1. Association of Nutrition Departments and Programs: Commentary and Recommendations
ANDP Committee working with the Academy
Jay Whelan, Tennessee, Chair of Committee
Norman Hord, Oregon State
Nancy Cohen, Massachusetts
Debra Sullivan, KUMC
Nancy Betts, Oklahoma
Academy Liaison: Rayane Abusabha, Sage Colleges, NDEP

2. Summary: ACEND Recommendations
Master’s degree preparation for entry level, “generalist”, registered dietitian nutritionists.
Bachelor’s degree preparation for entry level nutrition and dietetics technicians.
Associate’s degree preparation for community nutrition and health assistants.
Each degree level has competencies identified.
Experiential learning integrated into each degree program.
Each degree level is designed to prepare graduates for employment.
Completing one part of the educational model would not be a requirement to enter a program at a higher degree level in the model, but each degree level would build on the preceding degree level knowledge and competence.
Future exploration of high school and doctoral level programs, where doctoral training would focus on “specialization”.

3. Potentially disruptive recommendations*
Impact on ACEND-accredited graduate degree programs that integrate academic coursework and supervised practice into a seamless (1-step) program as a requirement to obtain the future entry level RDN credential.
Impact on ACEND-accredited UG programs that integrate coursework with supervised practice.
Impact on current relationships that have a volunteer—based supervised practice
Impact on specialized MS programs (i.e., public health nutrition)
Impact on 2-year college programs that are a source for transfer students to 4-year research institutions
Impact on student debt if additional resources are put on the backs of students
*with regards to the structure of academic programs and the anticipated changes in program enrollment.

4. Implications for ANDP Members
Large undergraduate programs preparatory for the RD credential will move to a coordinated graduate program.
Resources required to deliver small enrollment graduate programs will necessitate redesign of undergraduate programs and faculty recruitment to meet the new competencies in undergraduate and graduate programs.
(Conversations with the Provost’s office: If Research I institutions have to choose between Research training with F&A from grants or requests for additional resources for Professional Practice training, the choice could favor Research.

5. ANDP Recommendations for ACEND
Generate and collate data with regards to the impact on trainees (students) and programs (costs to the universities, programs and students; influence on how universities perceive structural changes, how the changes impact the research arm of the program)
Recommend guidelines for pilot testing of new undergraduate and graduate competencies
Consider multiple routes for training “advanced level practitioners”
Post BS experiences
Provide guidance for how supervised practice could be integrated into the curriculum
Provide guidance for continued viability of existing so-called ‘isolated’ or stand-alone dietetics programs, including
Dietetic internships
DPD programs

6. 2015 NDEP Regional Meetings
Members of the ACEND Board will be discussing the Rational Document and the ACEND report recently released which describes the proposed model for moving the DPD to graduate (MS) level.
The ACEND Executive Director, Mary Gregoire, and members of the Academy Board of Directors will be present at the meetings.
Area 1, Asilomar, CA on March and the evening of Monday March 16
Area 2/5, Bloomingdale, MN and the morning of Tuesday March 26
Area 6/7, The Penn Stater, on the PSU Campus the afternoon of Thursday April 9
Area 3/4, Denver, CO and the afternoon of Friday May 1
This is the chance for the Nutrition Chairs to express their concerns to ACEND and obtain clarifications on the document.