Program Standards and Reasonable Accommodations

Observation requires the functional use of vision, hearing, and other sensory modalities. Students and interns must be able to participate in lectures, laboratory demonstrations, and internship rotations deemed essential by the faculty. They must be able to accurately observe patients or clients—both in person and through video or audio recordings—by noting verbal and non-verbal behaviors.

Communication includes speech, language, reading, writing, nonverbal skills, such as maintaining eye contact, and computer literacy. Students and interns must possess interpersonal skills sufficient to seek out and provide feedback appropriately and communicate effectively and sensitively with empathy toward patients and clients to elicit information regarding mood and activities, as well as perceive nonverbal communications.

Students must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with other members of the health care community, other students, and faculty to convey information essential for safe and effective care. Students must demonstrate effective collaboration in team settings by attending all meetings, contributing equitably to shared tasks, and ensuring timely submission of group assignments. They are expected to communicate respectfully and reliably with peers to support collective goals and maintain accountability.

Students are required to demonstrate a non-judgmental attitude and respect all people regardless of cultural and other differences. Students are expected to engage in timely and reliable communication by responding promptly to emails, phone calls, and other messages from faculty, advisors, and preceptors, ensuring accessibility and accountability in all professional interactions.

Students and interns are required to possess motor skills sufficient to directly perform palpation, auscultation, point of care testing (blood glucose, blood pressure), and other examination procedures. Students and interns must be able to execute motor movements related to food preparation and food service management such as cutting, lifting, and carrying trays. These skills require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movement, equilibrium, and the integrated use of touch and vision.

Intellectual abilities: To effectively solve problems, evaluate outcomes, and meet deadlines, students and interns must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize information in a timely fashion. The student must be able to apply knowledge and integrate the relevant aspects of a patient’s history and examination findings to develop an effective treatment program based on the latest scientific information.

Good judgment in patient assessment and therapeutic planning is essential; students must be able to identify and communicate their knowledge to others when appropriate. Students are expected to demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning by self-assessing, self-correcting, and self-directing their educational growth, identifying information needs and appropriate sources, and actively seeking new knowledge.

Students and interns must possess the psychological ability required for the full utilization of their intellectual abilities, for the exercise of good judgment, for the prompt completion of all responsibilities inherent to diagnosis and care of patients, and for the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, families, and members of the health care team. Students must be punctual, dependable, assume responsibility for mistakes, dress in a manner appropriate for the situation, maintain personal hygiene, and uphold professional behavior in all situations, in accordance with the Standards of Professional Practice.

Students must be able to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. Students must proactively manage stress by recognizing its impact, developing effective coping strategies, seeking support when needed, and maintaining professional behavior in all circumstances. They must be able to adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility, and function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients. . Students must be capable of advocating for healthy and pleasurable eating habits in a manner that reflects empathy, cultural sensitivity, and evidence-based practice. Students must demonstrate ethical behavior both in the classroom and during clinical experiences, safeguard confidential information, and act with honesty, integrity, and fairness, in accordance with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Code of Ethics at all times.

Technology plays an integral role in coursework and during your supervised practice. Students and interns must be proficient in basic computer skills, including e-mail, web browsing, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and other common applications and be capable of learning and using R- statistical package to analyze public health related data and electronic health records to provide nutrition care, and Blackboard Learn, which is BU’s Learning Management System.

Eating disorders are complex and serious medical conditions that often require professional and, at times, long-term treatment. The academic and clinical demands of a dietetics program can exacerbate these conditions. It is important to understand that academic training in nutrition is not a substitute for appropriate medical or psychological care.

As a student in our program, you are expected to promote healthful eating behaviors and to uphold the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics, the Standards of Practice and Professional Performance for Registered Dietitians, and all Boston University Nutrition Program Standards, including the Standards for Professional Behavior. These expectations apply to all students, regardless of personal challenges.

Boston University offers a range of confidential resources. Additional information is available to enrolled students in the Graduate Student Handbook.

All enrolled students must be capable of meeting the technical and professional standards required for both the academic and supervised practice components of the Programs in Nutrition. Applicants and students are encouraged to review these standards carefully prior to and throughout their enrollment.

Boston University provides reasonable accommodations to eligible individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Requests for accommodations must be made in a timely manner to Disability & Access Services, located at 25 Buick Street, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-3658 (Voice/TTY).

Students seeking accommodations must submit appropriate medical documentation and comply with the policies and procedures established by Disability & Access Services. Information about the process for requesting accommodations is available at Disability & Access Services website.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the admissions process does not require disclosure of a disability. However, all enrolled students must be capable of meeting the technical standards for the academic and clinical education components of the program. These technical standards are necessary for full participation in the curriculum, and it is expected that students will function independently, which generally means, without the aid of an intermediary, to achieve proficiency in all curricular areas.

Applicants and students should review the technical standards for the program carefully. A student with a disability may request reasonable accommodation. If, due to a disability, you feel you may require accommodation in order to complete the curriculum, it is essential that you work with BU Disability and Access Services to discuss possible accommodation.

Students planning for experiential learning experiences* who may need reasonable accommodations in that setting are expected to proactively review their program’s technical and/or licensure standards and contact BU Disability and Access Services no later than 90 days prior to the start of the experience to discuss appropriate accommodations. Students may also need to communicate their accommodation needs to the program director and/or the faculty member assigned to oversee the experience and share relevant information with the site to ensure that approved accommodations are implemented to support their success.

*Experiential learning settings are inclusive of internships, practicums, fieldwork, clinical placements, and research opportunities.