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This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Graduates of the Dietetic Internship program will be prepared for application of the nutrition care process in entry-level positions in dietetics and be committed to life-long learning. All interns must achieve competency in the core statements as evidenced by evaluation scores of 3 (on a 5-point scale) or better in rotations, assessed as highest score achieved during program. Interns will demonstrate professional skills in time management and reliability, as well as verbal and written communications.

Verification Policy

The Dietetic Internship Director will prepare verification statements for all graduates who have successfully completed the program and met all program requirements. Electronic verification statements will be issued via email and an original statement will be maintained in the academic department indefinitely. The director initiates the application and verification for registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, but it is the graduate's responsibility to accurately complete the remaining paperwork with Pearson V.U.E. and schedule the examination. Internship requirements include all of the following:

1. Completion of at least 1068 hours of supervised practice or alternate learning, as established by the Syracuse University Dietetic Internship program
2. Score of 3 (on a 5-point scale) or greater for all competencies and overall rotation final grade
3. Completion of exit interview and exit survey
4. Completion of N.S.D. 515, N.S.D. 650, N.S.D. 680, and N.S.D. 635
5. Final grade of B or greater for N.S.D. 515, N.S.D. 650, N.S.D. 680
6. Final grade of B or greater for N.S.D. 635
7. Maintenance of overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or greater
8. Completion of all class and rotation assignments
9. Development of a professional portfolio

Program Costs

Estimated Cost of Attendance based on figures from the Syracuse University website

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Grand Total (estimate based on data obtained 7/21/2023) - $49,593.00

Housing

Interns are responsible for the cost and selection of housing. Housing arrangements should be made over the summer prior to enrollment.

Dietetic Internship Policies and Procedures

Statement of Equal Opportunity

Syracuse University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, age, disability or sexual orientation. This non-discrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services and activities.

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After each rotation, interns complete evaluations of facilities, which includes feedback about the treatment and evaluation of the intern in a fair and objective manner.

Policies and Procedures Related to Student Services

Registration:

Dietetic interns register for coursework as a part-time graduate student in the Certificate of Advanced Study. Information regarding the registration process will be sent to the intern over the summer from enrollment management.

Financial Aid:

Interns qualify for financial aid through the graduate school in the form of loans. Interns may also receive a scholarship from the program through the William Allen Scholarship Program.

Leave of Absence, Withdrawals, Readmission

Readmission to the Dietetic Internship after a leave of absence cannot be guaranteed. Interns who take leave or withdraw from the program and wish to be readmitted must reapply to the program. Readmission will depend on available space and the ranking of the intern in comparison with the applicant pool. Please see Syracuse University web site for the policy regarding tuition refunds.

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The Bursar’s Office can provide additional information regarding tuition refunds for Leave of Absence or Withdrawal.

Health Examination / Health Status

Prior to entering the program, interns must complete the program’s health form, completed by a health care provider, documenting that they have completed a physical examination, have obtained the required immunizations and titers, and are in good health. The Certificate of Health Form will be emailed to the intern. Additional health updates may be required during the program, depending on New York State and institutional health codes. Immunization to influenza or compliance with the New York State Department of Health regulations for influenza prevention will be required.

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Health Services are available to interns on a fee-for-service basis.

Counseling

Individual, group, consultation and referral services are provided through the Syracuse University Counseling Center.

Advising

The program director provides academic advising for all dietetic interns.

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The Center for Learning and Student Success offers academic support and tutoring services. 

Insurance

Health Insurance

Interns are required to have a current health insurance policy while enrolled in the program to cover injury or illness while in the supervised practice sites. Interns are required to provide documentation of this coverage.

Professional Liability / Malpractice Insurance

Interns are required to carry professional liability insurance during the internship. At this time, Syracuse University provides standard professional liability insurance that covers dietetic interns. Therefore, it is not required for interns to purchase an individual policy.

Travel Requirements

Liability

The intern is responsible for all travel associated with the program. Interns who drive to supervised practice experiences should be aware that they are responsible for all expenses related to automobile and transportation accidents.

Travel Expenses

The intern is responsible for the costs and arrangement of all travel associated with the program. Interns will be expected to commute up to an hour-and-a-half around the Central New York area (bus transportation is not always available). Parking may be expensive at some facilities and difficult to find at others.

For campus parking, interns may wish to purchase a parking pass. For parking information, contact Syracuse University Parking and Transit Services.

University Academic Policies

Protection of Privacy of Student Information

The law requires that the university maintain the confidentiality of student records. Syracuse University accords all rights under the law to all current and former students. The university’s compliance with the provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is outlined in their policy.

Access to Personal Files

Intern records, maintained by the program, may be reviewed by that intern. Interns wishing to examine their folders or records should notify the internship director.

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty

All interns are expected to conform to the principles of academic honesty. This is a requirement of both Syracuse University and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (C.D.R.). Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy, and the procedures for reporting, investigating, and adjudicating any violations, are described at Syracuse University Center for Learning and Student Success and in Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy, adopted January 1, 2017.

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Falsification of any agency records will carry similar sanctions within the university and may result in criminal convictions as well.

Computer Use

Unauthorized use of a computer, computer trespass, computer tampering, unlawful duplication and unlawful possession of computer related material can carry criminal sanctions and other liability.

Alcohol and Drug Use

Alcohol and inappropriate drug use will not be tolerated according to campus policies.

Incompletes

Illness or other exceptional circumstances are the usual basis for consideration for the grade of incomplete. To receive a grade of incomplete in a course, an intern must complete the Request for Incomplete Form.

Student complaints /Grievance Resolution

Any intern with a grievance may refer to the Student Grievance Processes web page, which outlines University policies and procedures. Students may also refer to the Student Conduct System Handbook.

A student may also submit complaints to ACEND. However, ACEND only handles complaints related to accreditation standards and policies violations.

Disciplinary Action

Special university or college policies and procedures cover academic dishonesty (see above). Disciplinary actions include loss of credit for the course in which dishonesty occurs or suspension from the college (the length of time to be determined by the college committee). An intern arrested for a felony will be suspended from the university, its campus and all its facilities pending a university hearing.

Class Attendance and Conduct

Professional conduct including attire, promptness, politeness and attention is expected during class and presentations. Cell phones and smart watches should be set to silence notifications or off during scheduled class times. Cell phones and smart watches may only be used before and after class, or during breaks. Other electronic devices may only be used in class when appropriate and directly enhances intern learning. Interns should expect that alternate assignments will be required if class is not attended. Unexcused absences of more than two missed classes in a semester or chronic tardiness will lead to a probationary plan of action developed by the internship director. Failure to show immediate and sustained improvement after a plan of action has been initiated may be grounds for dismissal from the internship program.

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The remediation plan will document the area of deficiency, review the student expectations or required competency, and provide a detailed outline of corrective procedures and consequences of not meeting remediation plan requirements. The remediation plan will be reviewed with the Nutrition Science and Dietetics Graduate Program Director and will be added to the student’s file within the department. Follow-up meetings will also be scheduled to monitor the student’s growth in these areas and progress in the program. Interns that fail to meet remediation plan expectations may be counseled out or dismissed from the program.

Dismissal from the Program

An intern may be dismissed from the program and the University for reasons of academic  performance, professional or personal misconduct, or violation(s) of the Syracuse University Academic Integrity Expectations and Policy or the Student Code of Conduct.

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An intern who interferes with the agency’s primary mission of client care will be removed from the agency and possibly the program.

Poor Attendance

Prolonged unexcused absence (or frequent short absences or excessive tardiness) may result in dismissal from the program.

Poor Health

Interns experiencing health problems (medical or psychological) may need to leave the program if these problems result in prolonged or frequent absence. Substance abuse (alcohol, drugs) while at rotations is grounds for dismissal. Interns exhibiting bizarre or threatening behavior will be required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to confirm their ability to continue in the program; as an alternative, they may resign from the program.

Unethical Conduct or Dishonesty

Unethical conduct, failure to treat client records with confidentiality, falsification of medical records or other records, plagiarism, academic dishonesty or other acts of dishonesty are conduct unbecoming of a professional and constitute grounds for dismissal from the program.

Academic Dishonesty

Special procedures established by the university cover academic dishonesty. Academic penalties for suspected dishonesty cannot be imposed without following the established procedures. Detailed information, including a copy of these procedures, is available at Syracuse University Center for Learning and Student Success.

Dismissal Procedures

The decision to dismiss an intern from the program for reasons other than academic dishonesty will be made by a committee consisting of at least five members (e.g., the internship director, a faculty member, one or more dietetic administrators from agencies affiliated with the internship program, and if desired, an advocate chosen by the intern in question). The intern will be given an opportunity to present information on his/her behalf and may appeal the decision.

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For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

Assessment of Prior Learning

Interns with previous supervised experience in the area of food management may apply for exemption from the rotation. The intern must have the direct supervisor of the experience complete a rotation evaluation form. The intern must also provide other documentation from the experience including job performance evaluations, written documentation of management experience in safety, security and sanitation, examples of customer services quality management activities, preparation and interpretation of financial reports, and examples of menus and or recipes developed.

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Policies and Procedures for Supervised Practice Sites

Criteria and Process for Assigning Interns to Supervised Practice Sites

The procedure for assignment to supervised practice sites is based on the following assumptions:

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Interns are not required to locate their own supervised practice sites or preceptors.

Problem-Solving at sites

The filing and handling of formal complaints from interns will include a recourse to an administrator or other program director and prevents retaliation.

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In the event of accidents or illness, the site is responsible to render emergency care to the intern. Interns must have health insurance and should follow-up with their health care provider following an accident or injury.  The Dietetic Internship Director must be notified of the occurrence by the intern within one business day.

Drug Testing and Criminal Background Checks

If an intern is assigned to a facility that requires drug testing and criminal background checks, they must follow the procedure the facility has arranged. Drug screening may be required as part of the onboarding requirements or randomly during the placement at the site's discretion. Sites will have full determination of action in the case of a positive drug test or refusal to participate in the test. Potential outcomes include dismissal from the site/rotation. Interns are encouraged to know their site's policies and procedures related to drug screening and a drug free workplace. Felony convictions or sanctions may exclude from placement at some agencies.

Educational Purpose of Supervised Practice

Supervised practice provides training in dietetic practice settings. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern. The intern does not displace regular employees, but instead works under supervision of existing staff. The supervised practice site that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern, and, on occasion, the facility operations may actually be impeded. The intern will be expected to participate in a culminating experience to document entry- level competence for no less than one week.

Formal Assessment of Learning While at Sites

At the end of each five- or six-week rotation, the intern will receive a formal evaluation on their progress. For the eight- and nine-week rotations, evaluations will take place at the midpoint and the end. The preceptor will review these evaluations with the intern and the evaluation will be sent to the program director. The program director will meet individually with the intern at the end of the first semester and at the end of the program to review progress of required competencies. The program director may meet more frequently with the intern if a problem is identified. The intern must pass all rotations with a score of 3 or greater (on a 5-point scale) for the overall final rotation grade. The final rotation grade is a component of the overall course grade for NSD 650.

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Falk College is developing a comprehensive system to enhance the operations of programs where experiential learning is required. Tevera is a software platform used by accredited programs and has the ability to individualize options for unique program needs. Interns will begin using Tevera to enter their supervised hours during rotations, which will be approved by their preceptors.  A reporting system will cumulate hours and demonstrate the total number of practice hours throughout the program, which will be used to track and verify that the minimum number of hours have been met.

Retention and Remediation

If a knowledge deficit is identified while at a site, the program director will provide the intern with remedial work in the form of case studies, problem sets, self- study aids. Occasionally an intern may be required to spend additional time at a site in order to achieve competency. The decision to lengthen a rotation is determined in collaboration with the preceptor, the internship director and the intern.

An intern with minimal chances of success in the program will be counseled into career paths that are appropriate to their ability.

Work Assignments

Supervised practice assignments are always subject to the approval of the host institutions. Interns will spend approximately 32 hours per week in agency rotations and an additional five to seven hours in classes or field trips to other agencies. In general, interns will work the same hours as their primary preceptors; this may include early or late shifts.

Attendance at Sites

Prompt attendance is required for rotations. More than two unexcused absences or chronic tardiness per semester will result in a remediation plan developed by the program director and may prevent the intern from completing the program on time. If you have legal documentation to verify an excused absence in the case of illness or death in the family, this must be provided to program director immediately upon return. Failure to show immediate and sustained improvement after a plan of action has been initiated may be grounds for dismissal from the internship program.

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Interns who wish to observe other important religious holidays should notify the internship director in writing as soon as possible, but no later than the second week of the semester. Interns should expect to make up missed time. Agencies differ in the holidays they observe. When agency holidays differ from the internship program holidays, the intern will be asked to make up the time. See Religious Observances Policy.

Ethical and Professional Behavior

Dietetic interns are expected to conduct themselves as professional persons. During their rotations they represent Syracuse University and the Nutrition Science and Dietetics department to other members of the hospital/agency’s staff and to the community. Interns are expected to follow the Code of Ethics.

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Confidentiality of client records must be maintained at all times. Each agency/facility will review HIPAA regulations as they apply to the rotations.

Use of Medical Records

Medical records are legal documents and must be used appropriately. The patients’ charts are available to interns as a privilege. Any information from the charts is confidential and should only be discussed with the preceptor as required for professional purposes. Protected health information should never be taken off site, unless de-identified. Policies for charting in medical records will vary with the institution. Under no circumstance, should information regarding a practice site, client, patient, or family be posted on social media. Violations to protected health information (HIPAA) can be punishable by law.

Fulfillment of Professional Duties

Interns are expected to comply with the Standards of Professional Performance, Standards of Practice for the Profession of Dietetics, and the Code of Ethics. In the rotations, interns work under the direction of an assigned agency preceptor. Interns should refer any questions or problems they do not feel competent to handle to their agency preceptor.

Interns must follow the agency’s professional conduct policies. Agency policies should be reviewed with the preceptor during the orientation period.

Personal Appearance and Grooming

Interns must conform to the dress code of the agencies in which they have supervised practice rotations. Some agencies require professional dress/business clothes; others require white lab coats with professional dress/ business clothes. The dress code of each agency should be explained to the intern by the preceptor during the agency orientation. In general, the following guidelines apply:

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Backpacks should not be carried around the facility during rotation work hours.

Personal Communications

Cell phone usage should be kept to a minimum while at rotations and during class, seminars, and other internship-related functions. Personal phone calls and texting should be restricted to breaks and before and after class, rotation time, etc. to maintain a professional demeanor. Notify the instructor or preceptor immediately in case of a true emergency or other situation requiring a variance from this policy.

Campus Orientation

Location, Office Hours, Faculty and Staff

The Dietetic Internship is part of the Program of Nutrition Science and Dietetics (N.S.D.) in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Offices are located at 550L White Hall.

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MacKenzie Kelly

(315) 443-5573

Parking and Vehicle Registration

Vehicles not displaying appropriate university permits are subject to towing and fines. Refer to Syracuse University Parking and Transit Services.

Shuttle Buses and Local Buses

Shuttle buses link the campuses (North, South, Main and Connective Corridor) and provide free transportation. Centro provides regional bus service. Schedules can be found at Syracuse University Parking and Transit Services.

Student Identification Cards

Student identification cards are needed to gain access to most university facilities. Identification cards are obtained at the office of Housing, Meal Plan, and I.D. Card Services by submitting a photo and picking it up at 111 Waverly.

Campus Map

Campus Maps are available on the Syracuse University website.

Internship Competency Areas

Competency Statements for the Supervised Practice Component of the Dietetic Internship

Competency statements specify what every dietitian should be able to do at the beginning of his or her practice career. The core competency statements build on appropriate knowledge and skills necessary for the entry-level practitioner to perform reliably at the performance level indicated. 

Competencies/Learning Outcomes for Dietetic Internship Programs

The following competencies are from the ACEND Accreditation Standards for Nutrition & Dietetics Internship Programs, effective June 1, 2022.

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