Program Completion, Graduation & Verification Statement Requirements
Students are expected to be full-time and complete the program in two years (four-semesters and one summer). Courses will not be offered each semester. Students should work diligently to successfully demonstrate expected competencies, and pass courses the first time they are taken in compliance with continuing in their original admission cohort. Repeating one course will mean a student waits one year for the same course to be offered again. Upon admission date, the maximum time frame allowed for completion of the program is 5 years for a full-time student.
To ensure students achieve the expected learning outcomes, competencies are tracked for didactic and supervised experiential learning (SEL) courses using the Learning Management System (LMS) Moodle© platform. Once the Curricular Map is established with the competency framework and performance indicators for each specific course, faculty develop a “Student Learning Assessment Plan” to track student achievement for each competency and performance indicator. Each student is evaluated using the specific formative or summative assessment rubric for each didactic and SEL course. Students are expected to obtain an 80% or higher on all formative and summative assessments, whether evaluated using a rubric or specific grading criteria for coursework as well as SEL rotations. Any evaluation below this threshold indicates that the student has not achieved or complied with competency. The outcome is documented in the Student’s Learning Assessment Plan within the LMS and is used to develop a remediation activity or plan to facilitate compliance with the competency and performance indicator. Reports are generated by student and by course, using a ranking scale of complies, partially complies or does not comply.
To support adequate tracking of student competency achievement of competencies, the Program Director meets with the course faculty/preceptor and SEL Coordinator once or twice in the semester, as needed. Student performance in each course and SEL rotation are reviewed during these meetings. To monitor students’ demonstration of competencies, formative and summative assessment results are shared with students mid-semester- each October for the Fall semester and March for the Spring semester – by the respective faculty and preceptors allowing students to reflect on their progress. Additionally, students are required to complete self-evaluations at the end of each SEL rotation.
Several data sources are used to evaluate student performance in the program and to determine whether remedial intervention is needed. This may include providing more time to demonstrate competency or additional learning activities within didactic courses or in SEL rotations. Data sources include reports generated from Moodle’s Student’s Learning Assessment Plan and/or ACEND’s Competency. Both quantitative and qualitative data from these sources are taken into account when determining student’s progress and the need for remediation.
Students are required to successfully complete all coursework and supervised experiential learning (SEL) hours. Documentation that students have met established competencies and time commitments are maintained and at the respective assessment platforms throughout their progression in the program.
- Faculty coursework graded assessments and preceptors SEL evaluations are utilized to assess proficiency of required competencies.
- Each SEL rotation includes a set of required competencies and performance indicators in which students must demonstrate proficiency. Formal evaluations (e.g., rubrics, checklists, evaluation forms) are provided to students as they progress through the program. Self-evaluations are also required at the end of each SEL rotation.
- Students are required to comply with the established site and rotation hours.
- SEL competencies will be assessed with a Pass or Fail rating where a passing grade must be equivalent to an excellent or good rating of the student’s performance in the practice site by the preceptor.
3. If a student is unable to demonstrate proficiency in a specific set of competencies, additional time or remediation activity will be provided.
4. Documentation that students have met established competencies are maintained by faculty and preceptors repositories
Students who complete the 45 credits with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or more and complete the minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning will be recommended to the Office of the Registrar to be granted the degree.
At the UPR-RP, to qualify as a degree candidate, students must comply with the following requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of program’s coursework with minimum GPA of 3.00 or more.
- Complete graduation requirements within the length of time established by the University.
- Not having debts with the institution.
- Official submission of the Graduation Request to the Registrar’s Office during the semester in which is expected to complete program’s requirements and, in any case, later than the stipulated date established in the UPR-RP calendar for the specific semester. These requests become official once graduation fee is paid, which is non reimbursable.
- Degree recommendation by the College-specific program and the institutional administration.
A Verification Statement (VS) document awards a student’s completion of all academic requirements established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) Future Graduate Accreditation Standards for Graduate Degree Programs. To receive a verification of completion of the program students must:
- Demonstrate attainment of all Future Education Model entry-level competencies as documented in specific assessment method for each competency.
- Complete the program awarded by the institution on the official transcript.
- Final GPA must be > 3.0 for graduate studies [otherwise academic probation]
- Perform in a professional and ethical manner throughout the academic experience.
After the degree is conferred by the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, five original copies of the Verification Statement will be provided to program graduates by the MSND-SEL Program director, which verifies completion of all academic and experiential learning requirements to be eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam. Copies of the Verification Statements will also be retained by the Program. The Program Director will submit final transcripts and ACEND program completion verification statements to CDR via the secure Registration Eligibility processing System (REPS). Each graduate will then receive an email requesting completion of an online application form that includes verification of your legal name, current address and email. At this time each graduate assumes responsibility for arranging to take the exam. Students are encouraged to take the exam promptly after completing the program.
For more information visit: https://www.cdrnet.org/StudentInstructions
Graduates of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with Supervised Experiential Learning will receive a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree and a Verification Statement indicating eligibility to take the CDR credentialing exam. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for the local licensure exam to practice as a Nutritionist and Dietitian in Puerto Rico as required by local Law 82 of 1972 and amended in 2004.