MISSION STATEMENT for the Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

The mission of the Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is to prepare competent entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to meet the needs of Seventh-day Adventist institutions and the global community. We do so with a commitment to further the “healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ” guided by Loma Linda University’s motto “to make man whole.”

Program Goal 1: 

The program will prepare students to be competent graduates who are eligible to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become entry-level practitioners.

Program Specific Objective:

  1. The post-graduate surveys will reflect that 80 percent of graduates are utilizing skills to promote health and/or prevent disease.

ACEND Specific Objectives

  1. Eighty percent of students will successfully complete 100% of specified degree requirements within 150 percent of expected degree completion.
    • BS Track: At least 80 percent of program students complete program/degree requirements within 2.625 years (150 percent of the program length). Standard program length is 1.75 years.
    • BS+MS Track: At least 80 percent of students complete program/degree requirements within 4.125 years (150 percent of the program length). Standard program length is 2.75 years.
    • MS (for Bachelor graduates with non-nutrition major) Track: At least 80 percent of program students complete program/degree requirements within 4.125 years (150 percent of the program length). Standard program length is 2.75 years.
    • MS (post DPD grad) Track:  At least 80 percent of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150 percent of the program length). Standard program length is 2 years.
  2. The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  3. Seventy percent of employers will rate the preparation of graduates of the Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics as satisfactory for entry-level practice.
  4. Eighty percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

Program Goal 2:

Provide professionally-trained Registered dietitians with either an emphasis in medical nutrition therapy or public health nutrition who may be employed by or contribute to the healthcare and educational systems of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or local, national, or international entities. (Students in SAHP are educated with an emphasis in medical nutrition therapy.  Students in SPH are educated with an emphasis in public health nutrition.)

Program Specific Objective:

  1. Sixty percent of Coordinated Program graduates will contribute to the community and/or provide professional leadership in the field of Dietetics within 5 years of graduation.

ACEND Specific Objective:

  1. Of graduates who seek employment, 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY-WIDE INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Institutional Learning Outcomes

Loma Linda University’s Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) for students are assessed throughout the degree programs within the University. The Office of Educational Effectiveness works with these programs to guide their assessment. For more in depth information about LLU’s ILO assessment, please see: http://www.llu.edu/central/assessment

  • Information Literacy: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, utilize, and share information.
  • Quantitative Reasoning: Students demonstrate the ability to reason and develop evidence-based decisions using numerical information.
  • Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate critical thinking through examination of ideas and evidence before formulating an opinion or conclusion. 
  • Oral Communication: Students demonstrate effective oral communication skills in English.
  • Written Communication: Students demonstrate effective written communication skills in English.

Mission Focused Learning Outcomes

Loma Linda University’s three Mission Focused Learning Outcomes (MFLOs) are firmly rooted to its mission, vision, and values[1]. Because Mission Focused Learning is LLU’s culture, the University continues to develop assessment processes to ensure students are successfully learning these outcomes by the time they complete their programs.

  • Wholeness: Students apply the University philosophy of wholeness into their personal and professional lives.
  • Values: Students integrate LLU’s Christ-centered values in their personal and professional lives.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

[1]http://llu.edu/about-us/mission-and-values