"Dietitians used to be workhorses, somewhere hidden in the food service facility or on the hospital floors. Now, the profession has changed, and Dietitians are the Show-Horse - representing their professional unit, providing nutrition knowledge and background, and pushing Public Health efforts forward."
- Anna Graf Williams, Ph.D author of Creating Your Career Portfolio At-A-Glance Guide for Dietitians
The mission of the CPD is to provide an integrated 
academic/supervised practice curriculum to prepare competent entry-level dietitians to promote optimal health and nutritional status of individuals and groups. The curriculum provides the foundation knowledge and skills, and the practitioner-based competencies to perform the specialized functions of an entry-level dietitian. The CPD prepares competent dietitians for positions in nutrition therapy, food service management, and community nutrition. This broad approach is supported by our engagement concentration.
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The program provides the academic and supervised practice requirements necessary for graduates to take the Registration Examination through the
Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and to obtain the RD credential. The supervised practice portion of the CPD usually begins after completion of approximately 100 hours of academic coursework. The program provides approximately 1,220 hours of supervised practice experience, divided into the community rotation, food service management rotation, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) rotation, and engagement rotation. Students must anticipate
rotation sites away from the Purdue campus and the immediate geographical area to complete the supervised practice.
The DPD and the CPD maintain accreditation status by the
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE) of
The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995 (312-899-5400). CADE is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
The CPD at Purdue is one of the 53 Coordinated Programs in the country (as of 1/2011) and accredited to accept up to 20 students per semester. The success of Purdue's program is a credit to the support provided by the Department of Nutrition Science along with the cooperation of over 100 preceptors representing more than 50 facilities.
The CPD at Purdue University is guided by an advisory board consisting of the CPD and DPD Program Directors, other faculty members from the Nutrition Science Department, outside experts, such as Program Directors of similar programs, and local rotation preceptors. The CPD advisory committee discusses recent developments and provides guidance on the issues associated with the CPD and its mission.
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The program has three broad goals and specific outcome measures are tied to each goal.
GOAL 1. To prepare graduates to practice effectively as entry-level dietitians in community, foodservice, and clinical dietetics.
Outcome measures for Goal 1:
- By the end of the supervised practice experience, 100% of the students completing all of the rotations will receive a rating of "satisfactory" or "at expected level of performance" on all of the CADE competencies used by the Purdue Coordinated Program in Dietetics.
- After starting the supervised practice experience portion of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, 80% of the individuals will complete all of the rotations.
- Graduates will achieve an overall first-time pass rate over a 5-year period of at least 80%.
- At least 90% of graduates over a 5-year period will rate their preparation for their position one year after finishing the program as 3 or better on a scale of 5 being "very well" and 1 being "not at all".
- Over a 5-year period, after acceptance into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, 80% of the individuals will complete the program within 34 months or 150% of the time planned for completion.
The student learning outcome associated with this goal is,
"Interns will demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively".
GOAL 2. To prepare graduates for life-long learning and/or advancement in dietetics through professional activities and development.
Outcome measures for Goal 2:
- Over a 5-year period, on a self-assessment tool no graduate will assess his/her expertise as an entry-level dietitian as "unqualified".
- Over a 5-year period, no employer will rate a graduate from the program as:
- not ready for areas of practice outlined on an assessment tool, and
- somewhat below average.
- Over a 5-year period, of the graduates employed, graduates will have taken employment in community, foodservice systems management, or nutrition therapy (i.e., at least one graduate will be represented in these areas).
GOAL 3. To prepare graduates for professional leadership in dietetics through activities in professional organizations and personal professional development.
Outcome measures for Goal 3:
- At the one year post-graduation survey:
- 90% of the graduates will indicate active membership in ADA.
- 50% of the graduates will indicate participation in ADA beyond national and state membership, e.g., district membership; dietetic practice group membership; or elected or appointed office at the district, state or national levels.
- 80% of the graduates will have started their professional development portfolios and accumulated at least 10 hours of professional development hours.
- 10% of the graduates will have started or completed further training beyond the supervised practice experience.
The student learning outcome associated with this goal is,
"Interns will demonstrate their ability to perform self-assessment"
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The DPD and the CPD at Purdue have been reviewed by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association and are currently granted substantial equivalency status based on the standards for dietetics education programs in the U.S.
Inquiries should be directed to the
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education,
American Dietetics Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-0040 ext 5400, cade@eatright.org.
