Notification to Current and Prospective Students of the Closure of the Didactic Program in Dietetics

Life University’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) will be voluntarily closing effective the end of Summer Quarter 2027 (September 30th, 2027). No new students are currently being admitted into the program and currently enrolled students will be permitted to switch their major to “dietetics/DPD” no later than December 20th, 2024.

The remaining enrolled DPD students will be given an academic map of what courses they still require and an estimated completion date, called a teach-out plan (with a goal to advise and assist with program requirement completion within the teach-out period). Life University’s DPD program will maintain its ACEND accreditation status throughout the teach-out plan. Students who do not complete all DPD requirements by June 30th, 2027, will NOT be considered graduates of an ACEND-accredited DPD.

There will be no additional charges or expenses incurred by students because of the teach-out plan. Should any unforeseen costs arise, students will be promptly notified, and the university will work to mitigate these expenses.

The Department of Sport Health Science and Nutrition is committed to providing education and training to prepare the currently enrolled students seeking to become Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDNs) and will continue to provide programming that meets ACEND and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requirements until the teach-out program is complete.

All verification statements will be stored in the Sport Health Science (Nutrition offices) and copies can be requested by graduates and alumni by contacting the Program Director or Nutrition faculty directly via email.

Beginning in Fall 2024, the Department of Sport Health Science and Nutrition will offer an undergraduate Bachelor of Science program in Nutrition with 3 separate tracks for specialization: Applied, Culinary, and Sports Nutrition.

Nutrition continues to be an important discipline and course of study amid the changing healthcare landscape. Students who pursue this program will be prepared to work in many capacities to help further nutrition knowledge. Graduates of the Nutrition Degree will be able to implement the knowledge and skills learned in industry, public health, academia, food service management, and many other areas. In addition, graduates will be prepared to further their education in the health professions including professional graduate programs in nutrition, exercise physiology, medicine, chiropractic, and even dietetics through a Future Education Model (FEM), which is the ACEND-Accredited pathway to become a Registered Dietitian.

For more information about the closure of the DPD please contact the following:
Program Director: Ilana Katz (Ilana.Katz@life.edu)
Assistant Dean: Dr. Richard H. Williams (Richard.Williams8@life.edu)
Dean: Dr. Ron Lunk (Ronald.Lunk@life.edu)
Provost: Dr. Jana Holwick (Jana.Holwick@life.edu)