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
Demonstration Of Knowledge And Skills
Food Science and Nutrition students will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to meet the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE).
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 consistent. For security reasons, the test portion (multiple-choice, short-answer questions) is not attached. However, this document is available in the chair's office.
Criterion
80% Of Students Pass 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.
Finding
Exit Survey - Knowledge And Skills
Two out of 15 program graduates completed the Exit Survey for the academic period covered from August 2010 through May 2011. The average score was 89%, and the students who took it both scored a High Pass. For the population that completed the Exit Survey, this criterion was met at 100%.
Action
Exit Survey - Knowledge And Skills
The major action needed in relation to this goal is to do a better job of collecting the data through administration of the Exit Survey. The administration of the Exit Surveys to food science and nutrition program graduates is a little different because with the other programs, the Exit Survey is often hooked onto the Internship Final Evaluation. Because the food science and nutrition program graduates complete their internship post-graduation, the collection process is hampered. Also, we are not able to put a hold graduation status so that students basically are volunteers. The DPD Director is working to continue to collect data, and she is holding Verification Statements (the documents that are required as part of their admission into Dietetic Internship programs), so more data will be forthcoming. This finding will be updated as more Exit Surveys are completed. The program is working to create a process that will facilitate collection of the Exit Surveys.
Goal
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
Demonstrating Knowledge And Skills Required Of Registered Dietitians
Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level dietitians.
Indicator
Registered Dietician Exam
The information concerning passage of the credentialing exam can be verified by a quarterly report sent to program directors by CADE.
Criterion
80% Passage Rate For RD Exam
At least 80% of students will receive a passing score on the Registration Examination for Dietetics.
Finding
Passage Rate For RD Exam
The Passage Rate for program graduates who took the RD Exam from June 2010 through May 2011 is 100%. Two students completed Dietetic Internship programs and were eligible to sit for the exam during that time period.
Action
Passage Rate For RD Exam
With a 100% passage rate, this criterion was met. This passage rate applies to first-time test takers, and use of that "first-time" data makes it clear that the program is preparing students for Dietetic Internship programs and meeting the knowledge and skill standards developed by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the accrediting body of the American Dietetic Association. While we are proud that this criterion has been met, the program is going to continue to enhance recruitment and retention efforts for our students to obtain additional opportunities in the food industry, wellness, and healthcare so that students who do not pursue the RD credential will have opportunities that involve use of the degree.
Goal
Computer Literacy
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences will graduate students who have performed satisfactorily in the area of computer literacy through computer-based assignments in courses that are required of all FCS majors.
Objective
Computer Literacy
To assure competency in this area, students will complete specific assignments in FCS 268 (a written assignment requiring use of a word-processing program and a budget assignment requiring the use of a spreadsheet) and FCS 462 (a presentation using PowerPoint). Satisfactory completion of these three assignments will indicate achievement of computer literacy skills that students are projected to need as they graduate from FCS programs and enter the world of work.
Indicator
Computer Literacy
Students who graduate from undergraduate programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences will satisfactorily complete three assignments in courses required of all undergraduate majors in the department: a word-processed assignment and a budget prepared using a spreadsheet in FCS 268 Consumer Education and a presentation involving use of PowerPoint in FCS 462 Presentation Techniques.
Criterion
90% Of Students Will Score At Least A 3.0 On Assignments
90% of program majors who take the courses FCS 268 and FCS 462 during the 2009-2010 academic year will score 3 or better on a 5-point scale with 5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest score on the three assignments that are required to meet this computer literacy competency. Examples of assignment sheets for these three assignments and rubrics for grading them are attached.
Finding
Computer Literacy
This outstanding group of students met this criterion at 100%. Of the 15 students who graduated in food science and nutrition during the time period August 2010 through May 2011, one student scored a 4, six students scored a 4.5, and eight students scored 5, all on a 5-point scale.
Action
Computer Literacy
100% of students in this program met the university's requirement for computer literacy as part of the undergraduate curriculum. However, the instructors who teach the course believe that additional work in the area of database management is needed. The students in this program do receive additional database management experience through an assignment in FACS 3445 and do an additional PowerPoint and presentation in FACS 3370.
Goal
Dietetic Internship Programs
To guide and direct well-qualified students toward admission into a dietetic internship program.
Objective
Increase Percentage Of Didactic Program In Dietetics (DPD) Graduates Admitted To Dietetic Internship (DI) Programs
Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills to be deemed well-qualified to enter a dietetic internship program.
Indicator
Percentage Of Program Grads Admitted To DI Programs
The program will increase the percentage of students graduating from the Food Science and Nutrition Program who are admitted to a Dietetic Internship Program.
Criterion
30% Of Program Grads Admitted To DI Programs
Over a two-year period, 30% of students who graduate from the Food Science and Nutrition Program will be admitted to a dietetic internship program.
Finding
Program Grads Admitted To DI Programs
With 7 out of the 22 graduates (31.8%) over the past two years (2009-2010 and 2010-2011) admitted to Dietetic Internship programs, this criterion was met.
Action
Program Grads Admitted To DI Programs
When this criterion level was set, it seemed very ambitious to program and departmental administrators. The fact that it was met is attributed to the extreme hard work and mentoring put forth by DPD Director Valencia Browning-Keen who spent substantial time with students on a one-on-one basis so that these students were successful. The DPD Director has set a specific criterion for filing a degree plan (2.75 GPA), and this criterion is serving as a successful filter for this program. The program will continue to work so that this 30% goal is met for each year, not over a two-year period as it is set now.