Attendance/Sick Days

The 1000 hour Brooklyn College DI is designed to cover a 30 week period.  Each week, students are expected to be at their supervised practice site for a period of 35 hours.  Scheduling of rotations and classes are provided upon admission to the DI.

If an emergency arises and a student will be late or absent, the student must immediately notify the field supervisor and arrangements for make-up time must be made.  The DI program director must be notified in writing about each lateness/absence and subsequent make-up time.

Failure to properly notify appropriate instructors in advance of intended absences will result in students being placed on probation and the possibility of dismissal from the program.  If a student is absent over an extended period of time due to illness or other reasons, the experiences missed, or entire rotations, may need to be rescheduled.  Determination of the rescheduling will be made by the program director.

Students are accorded several holidays during the academic year as well as a break during intersession.  These are indicated in the Brooklyn College Program Calendar which is made available each semester.

Students who observe religious holidays must notify the field supervisor and the program director of their intended absences at least two weeks in advance.  The student is responsible to arrange any missed time or specific experiences at the site.

Weekly attendance to the seminar course is mandatory. Any absence or lateness must be discussed in advance with the DI director.  One excused absence is permitted. The intern is responsible to obtain any information missed in the seminar. A syllabus with the class schedule and course requirements will be distributed at the first class meeting.

Protection of Student Privacy

Intern personnel files will be kept in a filing cabinet in the director’s office.  All the information in the file is private and confidential except for projects the intern has completed which may be shared with other faculty and students. Interns have the right to review their personal files upon request. Policies Concerning Privacy and Student Records is found in the Brooklyn College Graduate Bulletin (pg. 41)

Statement of Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

It is Brooklyn College’s policy that its educational and employment programs will be administered without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, alienage or citizenship, disability or veteran status, or other factors irrelevant to productive participation in the programs of the college.

The complete policy is published in the Brooklyn College Graduate Bulletin and CUNY website  http://www2.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-assets/about/administration/offices/hr/policies-and-procedures/CUNYPolicy-Equal-Opportunity-and-Non-Discrimination-010115-procedures.pdf. 

Sexual Harassment Policy

It is the policy of CUNY to promote a cooperative work and academic environment in which there exists mutual respect for all University students, faculty and staff. Harassment of employees or students based upon gender is inconsistent with this objective and contrary to the university’s nondiscrimination policy. Sexual harassment is illegal under federal, state and city laws, and will not be tolerated within the university. The complete text of the CUNY sexual harassment policy may be found on the CUNY website http://www2.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-assets/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/POLICY-ON-SEXUAL-MISCONDUCT-10.1.2015-with-links.pdf

The university’s policy against sexual harassment is carried out at Brooklyn College through the Sexual Harassment

Awareness and Intake Committee, which consists of students and members of the faculty, administration and staff who review all complaints of sexual harassment and undertake to resolve complaints, using both formal and informal

procedures. Any student or other member of the college community may report allegations of sexual harassment

on an informal, confidential basis to any member of this committee. Information on the college’s procedures for dealing with complaints about sexual harassment is available online under the “Campus Info” tab on the BC WebCentral portal.

Insurance  Requirements

Students are responsible for professional liability coverage and health/medical insurance.

• Student Professional Liability Insurance : All students in the DI must purchase professional liability insurance before beginning their field experience.  Applications for coverage will be provided to students upon acceptance into the program.  The current fee for liability insurance is $38.00/year.  Verification of coverage must be provided before beginning the program.
• Health Insurance: Evidence of medical coverage must also be provided before beginning the program.

Evidence of Health Status/Medical Clearance Form

Interns must provide the program director with medical clearance documentation.  Interns may have these tests performed by their private physician. Medical clearance forms must be completed and submitted to the program director at the beginning of the internship. Interns who do not provide medical information are not allowed to begin the internship.

Immunization Requirements

New York State health law requires students to submit documentation proving immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella as well as a Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Response Form. Information on the New York State Department of Health immunization requirements may be found in the Health Programs/Immunization Requirements Office http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/studentaffairs/offices/healthprograms.php.

Some facilities may require additional documentation. Examples include a PPD skin test for tuberculosis, drug screening, a background check, or additional vaccinations. It is the student’s responsibility to contact each facility and inquire about requirements prior to the rotation. Failure to comply may prevent the intern from completing the internship.

Illness or Injury at the Rotation Site

The facility will provide emergency medical care to the student who becomes ill or injured while working on the premises.  The cost of emergency treatment or medical care provided by the site is the student’s responsibility.  Any medical care needed beyond the initial treatment is the student’s responsibility.

Policy on Replacement of Employees

Supervised practice is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace facility employees, except as planned to demonstrate competence/planned learning experiences, i.e. staff relief.

Program Complaint Procedure

There will be no discrimination or retaliation as a result of an intern exercising his or her right to file a complaint. If a student has a grievance at a field site, the student should confer with the preceptor to settle the problem. If the student is still dissatisfied, he/she may make an appointment with the program director to discuss the matter. If the intern has a complaint about the program, he/she should also make an appointment to speak with the DI Director to resolve the situation. If the issue is not resolved, the student should write a letter to the DI Director with a clear outline of the grievance and the desired outcome or resolution. The DI Director will respond within one week of the written request and provide the student with a resolution. If the student is dissatisfied with the resolution he/she may file a written complaint with the department chairperson.  If the complaint falls under the jurisdiction of the College, the grievance will be forwarded to the appropriate personnel in the Department of Student Affairs. Documentation of complaints will be kept in a file cabinet in the director’s office for a minimum seven years.

If a preceptor has a complaint about a student’s performance or behavior, the preceptor is encouraged to contact the program director immediately to discuss the problem.

ACEND Policy and Procedure Regarding Complaints Against Accredited Programs

ACEND will only review complaints related to ACEND standards.

ACEND^® can be contacted by: Email: [email protected]  Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400  Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995

https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/public-notices-and-announcements/filing-a-complaint-with-acend/procedure-for-complaints-against-accredited-programs

Retention and Remediation Policy

Interns are evaluated at the midpoint and at the completion of each rotation by their preceptor. If an intern is in danger of failing a rotation due to excessive absenteeism, lateness or failure to progress in the rotation, the internship director should be made aware by the preceptor as soon as possible and counseling will be provided for the intern. All efforts will be made to assist, encourage, and support an intern to improve their skills, knowledge, and performance during the internship program.

If the student continues to receive unsatisfactory evaluations, the director will meet with the intern again and a written remediation plan with a detailed list of objectives and remedial work will be assigned. This will be signed by the intern and program director and placed in intern’s file. If the intern fails to comply and the rotation is not successfully completed, the intern will be on probation.

Interns with minimal chances of success in the program will be counseled on alternative career paths

Disciplinary/Termination Procedure

All interns are expected to maintain standards of performance, conduct and proficiency and comply with each facility’s policies and procedures. If an intern does not maintain these standards, the DI director will call a meeting immediately with the intern to resolve the issue. If standards and policies are still not being met after the meeting, remedial action may be imposed. A record of the discussion will be entered into the student’s personal file.  If the prescribed changes in behavior are not made, the student may be discharged from the site and required to repeat the rotation at another facility. In the event that an intern is terminated from two sites, he/she may be expelled from the DI program.

Student Support Services

Support services are offered to all graduate students, these include access to the health clinic and the nutrition clinic, diagnostic testing and counseling. http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/studentaffairs/offices/healthclinic/services.php

Standards of Professional Behavior

The Program follows the University’s policy about plagiarism and academic honesty which is provided to each student at the beginning of each year. This code of honesty guides students in their behavior. Students violating the plagiarism code of the graduate program are subject to dismissal from the Program. Cases of this nature are investigated thoroughly before the student is dismissed.

At all times, interns are expected to perform in a professional manner. Professional behavior is discussed and evaluated throughout the Program. Interns are oriented to the Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession (Appendix B) which provides guidelines for professional practice and conduct throughout the program.

Dress Code

Interns must follow established dress code policies set by each supervised practice facility. In order to promote a professional image, the intern will wear professional attire at all rotations and while in attendance of any training sessions and professional meetings. It is the responsibility of the intern to contact each rotation facility to inquire about the dress code prior to the rotation.

University’s Policy on Academic Integrity

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism.  Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.  The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site:  http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core3/currah/acinteg.htm.  If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.

HIPPA

During your various rotations it is imperative that you keep all information confidential. This information includes but is not limited to medical information about patients, billing information, costs from vendors, and contact information for clients.

When preparing your assignments, please remember to remove the patient name and/or number for submission in your portfolio. You portfolio is a public document.

You may be asked to sign a HIPPA confidentiality statement or to complete HIPPA training at your assigned facility.

Code of Ethics

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) and its credentialing agency, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), believe it is in the best interest of the profession and the public it serves to have a Code of Ethics in place that provides guidance to dietetics practitioners in their professional practice and conduct. Dietetics practitioners have voluntarily adopted this Code of Ethics to reflect the values and ethical principles guiding the dietetics profession and to set forth commitments and obligations of the dietetics practitioner to the public, clients, the profession, colleagues and other professionals. By accepting membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics members agree to abide by the Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession.

Liability for safety in Travel

Students are responsible for travel arrangements and liability for safety to and from the rotation sites and the college. The facilities and the college assume no responsibility in this matter.

Transportation Costs

Students are responsible for all costs incurred traveling to and from rotation sites, the college, and any professional seminars or meetings.  All rotation sites are accessible to public transportation.