Program Policies

(Required element 8.2a):

All students are required to have health, automobileautomobile, and professional liability insurance and provide documentation to the program director before beginning supervised practice rotations.

Travel (Required element 8.2b):

(Required elementelements 8.2e):2e & 8.2f)

Students do not replace employees for routine work responsibilities,responsibilities unless staff relief is planned as part of the CP supervised practice experience to meet specific competencies. All preceptorsPreceptors should adhere to the rotation schedules and learning activities provided by the program director/practicum instructor. Students do not receive paid compensation for any aspect of supervised practice hours or program requirements (Required element 8.2f).requirements.

Students enrolled in the dietetics program have athe right to discuss any complaints or grievances related to academic, supervised practicepractice, or program issues. They should first consult with the course or practicum instructor andinstructor, then with the Program Director to resolve the issue, following the procedures outlines in the university’s Student Handbook.Director. Grievances involving the Program Director should be discussed with the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Procedures follow the university’s Student Handbook.

Evaluation of learning occurs at pre-determined times throughout the academic and supervised practice components of the program.components. Specific information is detailed in thesyllabi. syllabiPreceptors/instructors provided for each course and practicum experience. There are specificallyuse prepared forms for evaluation throughout supervised practice. Preceptors/instructors completing the evaluation use the provided form and review with the studentstudents prior to signaturessignatures.

Students are responsible for being familiar with the various evaluation forms so that they are aware of the criteria and timing for each evaluation.criteria. Students are also given the opportunity to evaluate their experience in the rotation siteexperiences, asproviding well.feedback These forms are used to evaluate future improvements in thefor program andimprovement.

Faculty in the program monitor student performance ineach their courses, in ordersemester to detect these students who are experiencing academic difficulty in each semester and offerprovide counseling and counseling/remediation as needed on an individual basis.needed.

InStudents addition to beingare evaluated on academic performance, students are also evaluated on professionalperformance and professional/ethical behaviors,behaviors using the Professional Behaviors procedure noted in this handbook.

Formal evaluationsevaluations: Written evaluations, rubrics, exams, scored assignments.
Informal evaluations: Daily feedback/discussions, clinical documentation, presentations, projects.

(Required element 8.2j) may be in the form of written evaluations, rubrics, exams and scored assignments, to name a few. Many opportunities are also available for informal evaluations on progress and performance. These should be viewed as positive encounters to gain insight and adjust performance. Examples of informal evaluation include, but are not limited to, daily feedback/discussions with preceptors/instructors on skill development, clinical documentation, presentations and projects.1a)

Pack Support (Requiredis element 8.1a), thea university resource for students who needneeding campus resources, informationinformation, and extraguidance. guidance,It isassists also available to monitor student performance. This system offers assistance inwith academic performance and other areas such asperformance, financial concerns, food or food/housing issues, illness/hospitalizationhospitalization, and harm to self or others.

Pack Support for Faculty is the software portion of this programused to identify students who could be at academic risk so that they receive appropriate assistance in their respective programs.assistance.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL:  A student may be asked to leave the program if any of the following conditions occur:

• Failure to meet acceptable academic standards.standards For example,(e.g., failing to maintain a GPA of 3.0.0).
• When a student attainsAttaining a “C” in two courses or receivesreceiving a combination of two “C” or “F” grades.

Disciplinary/

(Required element 8.2l):

Professional behaviors are those behaviors that are expected to be displayed at all times in the classroom, supervised practice settings, and dietetics-related programs. These behaviors are detailed on page 14 of the handbook.

A violation of professional behavior may be intentional or unintentional and requires intervention to mitigate future consequences.intervention. A subsequent violation in the same professional behavior area by the student is considered to be an ‘“at risk behavior’behavior” and constitutes grounds for dismissal from the course.dismissal.

If a faculty member determines that a violation has occurred, a written report using the Professional Behavior Evaluation Form (located in the appendix) and corrective plan of action will be completed according to the following steps:Procedure:

• The incident will beis documented and the student will be notified.
• The faculty member willmay use discretion to determine ifdismiss the student will be dismissed from the classroomclass or supervised practice setting until notified of the final disposition.
• The student’s case will beis evaluated for disposition within three school days by the involved faculty member and the program director.
• Corrective Actionsactions may include detailedremediation plan for remediation,plan, conference with faculty, dismissal from supervised practice with loss of hours, dismissal from course or course/practicum with unsatisfactory  gradegrade, or other actions withapproved approval ofby the program director or CNHP dean.
• Copies of the Professional Behavior Evaluation Form are to be sent to the student, student file, faculty membermember, and program director.

Students are expected tomust dress in a clean, neatneat, and professional manner at all supervised practice sites. ThisImproper includesattire hair, nails and clothing. Students reporting for supervised practiceresults in improper attire will be dismisseddismissal to change intoclothes; proper attire. Timetime lost for this reason is considered absence timetime. and make-up time is not available. Students should wear their nameName tag and A-State ID must be worn at all times when at supervised practice sites.times. Distance students will follow instructions to submit an online photo andfor then theirmailed ID badge will be mailed to them.badge.

Clinical

Proper attire for supervised practice sites or as instructed by the preceptor:

Rotations

• ClinicalWomen: Rotations:
• Women: clean and pressed, whiteWhite lab coat over scrubs or a professional attire (dress, blouse, skirtskirt, orslacks). slacks.Sleeves Blouse/dress must have sleeves.required. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts andshirts, exercise attire are not acceptable.
• Men: clean and pressed, whiteWhite lab coat over scrubs,scrubs or professional attire,attire which may include (collared shirt, plain dark dress slacks, dark shoes.shoes). Jeans, shorts, t-shirts andshirts, exercise attire are not acceptable.
• Shoes: comfortableLow-heeled, shoes in good condition that offer support and protection. Shoes are to be low-heeled and closed toes/heels,closed-toe/heel, clean and polished. Tennis or Tennis/sport shoes are not acceptable.
• Hair: restraints must be wornRestraints in food service areas. Facial hair must be neatly shaven; beards and moustaches must be neatly trimmed. Only natural hair colors are allowed.

Food serviceService rotations:Rotations

• Slip-resistant shoes are to be worn.required.
• No jewelry, including watches and earrings, are allowedjewelry except for plain wedding bands (no stones).bands.
• Jewelry:Jewelry limited to engagement/wedding rings, watch andwatch, one pair of earrings no larger than a dime.
• GumNo gum chewing and/or candy is not allowed.candy.

Other rulesAppearance related to personal appearance:

Rules

• Name tag:tag and A-State ID badge and student name tag should be worn at all times, visible on the top left of lab coat or other coat/clothing.
• Nails:Nails musttrimmed; be trimmed to not extend past the tip of the finger. No nailno polish or nail enhancement is allowedenhancements (varies perby facility).
• ExcessiveNo make-upexcessive shouldmakeup.
not
• Tattoos may need to be used.covered.
• PreceptorsNo may request that tattoos are covered at all times.
• Visiblevisible body piercings (tongue, eyebrows, nose, etc.) are not allowed..
• Use deodorant/antiperspirant to reduce body odors.
• Do not useNo strong perfumes, colognescolognes, andor lotions.lotions Many sites prohibit using these items because it can(may cause allergic reactions/respiratory distress for guests and employees.distress).

Professional behaviors are those behaviors that are expected to be displayed at all times by students in class, supervised practice settings,practice, and dietetics-related programs. Students who failfailing to exhibit these behaviors are subject to corrective/disciplinary action. See the Professional Behavior Evaluation Form available in the appendix of the handbook.appendix.

The following is a list of expected behaviors of dietetic students:Behaviors:

• Ethical performance in accordance with the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics
• Regular and punctual attendance for meetings, supervised practice, and other activities
• Completion of assignments within allotted parameters
• Positive relationshiprelationships with peers, faculty, clients/patients, preceptorspreceptors, and staff
• Compliance with dress code in various settings
• Acceptance and incorporation of faculty feedback
• Adherence to guidelines stated in the Arkansas State University, CNHPCNHP, and Dietetic Student handbooks
• No other behavior and/or attitude demonstrated which is considered to be unprofessional, disruptivedisruptive, and/or unethical

Students are expected to possess the intellectual, physical, ethicalethical, and emotional abilities necessary to undertake the full dietetics curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the program for professional practice.

See the Essential Functions document available in the appendix of the handbook.

If progress in the CP is interrupted for health or other reasons, the student must meet with the program director to discuss the circumstances and options for program completion. This situation may take the student outside of the benchmark window.

If the student withdraws from the university, he/shethey must apply for readmission to the program. Readmission status willdepends be dependent uponon space available.availability. See the bulletins pageBulletin for additionalmore information.

Attendance: Weekly participation is a critical component ofin online learninglearning. and studentsStudents are expected to participate in discussions or complete other assignments each week.

Students who do not loginlog to coursesin during the first seven class days of a seven- or fourteen-week term,term will be assigned a grade of WN – (withdrawal for non-attendance,attendance) and are withdrawn from the class.   

Absences from the supervised practice facility due to sickness or family emergency must be reported to the preceptor and the practicum instructor. The preceptor should be notifiedinstructor prior to the timescheduled thetime.

Students may not leave a supervised practice site during scheduled hours without notifying the practicum instructor. 

Special requests to miss practicum must be submitted in writing to the practicum instructor at least one week in advance of the absence. advance. Not all requests for absences may be approved.  Personal business or routine appointments must be plannedscheduled outside of practicum hours. 

Approved theabsences absence is approved by the practicum instructor, the student should make arrangements forrequire make-up time arranged with the preceptor.  AnyMissed learning experience missedexperiences must be completed to the satisfaction of the preceptor and practicum instructor.  Make-up time may beoccur necessary during time that would be consideredon “off” days.