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 Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
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
Of the 4 students from whom data was collected, all four passed the Exit Survey content area -- three received a score of High Pass and one received a score of Pass.
Action
Exit Survey - Knowledge And Skills
Although the results were very good for those who took the Exit Survey, it would be better to get results from a larger group of graduating students. A greater effort will be made to intercept students as they are preparing to graduate and set aside a specific time for them to take this survey.
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 an annual report sent to program directors by American Council on Education of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting arm of the AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, formerly the American Dietetic Association).
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
All three students who took the RD Exam (100%) between June 2011 and May 2012 passed the exam on the first attempt. Therefore, this criterion was met.
Action
Passage Rate For RD Exam
The program is pleased with this high passage rate; it exceeds the 80% benchmark rate set by ACEND (the accrediting arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, formerly the American Dietetic Association). In order to maintain this high passage rate, the program must retain its rigor. An additional Registered Dietitian is needed on the faculty, and this position will be requested.
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 FACS 2368 (a written assignment requiring use of a word-processing program and a budget assignment requiring the use of a spreadsheet) and FACS 4362 (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 the Food Science and Nutrition Program and enter the world of work.
Indicator
Computer Literacy
Students who graduate from undergraduate programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, including the Food Science and Nutrition Program, 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 FACS 2368 Consumer Education and a presentation involving use of PowerPoint in FACS 4362 Presentation Techniques. In addition, Food Science and Nutrition majors will do two additional computer literacy assignments that will be assessed. For FACS 3370, students will complete a PowerPoint assignment on a nutrition-related metabolic disorder, and for FACS 3339, students will submit a Review of Literature Analysis of Evidence related to a community nutrition problem. There are rubrics for each assignment.
Criterion
90% Of Students Will Score At Least A 3.0 On Assignments
90% of program majors who take the courses FACS 2368 and FACS 4362 during the 2011-2012 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 In Departmental Core
97% of Food Science and Nutrition majors who took one or both of the courses FACS 2368 and FACS 4362 during the 2011-2012 academic year scored 3 or better on the assignments used to measure computer literacy. Therefore, this criterion was met.
Criterion
90% Of Students Will Score At Least A 3.0 On Assignments In FACS 3370 And 3339
All Food Science and Nutrition majors take FACS 3370 and 3339 as part of their program. Computer literacy assignments include a Review of Literature Analysis of Evidence (FACS 3339) and a PowerPoint presentation for a nutrition-related metabolic disorder or "hot topic" related to nutrition pathways (FACS 3370). 90% of students in these courses will score at least a 3.0 on these two assignments.
Finding
Computer Literacy In FACS 3370 And FACS 3339
100% of Food Science and Nutrition majors who took FACS 3370 and FACS 3339 during the 2011-2012 academic year scored 4 or better on the assignments used to measure computer literacy. Therefore this criterion was met.
Action
Computer Literacy
For the last cycle, it was decided that instructors who teach the courses believed that additional work in the area of database management was needed.
Goal
Application To 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
Well-qualified students will be recruited to enter a dietetic internship program.
KPI
Graduates Admitted To Dietetic Internship Programs
The program will increase the percentage of students graduating from the Food Science and Nutrition Program and applying to a Dietetic Internship Program who are successfully admitted. Over a two-year period, 30% of students who graduate from the Food Science and Nutrition Program will apply for, and be admitted to, a dietetic internship program.
Result
Graduates Admitted To Dietetic Internship Programs
75% of the students (3/4) who applied to dietetic internship programs were admitted. The one who was not admitted severely restricted the geographic range due to family commitments. Of the ten students who graduated during the 2011-2012 cycle, one was not considered a part of this cohort due to the fact that degree requirements were completed some time (i.e., several years) ago, but the degree had not been awarded. Given that 3 out of 10 students applied and were admitted to DI programs, this criterion was met. We met the goal; yet we would like to see an increase in the percentage of student pursuing successful admittance to DI programs.
Action
Percentage Of Program Grads Applying And Admitted To DI Programs
The DPD Director works directly with students in preparing their packets so that chances for admission are increased. The group for this particular year had some timing issues with personal life circumstances, and several are planning to apply for DI programs in February for Fall 2013 admission. Although we met the goal, we want to increase the percentage of students applying for and being admitted to, DI programs.