The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) – Program Mission, Goals, and Objectives
Program Mission:
The mission of the didactic program in dietetics (DPD) is to provide a strong undergraduate program in the areas of food and nutrition, and to prepare students for entrance into a Supervised Practice.
The didactic program in dietetics has the specific mission of preparing students to become eligible to apply for supervised practices (DIs, CPs, and ISPPs). This mission is in agreement with the mission of the University of Alabama, the College of Human Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management.
Program Goals:
Through quality faculty, research, industry collaboration, and service activities, the Department strives to contribute to the generation of new knowledge in the areas of foods and nutrition, and to apply this knowledge to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Objectives:
The DPD Program has several objectives to meet the program goal and to meet ACEND requirements. The objectives also support the mission of the department, the college, and the university.
The program established 2 goals and corresponding objectives that reflect and support the program’s mission statement and the environment in which the program exists. The program goals and respective objectives are:
Program Goal 1:
The Program will produce entry-level graduates who are competent to enter into a Dietetic Internship (DI), Coordinated Program (CP), or Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs) Program.
Program Objectives for Goal 1:
Objective 1.1
The national registration for Dietitians pass-rate for first-time takers for our program graduates will be ≥ 80% averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.2
Sixty percent of the students who meet the DPD requirements to complete the DPD and be awarded a verification statement will apply to a supervised practice (CP, DI, or ISPPs) within 12 months of graduation, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.3
Fifty percent of the DPD students who applied to a supervised practice will receive an offer to a supervised practice, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.4
Eighty percent of internship directors surveyed will rate the preparation of graduates from the DPD at a minimum of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 1.5
Graduates who complete a Supervised Practice (CP, DI, ISPPs) will be employed into a variety of practice areas or be enrolled in graduate school within 12 months of completion of the supervised practice.
Objective 1.6
Seventy-five percent of the DPD students who applied to a supervised practice and were not accepted into a supervised practice program will find jobs outside of dietetics within 12 months of graduation, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.7
Seventy-five percent of the students in the DPD will complete the program/degree requirements within the 150% (3 years or 6 semesters) of the program length.
Program Goal 2:
The program will instill in all food and nutrition majors an appreciation for cultural competency, leadership, and service-learning, and to apply this appreciation to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Objectives for Goal 2:
Objective 2.1
Seventy percent of DPD students will participate in a minimum of two cultural events prior to completing the program, and will rate their cultural understanding on average 3.0 (good) or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 2.2
Eighty percent of the DPD students will complete or participate in one service-learning activity prior to completing the program, and will rate their experience on average 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0scale).
Objective 2.3
Eighty percent of the DPD students will complete a leadership self-assessment prior to completing the program, and will rate their leadership abilities/skills on average 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 2.4
Eighty percent of DPD graduates (RD and non-RD) will participate in at least one type of life-long learning activity annually.
The program outcomes data for the DPD are available upon request.
The mission of the didactic program in dietetics (DPD) is to provide a strong undergraduate program in the areas of food and nutrition, and to prepare students for entrance into a Supervised Practice.
The didactic program in dietetics has the specific mission of preparing students to become eligible to apply for supervised practices (DIs, CPs, and ISPPs). This mission is in agreement with the mission of the University of Alabama, the College of Human Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management.
Program Goals:
Through quality faculty, research, industry collaboration, and service activities, the Department strives to contribute to the generation of new knowledge in the areas of foods and nutrition, and to apply this knowledge to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Objectives:
The DPD Program has several objectives to meet the program goal and to meet ACEND requirements. The objectives also support the mission of the department, the college, and the university.
The program established 2 goals and corresponding objectives that reflect and support the program’s mission statement and the environment in which the program exists. The program goals and respective objectives are:
Program Goal 1:
The Program will produce entry-level graduates who are competent to enter into a Dietetic Internship (DI), Coordinated Program (CP), or Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs) Program.
Program Objectives for Goal 1:
Objective 1.1
The national registration for Dietitians pass-rate for first-time takers for our program graduates will be ≥ 80% averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.2
Sixty percent of the students who meet the DPD requirements to complete the DPD and be awarded a verification statement will apply to a supervised practice (CP, DI, or ISPPs) within 12 months of graduation, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.3
Fifty percent of the DPD students who applied to a supervised practice will receive an offer to a supervised practice, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.4
Eighty percent of internship directors surveyed will rate the preparation of graduates from the DPD at a minimum of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 1.5
Graduates who complete a Supervised Practice (CP, DI, ISPPs) will be employed into a variety of practice areas or be enrolled in graduate school within 12 months of completion of the supervised practice.
Objective 1.6
Seventy-five percent of the DPD students who applied to a supervised practice and were not accepted into a supervised practice program will find jobs outside of dietetics within 12 months of graduation, averaged over a five year period.
Objective 1.7
Seventy-five percent of the students in the DPD will complete the program/degree requirements within the 150% (3 years or 6 semesters) of the program length.
Program Goal 2:
The program will instill in all food and nutrition majors an appreciation for cultural competency, leadership, and service-learning, and to apply this appreciation to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Objectives for Goal 2:
Objective 2.1
Seventy percent of DPD students will participate in a minimum of two cultural events prior to completing the program, and will rate their cultural understanding on average 3.0 (good) or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 2.2
Eighty percent of the DPD students will complete or participate in one service-learning activity prior to completing the program, and will rate their experience on average 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0scale).
Objective 2.3
Eighty percent of the DPD students will complete a leadership self-assessment prior to completing the program, and will rate their leadership abilities/skills on average 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Objective 2.4
Eighty percent of DPD graduates (RD and non-RD) will participate in at least one type of life-long learning activity annually.
The program outcomes data for the DPD are available upon request.
