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Mission and Goals

Dietetics Program

Mission

The mission of the TSU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is to support the missions of the University, College, and Department by providing a progressive and effective academic curriculum that prepares students to be scientifically competent, accountable, and ethically responsible food, health, and nutrition professionals prepared for supervised practice, a health or science-related profession and/or graduate school, and advancing as self-educating dietetics professionals who will become Registered Dietitians.

Goals and Objectives

• Goal 1: To prepare competent graduates that have the foundation, knowledge, and skill requirements needed to enter and successfully complete a dietetics internship program, and pass the exam to become a Registered Dietitian.
  
  Goal 1 Objectives:
  Over a five-year period, a minimum of 60% of students who complete the ACEND requirements will apply for an ACEND approved internship or ISPP within 12 months of graduation.  Over a five-year period, a minimum of 50% of those who apply for an ACEND approved internship or ISPP are accepted into such within 12 months of graduation.  Over a five-year period maintain a minimum 80% first-time passage rate for graduates taking the registration exam and a minimum 80% one-year passage rate over a five-year period for those who do not pass the exam on the first attempt.
  
  
• Goal 2: To increase the number of students who pursue the DPD, remain in the Program, and complete it within the recommended time frame.
  
  Goal 2 Objectives:
  Increase enrollment in the DPD by 25% each year.  Students will be satisfied with program services, as indicated by a minimum of 80% of students marking "satisfactory" or higher on questions related to program content and advisement.  Eighty percent of students will complete the program requirements within three years of being accepted into the program.
  
  
• Goal 3: To prepare graduates to be competent employees in dietetics and related professions e.g., food service management, community agencies, health care organizations, and business.
  
   Goal 3 Objectives:
  Over a 5 year period, an average of 75% of students will find dietetics-related employment within 12 months of completion of the DPD, internship, or supervised practice program (ISPP).  Over a five-year period, 80% of employers will rate graduates as competent for the position they are holding.
  
  
• Goal 4: To prepare students to be critical thinkers who are knowledgeable about the research process and outcome evaluation.
  
  Goal 4 Objective:
  Over a 5-year period, an average of 80% of program faculty will have research/extension/teaching funding from external funding agencies.  At least five DPD students will participate in funded research projects each year. At least two DPD students will present a paper at a scientific conference each year.

Program assessment data are available upon request.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-4876, www.eatright.org/ACEND.