Eastern Michigan University and Owens Community College
(Toledo, Ohio) have signed an articulation agreement that
will help students seeking an undergraduate degree in dietetics.
The agreement will allow students of OCC's dietetic technology
program to complete their associate of applied science
degree and transfer to EMU without loss of credit. Transferring
students will take 40 credit hours at EMU to complete a
bachelor's of science degree in dietetics.
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"[This agreement] provides a smooth curriculum transition
that minimizes loss of credit and duplication of coursework," said
Jeanne Thomas, dean of EMU's College of Health and Human
Services.
Owens's program prepares students to be dietetics technicians
(DTR), professionals who support the work of dietitians
and other health care professionals. Eastern's program
in dietetics prepares students to be registered dieticians
(RD). EMU's is one of only two coordinated dietetics programs,
combining both coursework and an internship, in the state
of Michigan.
"[Owens] has the only dietetics technician program in
the area," said Betsy Francis, head of the EMU School of
Health Sciences. "Actually, there are none in Michigan,
so it makes good sense to have an articulation agreement
with Owens and help the students who want to continue on
for their bachelor's degrees."
Judi Brooks, director of EMU's dietetics program, said
around 10 percent of students in the on-campus section
of dietetics have transferred here from community colleges,
and almost half of the students in EMU's online program
attended community colleges.
Dietetics students from the Toledo area already take advantage
of EMU's tuition reciprocity agreement with the state of
Ohio, but this articulation agreement could be a bigger
incentive, said Francis. Currently, nine students in the
College of Health and Human Services have transferred to
EMU from OCC.
"It would be nice to use this articulation agreement
as a recruitment tool. [Agreements] help to facilitate
the ease of transferring to EMU and streamline the advising
process," said Francis. "Also, the students know what to
expect and there are clear guidelines for transferring
to EMU."
"I consider this articulation agreement an exciting development
for EMU," said Thomas. "It will make our strong program in
dietetics accessible to a new population of students and
potentially meet critical educational and workforce needs."
