Programs in Dietetics and Nutrition Receive Full Accreditation

The University of Mississippi’s School of Applied Sciences and the Department of Nutrition & Hospitality Management are pleased to announce the recent accreditation decisions of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This recent decision confirmed full reaccreditation of the Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition and the initial full accreditation of the Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics and Nutrition after several years of candidacy. This accreditation will run through 2022. 

The undergraduate program is a four-year didactic program, which culminates in a B.S. degree.  The Coordinated Program (CP) serves as the supervised practice component of the Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Services. Its mission is to prepare nutrition professionals by combining graduate courses with supervised practice experience, offering diverse exposure in education, research, and practice to its students.

“The accreditation of our dietetics programs is tangible evidence of excellence and an important milestone as we continue to grow,” said Dr. David H. Holben, professor and incoming chair of the NHM department. “I am honored to be a part of a school that tirelessly works to ensure high-quality programs which prepare graduates for leadership roles in both nutrition and hospitality management.”

Students who complete the coordinated program become eligible to take the national registration examination administered by the Commission of Dietetic Registration. Successful completion of the examination will allow graduates to meet the requirements to become and practice as Registered Dietitians.

Velmer Burton, Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, was quick to note the importance of receiving the accreditation. He said, “This ACEND accreditation is yet another example of the high-quality work that our faculty and staff in dietetics and nutrition perform each and every day. Our people and programs certainly help improve the lives and conditions of Mississippians and others across the region.”

These recent accreditations come as a result of the efforts of many dedicated faculty and program administrators.  This now provides a strong foundation for the implementation of a doctoral degree program in Nutrition and Hospitality that was approved by the IHL this past spring. 

For more information on the Dietetics and Nutrition programs at UM, visit the Nutrition and Hospitality Management website at http://www.nhm.olemiss.edu.