Mission:
To develop evidence based applied and critical thinking skills in dietetic interns who are prepared at the entry level to improve and manage nutritional care components for individuals, communities, and within health care systems.
DI Program Goals and Outcome Measures:
Goal I. The dietetic internship program will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level practitioners in the field of dietetics.
Outcomes
- Alumni will achieve a first-time pass rate of at least 80% on the RD exam over a 5-year period.
- Intern selection committee will ensure applicants possess foundation knowledge and skills for admission to DI.
- Within 12 months of program completion, at least 75% of graduates seeking employment will be employed in dietetics.
- The mean rating of "knowledge base" that employers give program graduates in their employment will meet or exceed the rating of satisfactory on surveys.
- 100% of interns will achieve a satisfactory rating for all entry-level competencies.
- Graduates indicate ratings of "satisfactory" or better on surveys related to preparation for entry level practice.
Goal II. Through encouragement, motivation, and support, program faculty will increase the number of students who obtain the Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition.
Outcomes
- 70% of the students who enter the DI program will complete the MS degree within 6 years.
- 95% of students who enter the DI will complete within 2 years.
- Students indicate on surveys "satisfactory" or better scores with respect to encouragement, motivation, and support from faculty and advisors.
- Interns indicate on surveys "satisfactory" or better with respect to encouragement, motivation, and support from preceptors.
Goal III. The program will prepare graduates to value and demonstrate a commitment to community and professional service.
Outcomes
- 100% of interns will indicate on evaluations that they received benefit from community nutrition experiences.
- 75% of interns will join and participate in professional associations.
- 50% of graduates will indicate on alumni survey that they participate in one or more community service activities.
- 50% of graduates will indicate on alumni surveys that they are members of one or more professional associations.
- Students will complete projects in areas related to community nutrition for use in research projects.
Accreditation:
East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 404-679-4501) to award certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, doctoral, Ph.D., and M.D. degrees.
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at East Tennessee State University is granted full accreditation by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The dietetic internship program was granted initial accreditation in May 1999 by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000., Chicago IL 60606-6995, 312/899-0040, ext. 5400. The next review and site visit for continued accreditation is scheduled for November 2008.
Statement of Equal Opportunity:
East Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution and is fully in accord with the belief that educational and employment opportunities should be available to all eligible persons without regard to age, sex, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation.
