Mission Vision Goals
Mission Statement: To prepare students to contribute to a healthy and just society by advancing human nutrition in a range of roles and settings.
Vision Statement: The Department of Human Nutrition provides a quality applied science program in human nutrition relevant to society that actively engages students, faculty and staff in learning, research and service.
Goals: The following goals provide substance to the departmental mission.
- To prepare students for professional leadership as they progress through their career paths
- To provide an environment which supports interdisciplinary and collaborative research for faculty and students.
- To provide a sound knowledge base related to the study of human nutrition and opportunities to develop critical thinking skills
- To share expertise, which contributes to the nutritional health and well-being of society
- To contribute to the development of a strong dietetic profession.
Objectives related to Goals of the HNU Program
Each of the above goals is further articulated in terms of objectives. The goals and objectives presented here are not placed in order of importance, but should be seen as equal in value and merit.
Goal 1. To prepare students for professional leadership as they progress through their
career paths.
Objectives:
- As educators we will provide students with opportunities and necessary supports to enable them to achieve the following learning objectives.
- To improve oral and written communication skills for use with diverse audiences and settings
- To engage in ongoing research activity within the Department
- To acquire critical thinking and problem solving skills, through activities such as laboratory assignments, community-based projects, service learning and other opportunities for critical reflection
- To develop skills in communication, nutritional assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation, in preparation for dietetic internships
- To develop knowledge and skills in health advocacy
- To identify innovative directions for dietetic practice
- To become aware of the role of nutrition in interdisciplinary practice
Goal 2. To provide an environment which supports interdisciplinary and collaborative research for faculty and students.
Objectives:
- To expand collaborative research programs oriented to the needs of the local, national, and international communities.
- To expand intradepartmental, interdepartmental, and external research projects that focus on current food and nutrition issues.
- To provide students with practical experiences in conducting research.
- To provide students with experiences in interpretation of research literature and its application to dietetic practice.
- To involve students in faculty research programs.
- To upgrade and expand research space and equipment holdings.
- To upgrade and expand departmental computer hardware and software used for research.
- To maintain library holdings of books, monographs, journals and electronic resources.
- To mentor students interested in pursuing research and foster student commitment to future graduate studies.
- To support sharing of student research results through publications and through activities such as poster and oral presentations.
- To sustain a viable, high-quality honours degree program.
- To maintain a departmental research ethics review process.
Goal 3. To provide a sound knowledge base related to the study of human nutrition
and opportunities to develop critical thinking skills.
Objectives:
- To continue to improve the HNU program by systematic evaluation, self-reflection, and consultation with students, alumni, and the External Advisory Committee.
- To foster the development of critical analysis to enable students to apply current knowledge in human nutrition to the practice of dietetics and other career opportunities related to foods and nutrition
- To emphasize the interdependence and integration amongst course offerings.
- To provide opportunities for student experiential learning to integrate theory and practice in various practice settings.
- To continue to upgrade and expand the departmental holdings of laboratory equipment and resources.
- To upgrade and expand computer hardware and software access within the Department available for teaching.
- To maintain the library holdings of books, monographs, journals, and on-line resources.
- To acquire and develop departmental materials for teaching and learning.
- To support faculty professional development.
- To coordinate experiential learning opportunities across the curriculum.
Goal 4. To share knowledge, skills and expertise which contributes to the nutritional health and well-being of society
Objectives:
- To collaborate with community groups through activities such as public consultations, research projects, educational workshops, and presentations.
- To participate in research projects through knowledge development related to food and nutrition.
- To demonstrate convergence of the art and science of human nutrition in its application to promoting health of individuals, families and communities.
- To encourage students to act as nutrition and health advocates.
- To foster ethical practice according to professional codes of ethics.
- To integrate service learning across the curriculum.
- To foster collaborative practice across sectors and disciplines.
Goal 5. To contribute to the development of a strong dietetic profession.
Objectives:
- To demonstrate and instil in students and professional colleagues an appreciation of lifelong learning.
- In collaboration with the External Advisory Committee, to support provision of an annual professional development event.
- To sustain and promote the HNU Department Seminar Series.
- To contribute to national and provincial professional associations (Dietitians of Canada and Nova Scotia Dietetic Association) and the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) and participate in annual dietetic educators' meetings.
