Mission
To provide a high-quality, supervised practice program that prepares competent, entry-level dietitians--trained with the knowledge and skills in medical nutrition therapy and a wide variety of areas--to meet and improve the food, health and nutritional needs of the communities they serve.

Program Goals and Outcome Measures

Goal 1: To prepare graduates of the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Dietetic Internship program to be competent entry-level professionals trained in medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

• Over a five-year period, 85 percent of the graduates of the program will have passed the RD exam in the first attempt.
• Over a five-year period, 50 percent of the graduates seeking employment in dietetics will be employed in the area of MNT.
• Over a five-year period, 50 percent of the employers surveyed will give the program graduates in their employ, a rating of 3 or above (on a 1-5 scale with 3 being the minimum acceptable) in the category of "competent in MNT knowledge and delivery." 
• Every year, each intern will be rated as "competent" (with a minimum of "needs work") on teh rotation evaluation forms completed by preceptors in at least 50 percent of teh MNT rotations.

Goal 2: To provide a wide variety of supervised practice experiences in the areas of medical nutrition therapy (MNT), food service and community nutrition.

• Over a five-year period, 80 percent of interns give a rating of 3 or above (on a 1-5 scale with 3 being the minimum acceptable) for the category “the program provided a wide variety of experiences” in the final program evaluation form.
• Over a five-year period, 80 percent of interns give a rating of 3 or above (on a 1-5 scale with 3 being the minimum acceptable) for the category "Do you feel competent to work as an entry-level RD?” in the final program evaluation form.
• Over a five-year period, 80 percent of interns give a rating of 3 or above (on a 1-5 scale with 3 being the minimum acceptable) for the category "the program provided comprehensive training in the area of medical nutrition therapy.

Goal 3: To provide a supply of well-trained professionals to meet the employment needs of the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

• Over a five-year period, 90 percent of the interns will complete all the program requirements within 150 percent of the time planned for completion (64 weeks).
• Over a five-year period, 50 percent of the employers surveyed will give the graduates in their employ, a rating of 3 or above (on a 1-5 scale with 3 being the minimum acceptable) on the “quality of work” category.
• Over a five-year period, 50 percent of the graduates of the employed graduates will be working in the field of dietetics in the state of Minnesota.
• Over a five-year period, 70 percent or more of program graduates will be employed within 3 months of program completion.

Accreditation
The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Dietetic Internship Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education [CADE], the commissioning agency for the American Dietetic Association. The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Dietetic Internship program has been granted continued accreditation for 10 interns for the 2006-2016 period.

After completing the internship program and successfully meeting all the graduation requirements, interns are issued a verification statement. Once the verification statement is issued, interns are then eligible to take the registration examination set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. A student becomes a Registered Dietician only after successfully passing the registration exam.

Information about accreditation status can be obtained from:
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
1-800-877-1600 ext 5400
education@eatright.org