UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship Program Policies and Procedures Manual

The dietetic internship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (henceforth referred to as UMass Amherst dietetic internship or DI) is a 10-month* program that provides the practical experiential learning necessary to prepare and qualify dietetic students (henceforth referred to as students) to take the nationally administered Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) credentialling examination (also referred to as the “RD exam”). Graduates of the program also meet the experience portion required to apply for state licensure in MA and other states. For more information visit “Pathway to RD/RDN and Licensure.”

Accommodating up to 10 students each year, the UMass Amherst DI program has two start dates. The fall program runs Sept-May; spring program runs Feb-Nov. The philosophy of the program is based on our recognition that there is a need for broadly trained dietitians, and most students benefit from exposure to a wide variety of practice settings before deciding where to specialize.

Our program strives to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a variety of supervised practice experiences that will form the broad basis for a career in any segment of the nutrition and dietetics field. *Program length may vary depending on prior learning credit, student’s progress, and/or desired experiences.

The UMass Amherst DI program is accredited through 2029 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). ACEND is located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-6995. To contact ACEND, call (312) 899-5400, email ACEND [at] eatright [dot] org or visit their website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.

In accordance with the 2022 ACEND standards, students are required to complete 1000 hours of supervised practice, of which 700 hours must be conducted in a professional workplace setting and 300 hours may come from alternate supervised experiences including simulated case studies and role playing. The UMass Amherst DI provides students with over 1,000 supervised hours in a workplace setting and approximately 200 hours of alternate supervised practice hours.

Preceptors from healthcare facilities, school systems, and community organizations in western Massachusetts and beyond volunteer their time and attention to teaching UMass Amherst DI students about their respective areas of expertise. Collectively, they provide the supervised, professional experiences necessary to meet the competencies required by ACEND of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Brief Rotation Overview

Students will spend approximately 256 hours (eight 4-day weeks) in a food service management (FSM) rotation, gaining managerial experience in a food service environment. Most FSM rotations are located within school or healthcare systems. Other opportunities for FSM experience may be available including the VA, Meals-on-Wheels facilities and Head Start programs. Completion of the ServSafe for managers training (or its equivalent) must be done prior to starting the FSM rotation.

Students will spend approximately 256 hours (eight 4-day weeks) in a community nutrition rotation, gaining experience and building skills in a variety of settings within the community. This rotation offers the most diverse opportunities for students ranging from the Food Bank of Western Mass to a pediatric endocrine clinic.

Students will spend approximately 384-480 hours (12-15 4-day weeks) in a clinical rotation. A pre-clinical workshop is held to review the basics of MNT and A & P, which prepares students for their in-person clinical experience. Students will also spend 48 hours (two 3-day weeks) in long-term care (LTC) specializing in gerontological nutrition and dementia.

Additionally, students spend 48 hours (two 3-day weeks) at a Veterans Affairs (VA) rotation where they focus on individual and group nutrition counseling experiences. Students also choose a specialty rotation (“plan your own - PYO”) where they will spend 64 hours (two 4-day weeks) working in an area of personal interest. While students are encouraged to reach out to individual preceptors (this encourages networking and fosters initiative), the director has a list of rotation options and contact information from which to choose. It is not expected that students facilitate the PYO rotation solely on their own.

UMass Amherst DI Program Schedule

Typically, a four-day orientation, which takes place in early September (fall admits) or early February (spring admits), is held for incoming students before they begin their first rotation, often the following week. Students entering their clinical rotation will first spend two weeks with the program director in an intensive pre-clinical workshop.

The program director and preceptor should be informed as soon as possible if a student will need to leave the western MA area for any reason (e.g., wedding, family vacation). If an unexpected event occurs during a scheduled rotation that requires additional time off (e.g., family emergency), the program director will work with the student to accommodate a temporary leave. Brief absences due to illness/injury will be discussed further in this document; however, both the program director and preceptor should be notified as soon as possible.

Program Overview

The program begins with a group orientation that covers the competencies and expectations students should anticipate throughout the program. This is a substantial amount of information, which may be overwhelming at first. You will have access to our Canvas LMS when you register for the DI practicum (698A in fall, or 698B in spring), which will contain all the information required for the program. All incoming dietetic students must enroll through University + as a non-degree student. Visit their website for instructions on how to enroll.

Generally, students complete their FSM and community nutrition rotations in one semester and their clinical in the other, and the shorter rotations are spread evenly throughout the program. Students attend the VA rotation orientation in pairs, but do their counseling work individually with an assigned preceptor. All other rotations are completed individually.

The program days for all rotations, with the exception of the VA and LTC, are Tuesday through Friday (4 days/week, ~32 hrs/week). Mondays are reserved for class days to attend seminars and workshops. There will not be class on every Monday, but plan on at least two each month. Seminars are virtual and students may choose to attend them together or separately. Workshops will be in person and held at the UMass Venture Way Collaborative Building, 100 Venture Way, Hadley, MA 01035. Fees to attend seminars, workshops, and/or conferences will be covered by the program.

The 32-hour week does not include travel time, homework/projects, or other outside preparation for the rotations. There will be a two-week break at the end of December through the New Year, and a two-week break in the summer for the spring cohort.

DI Program Completion Requirements

As previously mentioned, each student must satisfactorily meet all ACEND core competencies set in a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice. A “satisfactory” completion of each core competencies means that the preceptor (or program director) overseeing the competency has given the student an evaluation score of a three (3) or four (4) on a four-point scale. If a student has trouble mastering a competency, they may need to spend more time in that rotation or participate in additional activities or experiences until an acceptable level of competency is achieved. A midpoint check-in is conducted to address any concerns and reduce the chance of a student completing a full rotation with little chance of success. Per ACEND regulations, students must complete the internship within 150% of the usual time allotted. The UMass Amherst DI program is typically 10 consecutive months, therefore, 150% of that time would be 15 consecutive months.

During the 1,000+ hour DI program, students are expected to meet all of the 2022 Core Competencies beginning on page 9 in the Curriculum and Learning Activities section within the ACEND Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs manual. Competencies are based on learning experiences designed to simulate a wide range of activities practiced by entry-level dietitians. Students work with preceptors at each rotation site (or the program director) to ensure that all competencies are successfully met. Additional activity hours associated with the program that fall under the alternate supervised hours include various projects and presentations (e.g., abstract, PDSA project, nutrition presentations).

Upon successful completion of the DI program, graduates will receive an electronic version of their dietetic internship verification statement from the program director indicating they have satisfactorily completed their supervised practice and are eligible to take the CDR credentialling exam. Upon passing the RD exam, graduates will be registered dietitian and/or registered dietitian nutritionists (RD/RDN). More information about the RD exam can be found on the CDR website: https://www.cdrnet.org/RDN.

The 1,000 hours of supervised practice also fulfills the experience portion required to apply for state licensure in Massachusetts. Visit our website for more information on Massachusetts State Licensure requirements. Each state has its own variation on licensure requirements. Interested individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice hours and examinations required to become a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. More information about specific state licensure requirements and certifications can be found at this link: State Licensure.

Credit for Prior Learning

The UMass Amherst DI program allows for prior learning credit on a case-by-case basis. This means students may be able to transfer time spent in a nutrition-related field toward the required 1,000 hours of supervised practice. For example, if a student held a nutrition specialist position at WIC, some of that time could count toward their supervised practice, reducing the overall time spent in the program. The number of hours applied is related to the amount of work and experience a student received prior to entering the program. For example, if a student worked five hours/week for WIC for one year, and had a higher level of responsibility (e.g., delivering nutrition education or conducting nutrition-related trainings) that was confirmed by their supervisor, that student would likely be able to apply the full 256 hours of supervised practice that would go toward the community nutrition rotation. This could allow the student to complete the internship in less time (e.g., eight months).

CastleBranch (secure data collection site)

The UMass Amherst DI program uses CastleBranch, an online data safehouse, to process and contain all student data related to the internship. These data include, but not limited to, immunization records, background checks, drug test records, driver’s license, student competency evaluations, and several other signed documents. Students will use a secure login to upload all required documentation to CastleBranch. Instructions for CastleBranch can be found on the internship’s Canvas page.

Rotation Sites

Affiliated sites are located primarily in western Massachusetts (Amherst, Springfield, Northampton, the Berkshires, and others). Some rotations may require travel to eastern Massachusetts (e.g., Boston, Milton, Woburn) or central Massachusetts (e.g., Worcester, Auburn, Framingham). While preference is given to western Massachusetts area rotations, students must be willing to drive an hour one-way to an affiliated site. If a student must drive an extended distance for one rotation, accommodations for nearby locations for the remaining rotation sites will be given.

Every effort is made to place students in their top choice for the three main rotation sites; however, not everyone will be able to go to their first choice for each rotation. The program director will take into account the intern’s interests when creating the program schedule.

Regardless of residential location, it is expected that all students attend Monday seminars, which occur at least twice/month primarily on Mondays (note: there are a few seminars on a Friday). Most Monday seminars are combined class days shared with Boston-area DI programs. Workshops and/or trainings will be in person, either on campus in Amherst, in Hadley (100 Venture Way), or at the host’s facility (e.g., Food Bank tour). Students are not required to attend Monday seminars that are only offered in person and located in the Boston area. Students are only expected to participate if the seminar is offered virtually. However, students are always welcome to attend the seminars in-person, but travel expenses would be their responsibility. Any fees for Monday seminars (e.g., Boston Children’s Pediatric Conference) will be paid by UMass Amherst DI.

Additional Internship Requirements

Each student will give a formal case study presentation at the end of their clinical rotation. Whenever possible, the case should be on a unique disease or condition observed during the clinical rotation. Further instructions are found in the Canvas
course.
Each student will give an information presentation based on their experience at either their food service management or community rotation. Background and informative data on the main roles of the rotation site are expected (e.g., information on the
National School Lunch program).
Each student will participate in an event that advocates for local, state, or national legislative and regulatory issues or policies impacting the nutrition and dietetic profession (CRDN 2.13).
Each student will submit an abstract and prepare a poster associated with the abstract for presentation at the professional meeting (Annual Nutrition Conference and Expo in MA).
Each student will develop an objective for their two-week (8-day) specialty/plan your own rotation.
Each student will maintain documentation of hours spent in supervised practice (UMass Amherst DI rotation log) and have it signed by the preceptor at the end of the rotation and upload to CastleBranch. Alternate supervised practice hours (e.g., abstract project) must also be documented by the program director and submitted in CastleBranch.

Performance Evaluations

A student’s overall performance will be monitored continually by the preceptor and program director, and/or by request of any involved party during each rotation. A performance evaluation will be conducted for each student at the mid-point and at the end of each rotation, with the program director, preceptor, and student attending. Self-reflections should be completed by each student prior to and after each rotation. Students are expected to keep a journal and portfolio of their activities during all rotations to document performance of required activities.

Financial Information: Tuition and Fees

The tuition for the UMass Amherst dietetic internship program is $10,000. This is payable online through your SPIRE account in two $5,000 installments (beginning of fall and spring semesters, respectively).

A University+ registration fee of $60 each semester ($120 total) is charged for enrollment in the DI practicum courses (NUTR 698A & 698B). Dietetic students must enroll in the DI practicum in both the fall and spring semesters or risk losing access to the course. The total cost of the program including fees is $10,120. Note: additional expenses associated with the internship are to be expected and discussed below.

Additional Costs and Requirements

Professional Memberships and Activities

Students are required to be active members of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (current student membership = $58) and the Western Area Massachusetts Dietetic Association (no charge) (WAMDA). WAMDA membership automatically qualifies students as members of the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND). Students are expected to participate in WAMDA activities throughout the program year.

Housing/Transportation/Meals/Clothing

Students are responsible for their own living arrangements and expenses. They must also have access to individual transportation since many of the rotation sites are not easily accessible by public transportation. A variety of housing options are available in the western Massachusetts area, with prices dependent on arrangement type and location. The university’s Off Campus Housing Services website maintains a list of apartments and houses available for rent in the Amherst area. The average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the Amherst area is $1,840/month, while the average cost of renting a similar apartment in Westfield (approx. 25 miles from Amherst) is $1100/month.

Travel expenses can vary based on a student’s home location and distance to the rotation sites. It’s realistic to assume 10-20 miles of travel per rotation workday, which would amount to 2,240 - 4,480 miles during the program. You must have access to a reliable vehicle and/or transportation to participate in the UMass Amherst DI program.

Many rotations, particularly food service, provide free lunches to the students. Students should be prepared to purchase or provide their own meals and snacks throughout the program. Some clinical and food service rotation sites require students to wear a lab coat and/or scrubs. These can be purchased from a variety of retail or online stores and cost approximately $25-$40. It is expected that students wear business casual apparel to their respective rotation sites unless otherwise specified by the preceptor. Clothing costs can range greatly. If one does not currently own business casual attire and acceptable shoes, it is reasonable to expect to spend around $200.

Miscellaneous Costs

Students need to have access to a laptop with internet access throughout their time in the program.

Students must obtain their ServSafe for managers certification prior to beginning their food service rotation. ServSafe course are available in-person and online and costs vary depending on your preference. In the past, students have used HRFoodSafe to take the course, but training for managers is offered through many vendors.

Students are NOT required to carry their own Professional Liability Insurance for their work associated with the internship as they are covered by a policy held by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Student Status in Practice Facilities

It is agreed that while in practice facilities, students have the status of “trainee,” and will not routinely replace regular staff members employed at the facility. Students are not paid by the facility while performing their supervised experiences. All students are expected to abide by each facility's rules and regulations, including dress codes and personal appearance policies, and to uphold patient confidentiality and patient/client care protocols as established by that facility. A UMass Amherst DI name badge will be provided and should be worn at each rotation and group activity.

Employment and Financial Aid

The UMass Amherst DI program recognizes the need for most students to work during the internship program. The program strives to maintain flexibility with rotation schedules; however, precentors typically work business “daytime” hours, therefore students should be available during those hours. Daily hours and/or days/week may be adjusted to accommodate work, although preference should be given to the internship whenever possible. Students should contact the program director if they have concerns with work/rotation hours.

Students enrolled in the UMass Amherst DI program are not eligible for financial aid through the University’s Financial Aid Office. Several scholarships and financial assistance are available through the EatRight.org to qualified dietetic students. Visit their website for more information: https://www.eatrightpro.org/student-member-benefit-highlights.

Travel Liability

The Nutrition Department and the University of Massachusetts Amherst assume no responsibility for dietetic students traveling between their assigned areas. All students are required to furnish their own transportation to and from rotation sites and are liable for their own travel. Students must maintain an active automobile insurance policy during the internship. A copy of their automobile insurance policy and their vehicle registration are required in CastleBranch on or before the start of the first rotation.

Vacation, Holiday, and Absence Policies

All students of the UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship will have at least two weeks of vacations each year. The dates for the fall cohort fall between December 21st and January 5th, and the spring cohort will be individually arranged according to each student’s vacation plans and their rotation schedules.

Although highly unlikely, all students may be required to work on legal holidays at the discretion of the preceptor. Students are responsible for notifying their preceptor of any absence or excessive lateness (more than 10 minutes of expected arrival time). If a student knows of an upcoming absence, they should notify the preceptor in advance and arrange to reschedule the day’s activities. Students are expected to keep to their assigned schedules, except for emergencies or illness. Students who are absent due to illness or personal reasons do not need to make up the day unless instructed by the preceptor. Sufficient hours are built into the program that can account for up to three absences. It is advisable for students to obtain the cell number of their preceptors (if acceptable to the preceptor), for immediate notifications. Students who miss long periods of time (i.e., greater than two weeks) will need to extend their time at that rotation. If a student is not able to extend their rotation, they should plan to spend that time in another rotation to ensure the missed competencies are met. Rescheduling such missed work will be done at the discretion of the preceptors and the program director.

Rotation hour logs must be maintained by students and should be signed by the preceptor at the end of the rotation to document supervised practice hours. Some seminar sessions may count toward the total supervised hours (e.g., coding and billing); therefore, if missed, must be made up.

Health Insurance and Immunization Policies

Students are required to provide a copy of the cover page of the current health insurance policy and coverage must be insured for the entire internship year. Students moving to Massachusetts who do not have health insurance can contact the Health Connector portal to inquire about eligibility for a plan. Students may be expected to complete a health form for some rotations.

The UMass Amherst DI program requires proof of all immunizations, including the full series of the Covid vaccination and booster, as well as the flu vaccination, if required by the rotation facility. Cost of obtaining immunizations will be at the student’s expense, and all documents should be uploaded to CastleBranch. Most facilities, particularly hospitals and those dealing with vulnerable populations, will not allow unvaccinated students to participate; thus, the internship requires that all students must be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. Find the full list of vaccination requirements below:

2 MMR vaccines (1st dose must be on or after 12 months of age) or positive titer
2 Varicella immunizations (1st dose must be on or after 12 months of age) or positive titer
2 Heplisav-B or 3 Hepatitis B vaccinations AND 1 titer demonstrating immunity or declination
Proof of two step PPD (tuberculosis screen) with plant date & date read OR an IGRA-test (T-spot or QuantiFERON Gold test). If history of a positive TB, report of negative chest x-ray done within past 12 months
TDAP (within 10 years)
Flu vaccination or declination (typically October 1 – March 31)
Current Covid vaccination

Illness or Injury During a Rotation

Students are responsible for their own health and safety while in practice facilities/rotation sites. The program director will provide the student with the contact information of their preceptors before beginning the rotation. Students are responsible for contacting their preceptors and should do so at least two weeks before the rotation begins. The onboarding procedure may be extensive at some rotation sites (i.e., clinical settings); thus, it is advisable for the student to contact the preceptor at least one month in advance in those settings. Students will be responsible for completing all health screens or immunizations required by the facility and upload all documentation to CastleBranch prior to the start date. Some vaccinations and testing (e.g., TB) may require a booster and/or a 2nd reading. Students should be aware of these instances and plan accordingly.

Students are required to carry health insurance and should upload a copy of their health insurance card or policy in CastleBranch prior to the start of the program. Some rotation sites require a 10-panel drug test, which includes marijuana. This may be scheduled and results uploaded through CastleBranch.

Complaints, Disputes, and Resolutions

Filing a Complaint against a Preceptor

If a student has a dispute with a preceptor, the student should first seek advice and assistance from the program director. All efforts will be made to resolve the situation, including finding an alternative rotation site.

Filing a Complaint against the Program Director through UMass Amherst

If the student wishes to file a complaint against the program director, the student should first seek advice and assistance with the nutrition department chair, Dr. Lindiwe Sibeko. If resolution cannot be met, the student may file a formal complaint with ACEND (see policy and procedure below). All records of disputes, complaints, and resolutions will be maintained for a period of seven years within the Department of Nutrition at UMass Amherst.

The UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship abides by the University of Massachusetts Academic Grievance Procedure and Academic Honesty Policy. The link to these policies and procedures can be found at:

Academic Regulations

Academic Honesty Policy

The Ombuds Office is available to all members of the University community to help resolve University-related conflicts impartially and without judging, rewarding, or punishing parties. Depending on the problem, the Ombuds Office mediates disputes, facilitates communication, investigates claims of unfair treatment or erroneous procedure, listens, advises, and makes recommendations. The Ombuds Office provides information about and referral to grievance procedures. The Office also coordinates the hearing process for academic grievances and charges of academic dishonesty.

Some of the problems with which the Ombuds Office can offer advice or assistance to students in both tracks include: course/degree requirements; grade disputes; grading policy and practice; allegations of academic dishonesty; sexual, racial, and other types of harassment; delays in services or decisions; conflicts with instructors, employers, or administrative offices;
roommate/coworker/classroom conflicts; and other interpersonal disputes.

Records, contacts, and communication are normally confidential; in unusual circumstances (which are explained to clients) rare exceptions are made if required by law.

The Ombuds Office is located in 823 Campus Center, tel. 413-545-0867. Although not required, it is best to call to arrange a convenient time for an appointment.

Filing a Complaint against the Program Director through ACEND

ACEND® has established a process for reviewing complaints against accredited programs in order to fulfill its public responsibility for assuring the quality and integrity of the educational programs that it accredits. Any individual, for example, student, faculty, dietetics practitioner and/or member of the public may submit a complaint against any accredited program to ACEND®.

However, the ACEND® board does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admissions, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty or students. It acts only upon a signed allegation that the program may not be in compliance with the Accreditation Standards or policies. The complaint must be signed by the complainant. Anonymous complaints are not considered.

For more information and procedure on how to file a complaint with ACEND or to access the Complaint Investigation Form, go to: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/public-notices-and-announcements/filing-a-complaint

Disciplinary and Termination Procedures

All efforts will be made to accommodate student problems with respect to rotation assignments. However, when a student does not abide by stated policies and student guidelines or continues to fail to meet an acceptable level of performance, disciplinary action or termination may be necessary. Problems which may result in termination can be broken down into two categories:

Not abiding by stated policies: Students who do not abide by stated policies, including the student guidelines (see separate document) are subject to immediate termination. A preceptor in a site can reserve the right to terminate a student in the interest of patient/client/employee safety. In order for a student to be terminated in this manner, both preceptor and program director must agree that the intern's behavior was sufficiently inappropriate to warrant such action. Stated policies include policies in effect at rotation sites, which must be made aware to students at the beginning of their rotation.

Not succeeding in a rotation: If, at the midpoint performance/evaluation appraisal (i.e., midpoint check-in), or at the discretion of a preceptor at any timepoint, a student is unsuccessfully meeting the expected competencies, the student may either (a) be reassigned to another rotation site, or (b) work with the preceptor and program director to develop a remediation plan acceptable to all involved to correct the problem. Missed time must be made up by the student, and in some cases repeating rotations/experiences may be necessary to ensure that all competencies are met. If reassignment to a new rotation site is not possible (which is likely the case with clinical placements), the student must meet with the program director and preceptor to develop an action plan on how to achieve the delinquent competencies. The plan must be acceptable to both the preceptor and program director, and should include a timeline for completion. Reassessment of the student’s competency will be made by the preceptor and the program director within a reasonable timeframe. If at that time, the student remains unsuccessful in meeting the planned competencies, the program director reserves the right to terminate the student. Per ACEND requirements, efforts will be made to assist the student in choosing another career path. Dispute resolution procedures described above are available to the student. In any case of termination or voluntary withdrawal, students may be released from program fee obligations not yet due when the termination occurs.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Part 99 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations) allows present or former students at educational institutions access to educational records kept on them, as well as basic protections of privacy of their records. The law does not apply to applicants seeking admission to the University. The law applies to educational records, which are defined as those records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution.

The Dean of Students Office, 227 Whitmore Administration Building, keeps a list of types of educational records maintained by the University, where they are kept, and who is responsible for them. The Dean of Students Office also has available a description of your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and procedures to be followed in exercising those rights.

If you wish to see any of the educational records which apply to you, go to the office which keeps the records during regular working hours. Make your request in writing, following the procedures established by the office. If possible, you will have immediate access to your record. In no case will you have to wait more than 45 days. If you are required to wait, the office will tell you when your record will be available. You will have to identify yourself with a picture ID to see your record.

If you wish to challenge the content of your record, first try to work the problem out with the person responsible for the record. If this proves unsuccessful, you may request in writing a hearing at which you may present your challenge. Complete information on hearing and appeal procedures is available from the Dean of Students Office, 227 Whitmore Administration building.

More information about UMass FERPA policies. All students will have access to their records, projects, and assignments, including evaluations in CastleBranch.

UMass Amherst Health and Support Services

University Health Services serves UMass Amherst students, faculty and staff, along with their spouses, domestic partners and dependents. Information and access to healthcare services at UHS may be found on their website at: https://www.umass.edu/uhs/accesstocare

Mental health and counseling services, including telehealth services, are available for students/students at UMass Amherst. For more information visit the Center for Counseling and Psychosocial Health at: https://www.umass.edu/counseling/.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment. Furthermore, University policy includes prohibitions of harassment of students and employees, (i.e., racial harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation for filing complaints of discrimination). Go to the Equal Opportunity and Access Office website for the university’s policy statement.

Inquiries concerning applicable laws, regulations, and policies should be addressed to the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office, 305 Whitmore Administration Building, (413) 545-3464. rev. 4/2013

Identity Verification and Privacy Protection Policies

UMass Amherst uses the NetID for credentialing in our online courses. What is a NetID

The NetID is a student’s passport for all of UMass Amherst IT services. See the IT Guide for UMass Amherst

Student identity and privacy concerns are regulated at UMass Amherst through SPIRE by the IT department. UMass Amherst DI program adheres to the university’s policy for ensuring student identity and verification and uses the DUO and/or the Microsoft two-step verification processes. For more information on the two-step verification process, go to: https://www.umass.edu/it/authentication

For more information on your UMass Amherst IT account, go to Accounts at UMass Amherst

The UMass Amherst Privacy Policy

Background Checks and Screenings

All students will have several background checks/screenings conducted before entrance into the program. This is at no additional cost to the student. However, individual rotation sites may require fingerprinting, which will be at the student’s expense if not covered by the facility. The following are the background checks performed for the internship:

Nationwide Background check (7 year look back)
Federal Criminal check (unlimited look back)
CORI check
County Criminal check (7 year look back)
OIG & OFAC
Massachusetts exclusions list

Drug Testing

The UMass Amherst DI program does not perform drug testing on the students; however, many rotation sites do require a 10-panel drug test before a student is able to begin the rotation. Note: while marijuana is considered legal in the state of Massachusetts, it is still considered an illegal drug at the federal level. Therefore, facilities that accept Medicare (a federally run program) or facilities whose headquarters are in a state where marijuana is illegal, may refuse to allow a student who tests positive work at that facility. If you believe you may test positive for marijuana, notify the program director immediately, so that you may be placed in facilities that do not adhere to strict rules on this particular drug. However, there is no guarantee that a facility will waive a positive drug screen for marijuana or any illicit drug. Students should be aware of the potential impact on their ability for placement. It will not be the program director’s responsibility to find an alternative placement for a student if they have been denied one due to a positive drug screen.

Preceptor Training

Preceptors, faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants who will be mentoring students will be provided with an orientation to the program’s mission, goals, objectives, and educational philosophy, and will be trained on the program’s expectations and the current 2022 ACEND Standards with emphasis placed on their specific area of expertise. New preceptors will be asked to participate in the ACEND preceptor training program and will be granted eight CEUs upon completion. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) also provides CEUs for preceptors.

Information and the self-reflection form can be found on their website: https://www.cdrnet.org/cpeu-credit-for-preceptors. All mentors will receive feedback in the form of an evaluation from the students and/or program director.