Students aiming to become registered dietitian nutritionists can rest assured the degree they receive from the University of Wyoming’s Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND) is fully accredited.
The DPND program received full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) board after a peer review of the program’s self study report and a site visit. ACEND requires accreditation, a way of certifying a degree meets specific educational standards, to be renewed every seven years.
“ACEND recognizes your program’s compliance with the 2012 Accreditation Standards and encourages you to continue your efforts in providing quality dietetics education,” ACEND Chair Wanda Eastman wrote, according to UW News. “ACEND values your commitment to the quality and continued improvement of dietetics education as demonstrated during the accreditation process. Thank you for your support of dietetics education and students.”
The DPND program is part of UW’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, an academic area that focuses on issues affecting the health and sustainability of individuals, families and communities. The department’s bachelor of science in family and consumer sciences offers three program options, each with sub-tracks and minor options: nutrition and dietetics, apparel and interior design, and human and childhood development.
The nutrition and dietetics option includes the DPND program, which prepares students to work as food and nutrition specialists and to receive certification from ACEND. Established in 1923, UW’s dietetics program was first accredited in 1993.
“Our graduates are prepared to help tackle pressing nutrition concerns in this country, including food insecurity, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other nutrition-related chronic diseases,” said Enette Larson-Meyer, UW human nutrition and food/dietetics professor, in a release. “The site visit confirmed that our program provides a rigorous and well-rounded education with unique opportunities for experiential learning.”
In addition to earning an accredited degree at a U.S. university, registered dietitian nutritionists-hopefuls must complete an ACEND-approved internship. This past academic year, UW’s DPND program matched 100 percent of its students to internship programs, a significant feat according to Jill Keith, a UW human nutrition and food/dietetics assistant professor.
“This is a huge accomplishment and reflection of the strength of our program and students because the national match rate is typically between 50 to 60 percent,” Keith said. “Also, our students matched with highly competitive internship sites across the nation including Veterans Administration medical centers in San Diego and Memphis, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Global Public Health.”
After completing a degree and internship, students must pass ACEND’s dietitian examination to be registered. Many UW program graduates who become registered work in Wyoming hospitals, clinics and other food service settings, making the reaccreditation of the program beneficial to Wyomingites.
“Many also work in the national and global setting, which is an attribute to our strong program,” Larson-Meyer said. “The dietetic profession is a growing field with additional opportunities in sports, corporate wellness, industry, and public and private schools, and sustainable agriculture. It is exciting to be a part of the training of our young professionals.”
