Rationale for Future Education Model
In 2012, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics began discussions on the knowledge and skills needed of future nutrition and dietetics practitioners and the potential of developing degree-based accreditation standards. This multi-year process has included an extensive environmental scan, multiple data collection projects and the development of accreditation standards that include competencies needed for future practice in nutrition and dietetics.
A Rationale Document was created as a means for storing and sharing results of each step of the process. The Executive Summary provides an overview of the work that has been completed to date. A timeline of the development of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards follows. Click on the highlighted links for more in-depth information on each topic:
Development of the Proposed Model for Future Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
The ACEND® Standards Committee began work with a visioning group to explore skills needed for future practice and the education required to prepare students for future practice.
2013-2014
Data were collected through:
February 2015
ACEND® proposed a new model for educating nutrition and dietetics practitioners termed the Future Education Model based on these data. The results of the data collection and the proposed model were released for public comment. Several thousand comments were received and analyzed and a Summary of Comments was shared.
Development of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards
Based on the data collected and comments received, the ACEND® Board made the decision to move forward with the development of accreditation standards for the proposed future model.
July 2015
Work on Future Education Model Accreditation Standards began and included:
- Evaluation of the 2012 Accreditation Standards
- Exploration of the role of an associate degree prepared para-professional initially titled a Nutrition Health Worker
- Development of Competencies and Performance Indicators for future practice at three degree levels (associate, bachelor's, graduate)
August 2016
The first draft of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards released for public comment. The First Round of Public Comments included many suggestions for improvements in the standards and competencies.
February 2017
The Future Education Model Accreditation Standards were revised, released for public comment in February 2017 and revised based on the Second Round of Public Comments.
August 2017
The final version of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for Associate, Bachelor's and Graduate Degree Programs in Nutrition and Dietetics were approved by the ACEND® Board.
Adoption of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards
The Future Education Model Accreditation Standards are available only to programs who apply to be demonstration programs accredited under these standards. ACEND® developed an application process and a research logic model for the Demonstration Program Project. ACEND® will collect and analyze program outcome data before making a decision on the implementation of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for all programs.
2017
Materials were developed to help clarify the expected roles of practitioners prepared at each degree level and support implementation of demonstration programs.
- Infographic
- Position Descriptions
- Information flyers about becoming a Nutrition Health Associate; Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered; and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
- Practice Illustrations
- Guidance Documents and Templates
October 2017
Demonstration program application review begins.
October 2017
FNCE® ACEND® Forum Presentation
The ACEND® Forum presentation at FNCE® 2017 provided an update on ACEND® 's Standards work and the Future Education Model. Also discussed were the topics of competency-based education and competency assessment. You can view the presentation and the slides using the links below:
Program Outcome Data of Demonstration Programs Under the Future Education Model
ACEND® is collecting and analyzing program outcome data from demonstration programs before making a decision on the implementation of the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for all programs.
April 2020
Results of 2019 Program Director Surveys
November 2020
Results of Faculty and Preceptor Surveys
March 2021
ACEND® Board Discontinues FB Demonstration Program
Data on Future Bachelor (FB) Accreditation Standards indicate limited support for a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered program at the bachelor's level: FB applications <10% of total FEM applications received; student enrollment <2% of FEM students.
July 2021
Results of 2020 Program Director Surveys
October 2021
Results of Program Director Surveys
Results of Faculty and Preceptor Surveys
October 2022
Results of Program Director Surveys
Results of Student Exit Surveys
Results of Faculty and Preceptor Surveys
January 2023
ACEND Board Discontinues AP Demonstration Program
Interest in Future Associate Program (AP) indicated limited support for this demonstration program type.
October 2023
Results of Faculty, Preceptor and Graduating Student Surveys
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