Family And Consumer Sciences BS (Food Science And Nutrition)
Goal
Knowledge And Skills
To graduate students with the necessary foundation, knowledge, skills, and competencies outlined in the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Commission for Accreditation of Dietetics Education (CADE) Handbook.
Objective
Knowledge And Skills
The BS degree in food science and nutrition is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the accrediting arm of the American Dietetics Association (ADA), as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). As such, students enrolled in the program will follow the curriculum as outlined in Standard Two: Curriculum and Program Learning Outcomes of the CADE Accredition Handbook. The specific content in Standard Two is available through the ADA website, www.eatright.org. Appropriate changes are needed in order to meet the CADE standards. Standard Two outlines the specific content undergraduate students (Knowledge and Skills) required for success in a dietetic internship program at the graduate level. This step is necessary for students to eventually become Registered Dietitians.
Indicator
Student Transcripts
In the most recent Program Assessment Report (PAR), each standard and sub-standard was tied to a specific course or courses that students enrolled in the program are required to take. Students graduating from the program must take each specific course or a course that contains that specific content. Student transcripts and exception records will be used to determine whether students follow the food science and nutrition curriculum as outlined in the catalog so that all of the requirements of Standard Two: Curriculum and Student Learning Outcomes are fulfilled. The departmental curriculum documents will be used to indicate whether these changes have been made and forwarded to the CHSS Curriculum Committee.
Criterion
Student Transcripts
100% of students actively enrolled in the program will be following the curriculum as outlined in the undergraduate catalog that is in keeping CADE's Standard Two: Curriculum and Student Learning Outcomes as indicated by the record on the students' transcripts.
Finding
Student Transcripts
100% of students actively enrolled in the program have followed the curriculum as outlined in the 2008-2010 Undergraduate Catalog that is in keeping with CADE's Standard Two and all Knowledge requirements: Curriculum and Learning Outcomes.
Indicator
Exit Survey - Knowledge And Skills
The Exit Survey for food science and nutrition majors includes multiple-choice and short-answer sections that test retention of course material; it is graded on a pass/fail basis. (Each program area has questions that are specific to that program content.) To develop this instrument, faculty in the content area reviewed course and program objectives and chose questions from exams that reflected important concepts that students should retain. The test is used repetitively and the scoring is holistic and, we believe, consistent. For security reasons, the test portion (multiple-choice, short-answer questions) are not attached. However, this document is available in the chair's office. For AY 2009-2010, a standardized grading rubric will be developed.
Criterion
Exit Survey - Knowledge And Skills
80% of the students who complete the food science and nutrition program's Exit Survey will score a grade of Pass or High Pass on the content portion of the exam. Exams are being graded holistically to this point, but for the next assessment period, (AY 2009-2010), a standardized grading rubric will be developed.
Finding
Knowledge And Skills
100% of the students passed the comprehensive exam, yet three out of the four scored a Low Pass on the exam. Students did not fare well on the content regarding primary and secondary research in community nutrition application or community service application. Foods systems management knowledge base was limited as well. In summary, only 25% of students scored a High Pass, and no one scored a Pass.
Action
Knowledge And Skills
A variety of educational approaches (such as field trips, role-playing, simulations, shadowing experiences, problem-based learning, classroom instruction, laboratory and other practice-related experiences) to meet learner needs and to facilitate expected learning outcomes are being added to the class content expectations. These activities will allow the DPD program to assess progress in the student's learning outcomes and enhance the ability to communicate application on the comprehensive exam in the areas of community nutrition and community service as well as the knowledge base for food systems management.
Goal
Dietetic Internship/Graduate School Admission/Employment
To graduate students who are qualified for admission to an accredited Dietetics Internship program or admitted to seek additional education or employed within three months of graduation.
Objective
Post-Graduation Outcome
Students will apply for and qualify for admission to an accredited dietetic internship program or other graduate program or become other professionals in the field of food science and nutrition or obtain appropriate professional employment within three months of graduation. Successful placement of program graduates into one of these areas is one of the factors with which the accrediting body judges the effectiveness of the program.
Indicator
Post-Graduation Outcome
Students will enter a dietetic internship program or other related graduate program, become employed as food science or nutritional professionals or become employed as professionals in a related field.
Criterion
Post-Graduation Outcome
At least 80% of the graduates will be accepted into a dietetic internship program or other related graduate program, become other professionals in the field of food science and nutrition, or be successfully employed within 3 months of graduation.
Finding
Post-Graduation Outcome
100% of students are in a dietetic internship program, other related graduate program, working as professionals in the field of food science and nutrition or otherwise successfully employed within three months of graduation. 33% are in dietetic internship programs, 16.6% are in a related graduate program, 16.6% are working as professionals in the field of food science and nutrition, and 33% are otherwise successfully employed within three months of graduation.
Action
Post-Graduation Outcome
Students will continue to be encouraged to maintain high academic standards and prepare well for the Graduate Record Exam so that they will be in an excellent position to apply for dietetic internship programs. The program will work to increase the percentage of program graduates who are accepted into dietetic internship programs.
Goal
Successfully Becoming Registered Dietitians
To graduate students who will successfully complete dietetic internship programs and pass the national credentialing exam with the goal of becoming Registered Dietitians.
Objective
Successfully Becoming Registered Dietitians
Students will successfully complete a Dietetic Internship program, becoming entry-level dietitians by passing the Registration Examination for Dietetics.
Indicator
Two-Year Post-Graduation Survey
A two-year post-graduation survey of program graduates will indicate whether students have completed a dietetic internship program and passed the credentialing exam for dietetics. The information concerning passage of the credentialing exam can be verified by a quarterly report sent to program directors by CADE.
Criterion
Passage Rate For RD Exam
A two-year post-graduation survey will indicate a pass rate of at least 80% on the Registration Examination for Dietetics and 80% of those who pass the national credentialing exam will be employed within three month post graduation.
Finding
Passage Rate For RD Exam - Two-Year Survey
100% of program graduates from two years prior who were admitted to a dietetic internship program successfully completed that program and then passed the Registration Examination for Dietetics, therefore becoming Registered Dietitians.
Action
Successfully Becoming Registered Dietitians
While the faculty and administration are pleased at the excellent passage rate for the national exam (100%, exceeding the ADA's 80% requirement), there is a need to work on increasing the percentage of program graduates who are admitted to dietetic internship programs. A new objective will be added to the 2009-2010 cycle to this effect.