Program Description

Introduction
Who Should Enroll?
Description of the Program
Program Credit
Reaching Educational Goals
Self-paced Instruction
The Clinical Instructor/Preceptor

An Outstanding Program

Time and again the Auburn University program receives exceptional reviews from those who count the most: the students and clinical instructors. In a recent survey, over 95% of students responding indicated they would recommend the course to another. Registered dietitians who are familiar with courses of this type have consistently evaluated the learning experience provided by the Auburn University program as the most comprehensive, well-prepared, and effective.

Auburn University's Dietary Manager Independent Study Program is approved by the Dietary Managers Association (DMA) and meets criteria for qualifying dietary managers as defined in 405.1101 (E) Standard for Certification and Participation in Medicare and Medicaid Programs (Federal Register, Vol. 39, No. 12, Part III, January 17, 1974). The program was developed by Dr. Robin Fellers. Dr. Fellers is on the faculty of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Human Sciences, Auburn University.

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Who Should Enroll?

The Dietary Manager program is designed primarily for those employed full time in health care facility food services. Good reading skills and the ability to follow instructions well are important. Even if you have less than a high school education or equivalent, you may apply for admission. Acceptance into the program, however, will require a recommendation from your clinical instructor. The three-part enrollment application must be completed by you, your proposed clinical instructor, and your facility administrator.

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Description of the Program

The Dietary Manager program consists of 139 hours of theoretical instruction and 206 hours of on-the-job experience. You receive printed modules, textbooks, and taped material to study (you furnish your own cassette tape player). Each lesson (module) contains learning activities which may include assignments such as reading, listening to cassette tapes, or performing practical tasks which help you achieve specified objectives. As you complete each one of the 24 modules, you send assignments to Auburn for scoring. Your graded assignments are returned to you for review. You need to achieve acceptable scores on all assignments, tests, and the final examination to complete the program. Your final examination is supervised by an approved proctor in your locale who is not connected in any way with the Dietary Manager program or your facility and who is not related to you.

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Program Credit

The Auburn University Dietary Manager Program does not award college credits. It does, however, award 34.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) upon satisfactory completion.

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Reaching Educational Goals

Study after study has demonstrated that there is no measurable difference in achieving course objectives between classroom and correspondence study. In some instances, correspondence study appears to be the more effective instructional method. Advantages you have in Auburn's independent study program include the individualized attention that is given throughout the course, the thorough and carefully prepared student materials, the thought provoking on-the-job learning activities, the helpful comments from program graders, and the self-paced instruction. You may register at any time and take a full two years to complete the program. Student materials provide a valuable reference set for students who have completed the course of instruction.

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Self-Paced Instruction

This is a correspondence study program which combines on-the-job work experience with course work. Assignments, tests, and the final examination are handled entirely by mail. You may enroll at any time and study at your own pace. Twenty-four months are allowed to complete the program. Some students complete the program in less than half the time; others need a time extension which may be granted for one additional year for an additional fee. A diligent student will typically require 12 to 15 months to complete the program.

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The Clinical Instructor/Preceptor

You study with a local clinical instructor/preceptor, a registered dietitian or licensed dietitian in those states that accept LDs as equivalent to RDs, with no less than one year full-time equivalent employment, post-registration, in a practitioner role, with at least six months of this experience related to the subject matter of the program. The RD preceptor is responsible for coordinating the entire 150 hours of field experience and directly supervising 25 of the 50 nutrition related hours. A RD preceptor may also have teaching responsibility at the program site. Your RD supervises your on-the-job experiences, administers tests, and maintains close communication with Auburn University program staff. A Diet Technician (DTR) or Certified Dietary Manager(CDM) may be used for these efforts as long as they are delegated and coordinated by the RD/Preceptor.

A Certified Dietary Manager must have no less than one year full-time equivalent employment, post-certification, in a practitioner role. This person may precept non-nutritional aspects of the field experience and 25 of the 50 nutrition related hours, as delegated and coordinated by the RD preceptor.

A Registered Dietetic Technician must have no less than one year full-time equivalent employment, post-certification, in a practitioner role. This person may precept non-nutritional aspects of the field experience and 25 of the 50 nutrition related hours, as delegated and coordinated by the RD preceptor.

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