UCCS Individualized Supervised-Practice Pathways

ATTENTION ALL CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS:

At this time the UCCS ISPP program is not accepting new interns. 

This announcement is to notify you of the future closing of our ACEND accredited Individual Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP). Our final planned semester and graduating class will be the Spring of 2023. As we close our DPD program, we will be applying for ACEND accreditation for a new graduate level program with tentative plans to open Fall of 2022. We are currently partnered with Penrose-St. Francis in building a Future Graduate Program to better meet the needs of future registered dietitians/nutritionists. As you may be aware, the Commission on Dietetic Registration has mandated that Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the registration examination for dietitians/nutritionists will change from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree.  

Program Description
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Individualized Supervised-Practice Pathways (ISPP) program meets the performance requirements for supervised practice experience needed to fulfill the competencies for registered dietitian nutritionists established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). University of Colorado Colorado Springs DPD Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800)877-1600, ext. 5400.

The UCCS ISPP program is administered through the Department of Health Sciences. Interns are admitted to the ISPP Certificate program though the UCCS Online and Academic Health Reach program. ISPP interns have the opportunity to stay in their geographic area to complete some or all of their supervised practice hours. ISPP applicants need to arrange for all required rotations prior to submission of application materials. The ISPP Program Director can offer guidance to the applicant during the application process.

The program requires a minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours. There are both full-time and part-time options available for the UCCS ISPP Program. Applicants must designate whether they are applying for the full-time or part-time designation when submitting their application. Once accepted into the program, students may not switch between the full-time or part-time options without permission from the ISPP Program Director. Full-time interns must complete a minimum of 32 hours per week and may take up to one year to complete the supervised practice hours required for the ISPP program. No more than 2 weeks between rotations is permitted without prior approval from ISPP program director. Part-time must complete a minimum of 16 hours per week and may take up to one year to complete the supervised practice hours required for the ISPP program. No more than 2 weeks between rotations is permitted without prior approval from ISPP Program Director.

ISPP Program Mission Statement
The mission of the post-baccalaureate ISPP Program is to provide a comprehensive supervised practice experience that produces graduates eligible to complete the CDR credentialing exam who are prepared to be entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in the areas of medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice management.

Program Concentration
The program concentration for the ISPP program is Wellness Promotion.

Goals and Outcome Measures

ISPP Goal 1: The UCCS ISPP will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

• Objective 1: At least 80% of program full-time interns complete the program within 18 months and part-time interns within 24 months (150% of the program length).
• Objective 2: At least 80% of program graduates who respond to the Graduate survey rate themselves as “prepared” or “very prepared” for their first entry-level dietetics position.
• Objective 3: At least 80% of program graduates will take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• Objective 3: At least 80% of program graduates who take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists will pass it within one year of first attempt.

ISPP Goal 2: The UCCS ISPP will prepare graduates for employment in food, nutrition and dietetics, or health-related fields.

• Objective 1: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75% who respond to the Graduate survey are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 2: At least 80% of program graduates who respond to the Graduate survey rate themselves as “prepared” or “very prepared” for employment in food, nutrition and dietetics, or health-related fields.
• Objective 3: At least 75% of employers of program graduates who respond to the Employer survey rate the graduate as “prepared” or “very prepared” for entry-level practice.

Program outcome data is available on request.

Five Steps to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

1. Complete a bachelor's degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (Didactic Program in Dietetics).
2. Get matched to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program (some dietetic internships are combined with a master's degree, which is optional*). For students who do not match to an internship, applying to an Individual Supervised Practice Pathway is an option.
3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration's dietetic registration exam.
4. Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
5. Maintain continuing education.

Program Costs
The following are estimated costs of the UCCS ISPP program:

Application and Admission Requirements
To be eligible to be considered for admittance to the UCCS ISPP Program the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a Verification Statement from the ACEND-accredited UCCS Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
2. Have applied to Dietetic Internship (DI) programs through the D & D match process and been unmatched to a DI. A copy of the original DICAS application in pdf format including resume, personal statement, and a list of programs applied to during the D & D match process must be submitted as part of the application process.
3. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Good written and verbal communication skills in English; a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 or better (International students only).
5. Demonstrated ability (as evidenced by the letters of recommendations and personal letter) to work effectively as a member of a team, as well as team leader.
6. Demonstrated ability (as evidenced by the letters of recommendations and personal letter) to be a self-directed and independent learner.
7. Demonstrated ability (as evidenced by the letters of recommendations and personal letter) to be flexible and enthusiastic.
8. Work and/or volunteer experience related to health care, community and/or food service highly desirable.
9. Proof of immunizations required by supervised practice sites must be provided prior to starting rotations and updated as necessary.
10. Interns must locate their own supervised practice sites and preceptors. The sites can be local, remote, or a combination of local and remote. Proof that all potential rotations and placements for the program have been secured. A list of required paperwork will be provided with the application materials.
11. Interns are required to attend a mandatory orientation in July before starting the program.

UCCS Academic Catalog

Program Completion Requirements
Interns receive a Verification Statement upon successful completion of the program, providing all program and financial obligations have been met. To successfully complete the program, interns must demonstrate entry-level competence as a practitioner through documentation of attainment of competencies. Interns meeting requirements for each rotation, successful completion of assignments and projects, and evaluations, assess attainment of competencies. Merely completing the internship's required hours do not guarantee receipt of a Verification Statement if attainment of competencies has not been documented. The intern must submit an original hard copy of a signed RDNE/RDE misuse form to the Program Director. Upon receipt of the signed form, the Program Director will submit the necessary paperwork to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) confirming the student's eligibility to take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists. Upon notification from CDR, it is the graduate's responsibility to arrange to take the examination.

Financial Aid
UCCS ISPP Interns are not eligible to receive financial aid. Student loans may be deferred for the duration of the internship. Interns are encouraged to apply for scholarship opportunities from their local and state dietetic associations as well as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs ISPP Program is accredited
by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800)877-1600, ext. 5400.
ACEND Website