Tips for Students

Best Practice Tips for Sudents

Thank you for choosing the University of North Dakota (UND) Nutrition and Foodservice Professional Training Program. We are honored to work with you as you pursue the education required to become eligible for the CDM Credentialing Exam. Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professionals (CDM, CFPP) are in high demand and are an invaluable member of the interdisciplinary team. This page is designed to provide practical tips to help you navigate the program and professional responsibilities towards a successful course outcome.

Supporting Your Success

Scheduled study time: Success in this program requires both dedicated time and supportive surroundings. We encourage students to talk with their employer, whether an administrator or supervisor, about setting aside regular study time. Many students have found it helpful to treat this as a “standing meeting” with themselves, ideally in a quiet and distraction-free space. This approach makes it easier to prioritize coursework without competing with the demands of the non-commercial kitchen.

Time commitments vary by pathway:

• Pathways I and III(b) (12-month courses): About 2.5-3 hours per week on coursework
  • Pathway I only: an additional 3 hours per week of fieldwork
• Pathway III(b) (accelerated): About 20 hours per week on coursework
• Pathways II and V (6-month courses): About 1.5 hours per week on coursework per course.

Set Timelines: Create a timeline for yourself and do your best to follow it. Some students stay motivated by posting a physical timeline to their office wall, while others prefer digital reminders on their phone or calendar to keep track of their goal dates. Choose the method that fits your style and helps keep you on track!

Access to professional guidance: Regular communication with a registered dietitian (RD) is a key part of applying what you learn. Schedule time with your facility’s RD to discuss how course material connects to your daily work. You also have full access to your UND RD instructor. Don’t hesitate to email them with questions or for clarification on worksheets. Your instructor’s contact information is available in your Blackboard course.

Take advantage of your course tools: Be sure to watch the welcome videos and I Need Help! Tutorials in your Blackboard course. These resources were designed to answer common questions, guide you through the course layout and expectations, and set you up for success from the very beginning.

Keep your information up to date: If you experience any changes (such as a new preceptor, facility, email address, or mailing address) please let us know by completing the update forms available on our website. It is especially important to keep your mailing address current. Upon completion of the program, your certificate of completion will be mailed to the address we have on file. This certificate is required to apply for and take the CDM Credentialing Exam, so ensuring it reaches you without delay is essential. There is a $25 fee for certificate of completion duplicates.

Check your UND email regularly. All official course communications will be sent to your UND student email account. Be sure to check your inbox often so you don’t miss important updates. If it is easier, you can forward your UND emails to a personal account. Step-by-step instructions for setting up email forwarding can be found in Blackboard under the I Need Help! tutorials module.

Begin Practicing Professionalism

Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. Here are a few basic points to remember when communicating in this course:

• Use a professional email address. Your email address is often the first impression you make in professional or academic communication. If your current email doesn’t reflect professionalism, consider creating one that includes your first and last name through a free email provider. Start early by designating this address specifically for your academic and professional use. It will serve you well as a student and beyond.
• Be scholarly. Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Explain your thoughts, justify opinions, and credit the ideas of others by citing or linking to scholarly resources. Avoid misinforming others when you are unsure of the answer.  When discussing something and supplying a guess, clearly state that. Answer each question fully and make sure to use your own words utilizing complete sentences. Tip: Explain each question as if you are teaching it to your instructor – be thorough.
• Be respectful. Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal or professional information about others unless permission has been granted. Respect diversity and opinions that differ from their own. Be tactful when you communicate.
• Be professional. Everyone should strive to give their best impression online. Truthfulness, accuracy, and running a final spell check are appropriate expectations for university students. Writing in a legible font and limiting the use of emoticons is considered professional behavior. Profanity and participation in hostile interactions, known as flaming, is unprofessional as well as disruptive. Include your first and last name on all email communications.
• Be polite. Students should be addressing instructors by the appropriate title or requested name. Students should interact online politely, just as they would be expected to do in a physical environment. Sarcasm, rudeness, and writing in all capital letters (shouting) should be avoided.
• Be concise. Be sure to include your full name, student ID, and order number to facilitate a prompt response when emailing your instructor, the nutrition certificates coordinator, or the Office of Extended Learning.