The University of Central Arkansas announces the 2014-2015 Dietetic Internship (DI) Class.
The DI is a post-baccalaureate, supervised practice program designed to allow students to complete requirements for both the DI and a master’s degree in 15 months. This 15-month program begins in May and concludes in August the following year. The UCA DI is one of only two in Arkansas.
Graduates of the DI receive a verification statement and are eligible to sit for the national exam for registered dietitians. Interns selected for the UCA DI program enroll as graduate students.
The following persons will start the DI at UCA on May 19:
• Rebecca Blaylock
• Candace Casebier
• Hayley Chappell
• Alicia Courtway
• Brenda Green
• Chris Henson
• Amanda Hines
• Rachel Sanders
• Daniela Utrera
• Erica Watson
There are two components of the DI, a supervised practice portion and a didactic portion. The didactic portion includes two graduate courses, completed in the fall and spring semesters as well as weekly class meetings during the 12-week summer sessions. The supervised practice component includes practice hours accumulated during assigned rotations.
“The concentration of the UCA DI is community nutrition, so dietetic interns perform in a variety of settings including DHHS, WIC, hospitals, wellness, long-term care facilities, counseling, farm-to-table programs, and school foodservice,” said Nina Roofe, assistant professor and didactic program in dietetics director.
Interns are evaluated on each rotation by preceptors and/or the DI director. Successful completion of the required supervised practice hours and all didactic work is required for program completion. After passing the Registration exam, graduates may apply for Arkansas licensure. Details on requirements for licensed dietitians in Arkansas can be found at www.ardieteticslicbrd.net.
The UCA DI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE), of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
