that overall they were well prepared for their dietetic internship, graduate school, or the job market.

3. When surveyed, 80% of graduates responding will indicate that they were prepared at the adequate, good, or excellent level in each of the following areas: communication skills, physical and biological science skills, social science skills, research skills, food knowledge skills, nutrition knowledge skills, management skills, and health care systems skills.

4. When surveyed, 90% of students responding will indicate that they feel they do not have a deficiency in one or more subject areas.

5. Dietetics education faculty shall maintain a student-to-faculty ratio consistent with the norm for The University of Mississippi.

Goal 2: Provide opportunities for students to develop and explore their personal and professional interests, and to value life-long learning.

1. When surveyed, 90% of seniors will indicate that they have visited two or more clinical and/or institutional foodservice facilities that employ dietetic professionals, and have observed and interacted with two or more dietitians in the workplace.

2. When surveyed, 90% of seniors responding will indicate that one or more DPD capstone courses (FCS 461, 462/472, and 511) were the most beneficial to them and can describe how those courses benefited them.

3. When surveyed, 80% of graduates responding will indicate that they have attended at least one continuing education workshop, meeting, seminar, or other educational event in the past year.

Goal 3: Provide opportunities for students to develop and apply skills in communication and leadership.

1. The University of Mississippi Dietetic Association, led by dietetic students under the guidance of a dietetics faculty advisor, will remain active and support health and nutrition activities on campus and in the community.

2. When surveyed, 50% of seniors responding will indicate that they have served as an officer, leader, or in a leadership role in an organization or association such as The University of Mississippi Student Dietetic Association, Student Council, Kappa Omicron Nu Honorary Society, Project Run Program, Leap Frog Program, North Mississippi Regional Center Child-College Buddy Program, Family Crisis Services Mentoring Program of Northwest Mississippi, Inc., officer or leader in a sorority or fraternity, etc.

Goal 4: Provide opportunities for students to participate in professional organizations and develop a commitment to the dietetics profession.

1. At least 90% of students will join The University of Mississippi Student Dietetics Association by their senior year.

2. At least 60% of students will join the American Dietetic Association by their senior year.

3. Faculty, dietetic practitioners, and other family and consumer science professionals that students interact with will encourage and assist students to attend local, state, and national meetings. When surveyed, 50% of students responding will indicate that they have attended a professional meeting that offers continuing education for professionals.

Goal 5: Prepare graduates for professional service in dietetic internships, employment, or to pursue higher education opportunities.

1. At least 85% of juniors and seniors will complete the program within 3 years.

2. At least 85% of graduates will have obtained dietetic internships, post baccalaureate studies, or employment in the field of dietetics within 12 months of completing the program.

3. Returned surveys from dietetic internship directors will rate at least 90% of graduates who completed internships as satisfactory or above for all entry-level competencies.

4. Returned surveys from employers will indicate that at least 90% of graduates perform at the satisfactory level or above for all entry-level competencies.

5. The program will achieve and maintain an 80% pass rate or higher on the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.