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Accreditation: ◦ Purpose◦ Guiding Principles

Accreditation Standards Development Working Group◦ Members◦ Goals

Proposed Framework for Standards Timeline & Consultation Process Ideas to Share

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The purpose of accreditation is to ensure quality dietetic education within academic and internship programs and to encourage programs to strive for quality improvement.

Accreditation is based on meeting nationally recognized standards that have been accepted by the key national stakeholders of the profession – professional association, regulatory bodies and the educators.

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Accreditation:It is a voluntary, peer-review process that assesses the quality of both new and established educational programs. It requires continuous program assessment and evaluation against accreditation standards as will be determined by the future governing body for accreditation.

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The accreditation standards are outcome based and prepare graduates to meet the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP).

The assurance of a nationally consistent quality dietetic education serves the interest of the general public, students, regulatory bodies, and the profession.

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Dietetic Education Representatives:◦ Heidi Bates, University of Alberta, Edmonton◦ Isabelle Giroux, Brescia University College, London ◦ Theresa Glanville, Mount Saint Vincent, Halifax◦ Katherine Vandenbussche, Sunnybrook, Toronto

Alliance of Canadian Dietetic Regulatory Bodies Representative◦ Fern Hubbard, College of Dietitians of British

Columbia

Dietitians of Canada Representative◦ Marlene Wyatt, Director of Professional Affairs

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Goal: ◦ Develop new accreditation standards for academic

& internship/practicum programs based on Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education & Practice.

To date: ◦ Reviewed education standards from 17 programs

(including Dietetic programs in USA & Australia). Currently developing draft accreditation standards.

Next steps: ◦ Complete draft standards and consultation process.◦ Prepare draft accompanying documents to support

the accreditation review process.

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Accreditation Standards◦One set of standards for academic and

internship/practicum programs◦Criteria are used to assess whether a

standard will be met. ◦Each criterion will include “Evidence”

on how to meet each criteria.

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Standard: CurriculumCriterion: The curriculum is based on the

ICDEP competencies.Evidence: The curriculum description in the

university/organization course calendar or internship manual indicates that the program supports the achievement of the ICDEP competencies.

The course outlines or internship objectives describe the competencies that are addressed within each course or internship/ practicum rotation.

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1. Program Governance & Administration –Focuses on organizational support for the program from the institution and program level.

2. Program Structure - Focuses on the philosophy and

objectives.

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3. Student Policies and Services - Focuses on policies and organization/

program services available to support students in the program and to ensure appropriate learning opportunities. 

4. Curriculum -Focuses on student centred and based on

achieving the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice.

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5. Faculty and Professional Staff – Focuses on faculty and professional staff with appropriate academic and dietetic qualifications and experience.

6. Resources – Focuses physical, financial, learning,

technology/information resources and support personnel to provide quality programming.

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7. Program Evaluation -Focuses on broad based, systematic and

continuous evaluation processes that use evaluation outcomes to maintain or improve program quality.

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Draft standards, criteria and evidence developed by early fall

Broad Based Consultation – Fall through November◦ We need your suggestions on cost effective

methods for consultation Final Draft to PDEP Steering Committee –

December Implementation – to be determined by PDEP

Steering Committee

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Ideas to share with us as the working group

◦ Consultation/engagement suggestions◦ jblackburn@sasktel.net

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