Program Highlights

Program Goals and Objectives

Goal 1

Through completion of the DPD program, graduates will be prepared for a supervised practice program or graduate school.

Objectives:

1. At least 80% of Nutritional Science students admitted to the dietetic option (DPD) will complete the bachelor's degree within 6 years (150% of the program length).
   • In the last three years (2016-2018), almost 100% of students (98.8%) finished the program in less than 6 years.
2. 75% of DPD graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
   • In the last three years (2016-2018), 78% of dietetic option seniors have applied to dietetic internships.
3. 50% of DPD graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
   • In the academic three year period 2016-2019, 80% of program graduates matched with dietetic internships which is higher than the national average match rate of ~62%.
4. 70% of DPD graduates who respond to a survey, will answer "adequate" (3.0) or better (range 1 to 5) when asked about their preparedness for entering a supervised practice program or graduate school.
   • 76.4% of DPD graduates over the last five years (2013-2017), reported our program adequately or better prepared them for entering a supervised practice program and entering the work place.

Goal 2

To prepare DPD program graduates to become competent entry-level RDNs servicing the needs of the public in promoting health and preventing disease.

Objectives:

1. 80% of Dietetic Internship Directors who respond to a survey will rate Rutgers graduates in their programs "satisfactory" or better in the foundation knowledge and support knowledge competencies of ACEND.
   • On average, Dietetic Internship Directors who responded to a survey rated Rutgers graduates as being above average (mean score 3.38±0.69SD; scale range 1=inadequate, 2=satisfactory, 3=above average, 4=excellent) compared to other peers in their dietetic internship program from 2013 to 2018.
2. The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
   • From 2015-2018, 83.15% of program graduates have passed the RDN exam within one year of first attempt.
3. 50% of all DPD graduates who respond to a survey 12 months post-graduation, will report they have participated in one or more health promotion or professional service activity in the last year.

Program outcomes data are available upon request from the Program Director, Dr. Virginia Quick via email at vquick@njaes.rutgers.edu.