Frequently Asked Questions about the Plan for Accreditation of Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD)
1. When did CADE decide to accredit DPDs?
2. Why did CADE make this decision?
3. How does accrediting DPDs affect students, educators, members, and the public?
4. What are the benefits of accrediting Didactic Programs?
5. What concerns were expressed and how will these be addressed?
6. How will accreditation differ from the current approval process?
7. Will the site visit process affect the flexibility and uniqueness of DPDs?
8. What is the timeline and implementation plan for accrediting all Didactic Programs?
9. What will the accreditation costs be for the sponsoring institution?
10. Will the accreditation process be sensitive to the sponsoring institution's need to contain costs?
11. If I have questions or wish to discuss a time frame specific to the Didactic Program at my institution, whom should I call?
1. When did CADE decide to accredit DPDs?
In December 1998, CADE voted to implement the same accreditation process for DPDs as that used for other dietetics education programs. Accreditation, which includes a validation component (e.g., an on-site visit by a team of peers), will replace the current approval process for recognizing DPDs that meet the CADE Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards.
2. Why did CADE make this decision?
This decision was based on recommendations in the November 1998 Report of the Task Force on Didactic Program Approval. The Task Force was appointed June 1998 to recommend a course of action for CADE in light of changes in external criteria for accrediting agencies established by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The new criteria limit recognition to accreditors for degree granting institutions or programs. The approval process for DPDs would render CADE ineligible for recognition as the accrediting body for dietetics education. The Task Force represented DPDs in all geographic areas, the Council on Professional Issues (CPI), the Dietetics Educators of Practitioners (DEP) practice group, CADE Review Panel for Approval of Didactic Programs, program administrators, and the public.
Based on a survey of directors of CADE-accredited/approved programs and ADA/CADE leaders, the Task Force concluded that the benefits of accreditation outweighed the concerns expressed and unanimously recommended that CADE change the process for recognizing DPDs from approval to accreditation. As a result, CADE developed a plan to accredit DPDs. The following information was prepared to answer questions you may have about the timeline and implementation process.
3. How does accrediting DPDs affect students, educators, members, and the public?
Accrediting DPDs should benefit students, members, and the public. Consolidating the quality management process by accrediting all dietetics education programs will improve communications with students, programs, faculty, and administrators. The use of one process, accreditation, will eliminate the perception of unequal program quality in the public eye and should make advising and counseling prospective students easier for all program directors and members.
4. What are the benefits of accrediting Didactic Programs?
- College/university presidents and the public understand accreditation better than approval.
- Implementing one process for recognition of dietetics education programs will improve communications about dietetics education and entry to the profession.
- Using the same quality assurance process for DPDs will reinforce the fact that the didactic component is as important for registration eligibility as supervised practice.
- Accrediting DPDs will position dietetics education with other accredited health profession's education programs in college/university settings.
- For institutions with multiple dietetics programs, accreditation of DPDs could be accomplished with joint site visits, reducing time and cost to each program.
Didactic Programs will be able to use the term "accredited" in catalogs and recruitment materials to describe the program and achieve the following:
- Enhance visibility on campus.
- Demonstrate participation in the same quality management process used throughout higher education and health care.
5. What concerns were expressed and how will these be addressed?
Ninety-five percent of the survey respondents agreed that accreditation costs are a concern and could threaten the viability of small programs. To address these concerns, CADE has adopted a new policy for scheduling concurrent reviews of multiple dietetics programs sponsored by the same institution. This will reduce duplication and cost for these institutions and programs.
CADE also revised procedures to reduce the time and cost of accreditation for all concerned. A workgroup determined practicable, cost efficient processes for multiple and single program site visits that ensure consistent review and equitable treatment of programs, regardless of type. In addition to developing new, more efficient site visit models, CADE reduced the documentation required in the self-study report and is increasing the use of technology for communications among CADE leaders, site visitors, and programs.
6. How will accreditation differ from the current approval process?
Accreditation decisions begin with a review of the eligibility and self-study applications — the self-study was the only component used for approval decisions. However, for accreditation, a site visit is conducted. Trained peer reviewers, representing the accrediting agency, visit the program to verify with administrators, faculty, students, and graduates that the information presented in the self-study is accurate. The site visit provides an opportunity for feedback from fellow educators and practitioners. The accreditation decision is based on the self-study, report from the site visit, and program’s response to the site visit report. More on the accreditation process.
7. Will the site visit process affect the flexibility and uniqueness of DPDs?
No. Program reviewers are appointed based on their ability to appreciate the diverse ways a program may choose to meet Accreditation Standards. Reviewer/site visit training reinforces the philosophy that a variety of educational experiences and courses can be used to provide the knowledge and skills required to prepare graduates for the changing marketplace. In addition, programs often find that they are able to demonstrate their effectiveness and uniqueness better during an on-site visit than through the self-study report only.
8. What is the timeline and implementation plan for accrediting all Didactic Programs?
- To accommodate accreditation of the 600 currently accredited/approved dietetics education programs, review dates were adjusted to more evenly distribute site visits throughout CADE's 10-year accreditation cycle. Whenever possible in the next 10-year cycle, concurrent reviews will be scheduled for multiple programs in an institution. If not possible in the first 10-year cycle, the schedule for these programs will be adjusted again to accomplish concurrent reviews in the next cycle. Early in 1999, each program was notified of the year in which the next review has been scheduled.
- To allow Didactic Programs and institutions sufficient time to budget for accreditation, programs scheduled for review July 1, 1999 through December 1, 2000 were reassigned for review in 2001 and later. CADE extended the approval status for all programs maintaining compliance with established policies and procedures until the next review is completed.
- Didactic Programs granted approval status in 1999 were given the option of (1) changing to accreditation when the five-year Program Evaluation Document is due or (2) waiting until the next 10-year review is scheduled.
Programs applying for initial accreditation in lieu of the Program Evaluation Document are required to submit a self-study in preparation for the site visit. A new 10-year accreditation period will be granted to programs determined to be in compliance with the accreditation standards. - Didactic Programs scheduled to submit the five-year Program Evaluation Document July 1, 1999 through 2004 also were invited to request developmental accreditation and schedule a site visit for initial accreditation.
- Because currently approved Didactic Programs have demonstrated compliance with the accreditation standards, they are qualified for developmental accreditation (the first stage in CADE's accreditation process) upon request. Beginning 2000, Didactic Programs will receive a letter one-year prior to the month and year of the next scheduled review, inviting them to submit an Eligibility Application for developmental accreditation. Upon acceptance of the Eligibility Application, the site visit for initial accreditation will be scheduled. The self-study application for initial accreditation will be due approximately seven weeks prior to the scheduled site visit.
- All Didactic Programs currently approved will be accredited by the year 2010.
9. What will the accreditation costs be for the sponsoring institution?
Each Program will continue to pay an annual maintenance fee according to the schedule established by CADE. Once every 10 years when the accreditation review is scheduled, programs will pay a fee covering the administrative costs and the average cost of a site visit. The 2007-2008 fee of $3500.00 is based on a two-person site visit team and a two-day site visit with weekend travel.
All fees are reevaluated periodically and readjusted to meet anticipated costs. Programs are encouraged to begin budgeting for fees in advance of scheduling the site visit.
10. Will the accreditation process be sensitive to the sponsoring institution's need to contain costs?
Yes. CADE continues to explore options to streamline the accreditation process and minimize cost increases. For example, using current costs, scheduling a concurrent review and site visit for two programs sponsored by the same institution reduces the cost from $3,500 per program to $2,250 (based on a three-member team for two days).
11. If I have questions or wish to discuss a time frame specific to the Didactic Program at my institution, whom should I call?
The ADA Accreditation staff is prepared to answer any questions you and your administrators may have. Please call 800/877-1600, ext. 5400.
CADE/November 2006
Print Version