Introduction

The University of Wisconsin Stout Dietetic Internship is a Graduate degree requiring program with admittance through two tracks:

• Current students in the UW-Stout Graduate Food and Nutritional Sciences Program, Dietetic Internship track

• Students with a completed graduate degree in Food and Nutrition or similar degree from an accredited university, Postgraduate Dietetic Internship Specialization track.

The Dietetic Internship Specialization is an 18 credit, post-graduate program for graduate degreed persons seeking enrollment in an accredited supervised practice experience to gain eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing examination, leading to Registered Dietitian (RD) status

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Dietetic Internship is currently granted accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (120 South Riverside Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, Ill, 60606-6995, 1-800-877-1600), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

Mission and Philosophy
The University of Wisconsin-Stout Dietetic Internship is committed to provide a high quality program that is recognized as an excellent model for the preparation of entry- level dietitians through an innovative and supportive supervised practice.  The program seeks to provide opportunities for students to develop, integrate and practice core competencies needed for entry dietitians as well as additional emphasis area competencies to meet the criteria for general emphasis program. The Dietetic Internship supports the college and university system mission of developing human resources, developing student’s heightened intellectual, cultural and humane sensitivities, technological expertise and a sense of value and purpose and to serve society.

Goals
The following goals reflect the program’s mission and program environment.

Program Goal One
The dietetic internship will prepare highly qualified entry-level Registered
Dietitians.

Outcomes Measure

• Dietetic Internship graduates will complete the registration exam of the American Dietetic Association with a minimum of an 85 percent first time pass rate over a five year time period

• 90 percent of dietetic interns upon completion of the program will be employed within six months of completing the registration exam.

• 90 percent of students enrolled in the dietetic internship program will successfully complete the program within two years of starting the program.

• Six months after completing the dietetic internship, employers will rate overall on the survey 90 percent of the graduates as “average in skill” or “highly skilled” for entry-level dietitians.

Program Goal Two
The dietetic internship will prepare graduates who demonstrate professionalism through their interpersonal relationships with patients and the health care team

Outcomes Measures:

• The average self-rating of dietetic internship graduates for “interacting effectively with other health care disciplines” will be four on a five-point scale.

• The average manager rating for “developing interpersonal relationships” and “practices professionalism” will be four on a five-point scale.

• Six months after completing the dietetic internship, employers will rate overall on the survey 90 percent of the graduates as “skilled” or “highly skilled” for entry-level dietitians.

• Preceptors will rate overall 90 percent of our interns as exceeding nutrition counseling skills.

Program Goal Three
Promote the appreciation for and utilization of research skills into practice settings.

Outcomes Measures

• The average self-rating of 90 percent of dietetic internship graduates for “interpret and incorporate new scientific knowledge into practice” will be satisfactory or above.

• The average manager rating of 80% of dietetic internship graduates for “interpret and incorporate new scientific knowledge into practice” will be four on a five point scale.

• Based on Program Completion Survey data, interns will indicate that they were provided with opportunities to appreciate and utilize research skills with an average score of four or greater.

About the Internship
Clinical, community, and food service management rotations comprise the majority of the internship experience. Opportunities exist to emphasize specific learning needs or interests. To date, 19 facilities are available for scheduling rotations within the three experiential categories: six public health departments, two school food service, two hospital foodservice, one hospital rehabilitation unit, five hospital clinical sites, two long-term care rehabilitation center, one out-patient clinic and two county agencies on aging.

Students will generally be scheduled for experience at five facilities: one clinical, one public health, one school food service, one hospital food service, and the agency on aging. The public health assignment will be based on students' geographic preference, prior experiences, and site availability. The approximate length of time spent at each site is shown below; this listing does not necessarily represent the order of site assignment:

• Public Health -- 8 weeks
• School Food Service -- 4 weeks
• Hospital Food Service -- 2 weeks
• Rehabilitation -- 4 weeks
• Clinical -- 18 weeks

In addition a student will spend one week at a site of his/her choosing for additional experience to be based on interest or need. This rotation will be planned either in conjunction with the initial internship rotation plan or on an "as available" basis if the student is able to identify a site only after direct internship experience. The "choice week" experience is documented and approved by the Internship Director and site preceptor a minimum of two weeks prior to participating in the site experience. Students will receive a rotation schedule at least 30 days prior to starting the Internship. Students are requested to convey personal vacation and research time needs to facilitate the development of a functional schedule and minimize scheduler modifications during supervised experience.

Calendar
The Dietetic Internship begins each August and ends typically the third week in May. The Dietetic Internship program follows closely the academic calendar for Fall and Spring Semester with the exception of the introductory program meetings beginning the third week in August and the program wrap-up the second week in May. Interns will register for the nine credits of Seminar FN-865 Fall Semester and nine credits of Seminar FN-865 Spring Semester. Part of each Monday per month is reserved for Seminar class. Interns typically spend Monday through Friday (although occasional weekend and evenings may be required) at their designated supervised practice rotation. Interns are made aware of their academic and supervised practice rotations a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of their first rotation. The academic calendar and rotations may vary slightly from year to year dependent on facilities and fluctuating yearly calendar.

Admissions Requirements

• Completion of a post-baccalaureate degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences  or related degree from an accredited university;

• The following course work: 
  • B or better in Clinical Nutrition (FN-710) or similar course
  • B or better in Practicum in Community Nutrition Programs (FN-712) or similar course
  • B or better in Nutrition Education (FN-606) or similar course. 
    
    If the previous course work requirements are not met the student may apply to the Graduate School as a special student and complete the course work.  Students that require the additional course work and apply to the graduate program would not need to go through the computerized match program and should not complete a Dietetic Internship Application at the time of application to the graduate program. Once course work is completed they are then eligible to apply to the Postgraduate Dietetic Internship.

• Verification of completion of a dietetic program approved by the Commission of Accreditation/Approval of Dietetics Education. This verification statement is required of all students entering an internship program that is approved by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval of Dietetics Education,

• A TOEFL score of 550 for non-native speakers of English (If you do not have a verification statement, contact the Program Director for information about obtaining one).

• Applicants are required to complete a Background Disclosure Document and Department of Justice Criminal History Record Check. Findings may affect eligibility to participate in the required clinical experiences and therefore affect internship completion.

Admissions Process
Submit a Graduate School Application as a special student to enroll in the Postgraduate Dietetic Internship Specialization. The Graduate School application fee is $45. Complete a Dietetic Internship Application form and return to the Dietetic Internship Director. The Dietetic Internship Application form instructs applicants to provide several items as listed below:

• A standard verification form signed by the director of a didactic dietetics education program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education (CAADE),

• An official transcript of all graduate level course work including the degree award date; an undergraduate transcript may be required if requesting a waiver for a required course,

• three letters of recommendation,

• for non-native speakers of English, TOEFL test score results sent directly from the Graduate School,

• Dietetic Internship Application Fee of $45, checks payable to UW-STOUT.

Applicants applying with a graduate degree from outside the UW- Stout Graduate program must participate in the computer matching selection process. Information about the computer match and mark/sense cards may be obtained from any approved didactic dietetics program director or from D & D Digital Systems (515) 292-0490.  Complete the computer matching mark/sense card with the prioritized list of selected dietetic internship. The mark sense cards and fee must be postmarked by Feb. 15.  Send to:

D&D Digital Systems
304 Main Street, Suite 301
Ames, IA 50010

Applicants must include an address and telephone number where they can be reached for the computer match appointment date. There is no charge for computer match information; participation in the computer match process carries a fee of $50.

Unless requested at the time of application, application materials are not returned. Letters of recommendation are excluded from all returned materials.

Once accepted into the Postgraduate Dietetic Internship Specialization Program the student is required to register for the 18-credit Supervised Practice in Medical Nutrition Management (FN-865), nine credits Fall Semester and nine credits Spring Semester.