Requirements for Preceptors and Facilities

• The Preceptor must be employed at the selected facility.  He/she may be full- time at the sponsoring facility for full-time interns or part-time for a part-time intern.
• Each Preceptor must submit a resume or curricula vitae.  He/she must have appropriate credentials and work experience to mentor the intern in the specified rotation.
• A facility form will be submitted for each rotation.  The following is a list of acceptable types of facilities:

Facilities for Clinical Dietetics
Acute care or long term institution.  The Preceptor must be a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association.

Food Service
School food service, University Dining Services or a health care facility.  The Preceptor must be a food service director or supervisor.

Community
All interns must complete a rotation in public health.  Interns must find a facility to provide community management experience.  Other types of facilities to complete the community nutrition experiences include:  The American Heart Association, Cooperative Extension, and Wellness rotations.

Preceptor Responsibilities

• Preceptors need to read all application materials provided for the intern.  They must have adequate time to supervise, mentor and evaluate the intern.
• The Preceptor must assure that the intern will be able to accomplish all the learning experiences outlined in the rotation materials.
• The Preceptor is responsible for scheduling all learning experiences for the intern during the specified rotation.
• It is expected that the Preceptor will provide feedback to the intern regarding observed strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis.  The Preceptor will conduct the performance evaluation of the intern and act as the point of contact in the facility with the Dietetic Internship faculty.  Internship faculty will schedule a time to discuss the performance evaluation via a telephone conference during the last week of the rotation.
• Preceptors must agree to fulfill the curriculum and abide by the policies and procedures of the University of Delaware Dietetic Internship.

Internship Faculty Responsibilities

• Provide curriculum and evaluation materials.
• Review and grade all intern assignments.
• Contact Preceptor and/or intern periodically to discuss rotation experiences.
• Track intern progress via an online journal.
• Be available for consultation as necessary.
• Be available for all evaluations via telephone conferencing.