1 00:00:01,230 --> 00:00:04,480 Welcome to Digication Scholars Conversations. 2 00:00:04,540 --> 00:00:06,300 I'm your host, Kelly Driscoll. 3 00:00:06,670 --> 00:00:11,190 In this episode, you'll hear part one of my conversation with Amy Urbanus, 4 00:00:11,209 --> 00:00:15,790 Assistant Professor in the Dietetics and Nutrition Program at University 5 00:00:15,790 --> 00:00:20,100 of Alaska Anchorage's School of Preventative and Therapeutic Services. 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,639 More links and information about today's conversation can be found on Digication's 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,570 Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 8 00:00:28,195 --> 00:00:32,085 Full episodes of Digication Scholars Conversations can be found on 9 00:00:32,095 --> 00:00:34,785 YouTube or your favorite podcast app. 10 00:00:36,055 --> 00:00:39,115 Welcome to Digication Scholars Conversations. 11 00:00:39,145 --> 00:00:44,065 I'm your host, Kelli Driscoll, and today I am so pleased to introduce 12 00:00:44,095 --> 00:00:49,434 Amy Urbanus, assistant Professor in the Dietetics and Nutrition Program at 13 00:00:49,445 --> 00:00:54,684 University of Alaska Anchorage's School of Preventative and Therapeutic Services. 14 00:00:54,735 --> 00:00:56,245 Welcome, Amy! 15 00:00:56,485 --> 00:00:58,005 Thank you so much for having me. 16 00:00:58,524 --> 00:00:59,744 Absolutely. 17 00:00:59,845 --> 00:01:05,900 So, Amy, I just, you know, I always kind of like to ask how people came to the 18 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,280 institutions where they're teaching today. 19 00:01:09,310 --> 00:01:13,779 And I think especially with University of Alaska Anchorage that 20 00:01:13,780 --> 00:01:16,060 there's probably a story there. 21 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,320 So could you tell us about your journey? 22 00:01:19,455 --> 00:01:20,625 Right. 23 00:01:20,625 --> 00:01:21,794 Yes. 24 00:01:21,795 --> 00:01:24,035 How you came to where you are today? 25 00:01:24,315 --> 00:01:25,015 Sure. 26 00:01:25,035 --> 00:01:26,105 Yeah, definitely. 27 00:01:26,105 --> 00:01:28,115 I was not born and raised in Alaska. 28 00:01:28,164 --> 00:01:33,025 So, um, I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa. 29 00:01:33,155 --> 00:01:38,715 Uh, so I am a Midwestern baby and, uh, got my undergraduate degree in Colorado at 30 00:01:38,715 --> 00:01:41,285 Colorado State University a long time ago. 31 00:01:41,604 --> 00:01:42,485 I won't tell you when. 32 00:01:42,835 --> 00:01:45,975 Uh, and you know, I love the mountains. 33 00:01:46,255 --> 00:01:49,065 I kept That's sort of moving west. 34 00:01:49,365 --> 00:01:53,945 Um, I, after graduation with my undergraduate degree, I decided 35 00:01:53,945 --> 00:01:57,494 I did not want to be a dietitian, which is kind of comical that here I 36 00:01:57,494 --> 00:02:00,305 am, uh, teaching future dietitians. 37 00:02:00,704 --> 00:02:03,924 Um, but I moved back to the Midwest. 38 00:02:03,925 --> 00:02:08,155 I always say I gave it the good, honest Midwest try, um, and 39 00:02:08,205 --> 00:02:11,805 lived there and worked with a registered dietitian for a year. 40 00:02:12,215 --> 00:02:17,554 Um, In a employee wellness program, um, so for your viewers who know the 41 00:02:17,554 --> 00:02:21,304 Midwest, I did employee wellness for Hy Vee grocery stores, which covers a 42 00:02:21,304 --> 00:02:23,824 seven state range, uh, in the Midwest. 43 00:02:24,545 --> 00:02:29,614 And it was then that I realized like, Oh, like this lady's got it going on. 44 00:02:29,624 --> 00:02:31,494 Like she's running this program. 45 00:02:31,724 --> 00:02:33,605 She's doing all these amazing things. 46 00:02:33,605 --> 00:02:35,395 Maybe being a registered dietitian. 47 00:02:36,020 --> 00:02:37,170 Would not be so bad. 48 00:02:37,550 --> 00:02:41,260 Um, so I kept working for her and this is employee wellness kind of when it 49 00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:46,370 was on Like the forefront of employee wellness like this wasn't happening yet 50 00:02:46,749 --> 00:02:53,629 Um, because it was in the 90s right, um And this entirely was not talked about not 51 00:02:53,949 --> 00:02:59,130 so much It was very kind of so the fact that we were counseling employees at these 52 00:02:59,130 --> 00:03:01,770 grocery stores Um was was a pretty... 53 00:03:02,079 --> 00:03:03,339 pretty cool thing, actually. 54 00:03:03,380 --> 00:03:09,320 Um, anyway, so, but I was still plugging along in Iowa and my roommate from 55 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,289 Colorado State grew up in Kodiak, Alaska, and she had since moved back to Anchorage, 56 00:03:14,699 --> 00:03:16,630 um, and told me I would love it. 57 00:03:16,809 --> 00:03:23,320 And so I packed up my little Subaru and drove, I don't know, five or six 58 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,369 days up the Alcan and came to Alaska. 59 00:03:26,510 --> 00:03:30,070 And my first job, I got a job, I actually interviewed on the road. 60 00:03:30,435 --> 00:03:35,505 Uh, somewhere in the Yukon, um, for, I worked for RurAL CAP, which is 61 00:03:35,505 --> 00:03:37,925 Rural Alaska Community Action Program. 62 00:03:37,965 --> 00:03:42,125 And so I worked for their early Head Start and Head Start programs, uh, and 63 00:03:42,275 --> 00:03:48,604 within like three weeks, I was on this little, uh, bush plane with duct tape, 64 00:03:48,875 --> 00:03:52,685 kind of scary, but I was flying out into these rural communities in Western 65 00:03:52,685 --> 00:04:01,285 Alaska, um, totally had, you know, all of my Prior teachings of what I was 66 00:04:01,295 --> 00:04:02,885 supposed to do were just wiped out. 67 00:04:02,885 --> 00:04:06,255 I was just totally fell in love with Alaska, um, and the Alaska Native 68 00:04:06,255 --> 00:04:09,084 population, uh, and worked out there. 69 00:04:09,105 --> 00:04:13,614 And then I decided, hey, I really should do my dietetic internship, get 70 00:04:13,614 --> 00:04:17,164 my graduate certificate and move on to becoming a registered dietitian. 71 00:04:17,175 --> 00:04:22,415 So, uh, the University of Alaska Anchorage had a dietetic internship program. 72 00:04:22,825 --> 00:04:24,865 Um, so I did my internship here. 73 00:04:24,904 --> 00:04:27,175 I was one of five students that year. 74 00:04:27,515 --> 00:04:31,985 Um, we did not have an undergraduate, uh, didactic program in dietetics at 75 00:04:31,985 --> 00:04:34,375 that time, just the internship component. 76 00:04:34,965 --> 00:04:44,085 Um, and so I, you know, became a registered dietitian, got a job, met a 77 00:04:44,085 --> 00:04:49,574 guy, uh, you know, and, you know, swore I was looking for jobs back in Colorado. 78 00:04:49,574 --> 00:04:53,755 But I always say, you know, Three kids later and a house and some chickens 79 00:04:53,755 --> 00:04:55,415 and dogs and all the rest of it. 80 00:04:55,715 --> 00:04:57,315 I'm still in Alaska. 81 00:04:57,485 --> 00:05:00,055 Um, so this is way more story than you probably want. 82 00:05:00,465 --> 00:05:01,795 Oh, I love it. 83 00:05:01,895 --> 00:05:02,154 I love it. 84 00:05:02,154 --> 00:05:09,815 But so I then spent probably, I think I spent 18 years, um, Mostly, I did work at, 85 00:05:09,845 --> 00:05:13,735 uh, the Alaska Native Hospital a little bit with South Central Foundation, uh, 86 00:05:13,735 --> 00:05:18,875 there, but, uh, quickly moved over to, uh, Providence Alaska Medical Center, 87 00:05:18,935 --> 00:05:24,294 uh, and did, uh, about eight years or ten years in outpatient counseling, uh, 88 00:05:24,315 --> 00:05:29,615 primarily focused in diabetes education, um, and outpatient nutrition counseling, 89 00:05:30,005 --> 00:05:36,860 um, and then moved into the acute care side and for Eight years was a diabetes 90 00:05:36,860 --> 00:05:43,350 specialist, um, working with glycemia management and diabetes care and, uh, for, 91 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,420 uh, patients admitted to the hospital. 92 00:05:45,940 --> 00:05:52,799 Um, and the didact, the director of the undergraduate program at the 93 00:05:52,810 --> 00:05:56,700 time, I'd known her for, here at UAA, I'd known her for a very long time. 94 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,810 Um, and, um, Kept asking me, like, when are you going to come teach with us? 95 00:06:00,810 --> 00:06:01,980 When are you going to come teach with us? 96 00:06:01,990 --> 00:06:07,769 I'd been an adjunct instructor for a lot of years, um, and I love teaching. 97 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:12,820 And so I took a, I took a leap and left my dream job. 98 00:06:12,820 --> 00:06:17,580 I always say my diabetes specialist job was my dream job, um, and left 99 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:19,800 that and came to UAA five years ago. 100 00:06:19,830 --> 00:06:24,390 So this is my sixth year, um, as full time faculty, uh, here 101 00:06:24,390 --> 00:06:26,760 at the University, uh, and. 102 00:06:27,150 --> 00:06:33,500 Yeah, it's been, it's been a wild ride, and great, and super fun to dive into a 103 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:37,199 whole, you know, I felt like I was young enough that I had another career left in 104 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:40,680 me, um, so, yeah, so that's how I'm here. 105 00:06:41,330 --> 00:06:45,169 Ah, that's such a great story, and it sounds like you're somebody 106 00:06:45,230 --> 00:06:50,570 who's, uh, quite comfortable taking, taking leaps, so. 107 00:06:51,174 --> 00:06:56,484 Uh, you mentioned that, uh, I think it was your past roommate, um, that 108 00:06:56,664 --> 00:07:01,385 was from Kodiak and thought that you would love it in Alaska and 109 00:07:01,385 --> 00:07:02,945 you, you packed up your Subaru. 110 00:07:02,974 --> 00:07:06,205 I think you said, um, I used to have one of those too. 111 00:07:06,695 --> 00:07:07,255 Fun car. 112 00:07:07,724 --> 00:07:14,594 Um, so had you been to Alaska before, before you packed up and, you know, 113 00:07:14,595 --> 00:07:22,215 So do you remember some of your first impressions when you arrived? 114 00:07:22,445 --> 00:07:22,845 Yes. 115 00:07:22,915 --> 00:07:29,725 So, uh, for any of your viewers that have ever driven the Alcan, um, it's beautiful. 116 00:07:29,725 --> 00:07:31,165 And I came up in the end of August. 117 00:07:31,224 --> 00:07:34,075 So in the Yukon territory, in the interior, it's beautiful. 118 00:07:34,235 --> 00:07:35,055 It was fall. 119 00:07:35,145 --> 00:07:39,005 So, uh, so the, the first thing really is just you're out in the middle of 120 00:07:39,005 --> 00:07:43,315 nowhere or it felt for me at the time that I was out in the middle of nowhere 121 00:07:43,315 --> 00:07:47,164 and just all of these fall colors and it was super, super gorgeous. 122 00:07:47,635 --> 00:07:52,764 Um, coming into Anchorage actually when you, uh, you actually drive 123 00:07:52,775 --> 00:07:56,794 through a town called Palmer, which is one of our, uh, more of our 124 00:07:56,804 --> 00:07:59,474 agriculture Titan communities here. 125 00:07:59,835 --> 00:08:04,655 Um, which is amazing and still some of my favorite views of these mountains that 126 00:08:04,655 --> 00:08:06,585 you, that you view when you drive in. 127 00:08:07,075 --> 00:08:10,025 Um, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this is so amazing. 128 00:08:10,854 --> 00:08:15,025 And then I quickly hit, uh, what we would consider to not be 129 00:08:15,025 --> 00:08:16,995 the greatest part of Anchorage. 130 00:08:17,265 --> 00:08:24,735 Um, And, you know, all of a sudden I was like, Oh, this is Anchorage. 131 00:08:25,085 --> 00:08:26,685 And I was petrified. 132 00:08:27,175 --> 00:08:31,664 I had a, yes, I had a total panic attack, you know, as I'm driving 133 00:08:31,665 --> 00:08:36,164 by, like, you know, strip clubs. 134 00:08:37,074 --> 00:08:39,695 I'm just like, Oh my gosh, what did I do? 135 00:08:39,935 --> 00:08:42,745 And Anchorage is a, you know, it's a, it's a Western city. 136 00:08:42,745 --> 00:08:48,474 It's, it's, it's very mixed and, um, you You know, it's not a huge city. 137 00:08:48,824 --> 00:08:52,774 Um, and so, yeah, so that was one of my, my initial reactions. 138 00:08:52,805 --> 00:08:57,425 Obviously, you know, there, there's a lot of beautiful parts of Anchorage. 139 00:08:57,624 --> 00:09:00,634 The other thing that really got me is when you watch the news, at least 140 00:09:00,634 --> 00:09:02,915 when you used to watch local TV. 141 00:09:03,375 --> 00:09:04,204 Before streaming. 142 00:09:04,444 --> 00:09:07,105 So, um, I remember watching the news. 143 00:09:07,105 --> 00:09:08,035 I'm in this hotel room. 144 00:09:08,035 --> 00:09:09,625 I haven't moved into an apartment yet. 145 00:09:09,625 --> 00:09:14,425 I just got here and when they do the weather up here, they do the lower 48. 146 00:09:14,475 --> 00:09:17,534 So they'll talk about everything that's going on, you know, in the 147 00:09:17,534 --> 00:09:23,694 lower 48 and then they take the globe and they like rotate it. 148 00:09:23,695 --> 00:09:29,005 So you like come up and here at home and I burst into tears because I 149 00:09:29,005 --> 00:09:32,145 was like, I'm so far away from home. 150 00:09:32,155 --> 00:09:34,045 Like I had, that's when it actually hit me. 151 00:09:34,055 --> 00:09:38,745 Not the drive, not the week long drive, but the, Oh my heavens. 152 00:09:38,795 --> 00:09:45,124 Like they had to rotate the earth to show Alaska. 153 00:09:45,395 --> 00:09:50,615 Um, so that was one of my other biggest, you know, kind of, Oh my gosh. 154 00:09:50,645 --> 00:09:54,594 Um, but you know, obviously I'm still here in 2023. 155 00:09:54,635 --> 00:09:56,334 So things, things worked out okay. 156 00:09:56,885 --> 00:09:58,205 Yeah, it sounds like it. 157 00:09:58,335 --> 00:10:00,335 Um, and it is remarkable. 158 00:10:00,515 --> 00:10:05,044 I've had the incredible opportunity to visit Anchorage. 159 00:10:05,115 --> 00:10:12,385 Uh, definitely need to give a shout out to Paul Wasco, the ePortfolio Coordinator 160 00:10:12,415 --> 00:10:19,264 at University of Alaska Anchorage, um, because he has just been such a Wonderful 161 00:10:19,284 --> 00:10:26,724 connector, um, between, uh, Jeff Yan, uh, Digication's co founder and CEO and 162 00:10:26,724 --> 00:10:30,814 myself with the UAA community there. 163 00:10:31,185 --> 00:10:36,894 And we had this incredible, um, opportunity to, you know, now visit 164 00:10:36,905 --> 00:10:43,480 the campus several times and It was so striking to me how Anchorage 165 00:10:43,530 --> 00:10:46,490 is, you know, very much a city. 166 00:10:47,140 --> 00:10:55,330 How quickly you can really feel completely remote and in, you 167 00:10:55,330 --> 00:10:56,259 know, fully immersed in the city. 168 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:02,670 And different kinds of experiences, whether you're seeing glaciers or, 169 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:08,329 you know, we joke about moose spotting on, before you've seen one, you really 170 00:11:08,330 --> 00:11:11,290 don't know how big they really are. 171 00:11:11,859 --> 00:11:13,319 They're very big. 172 00:11:13,715 --> 00:11:18,955 Yeah, and I remember on one of our early visits, it was springtime 173 00:11:19,645 --> 00:11:24,324 there and seeing, you know, different flowers that were growing there 174 00:11:24,324 --> 00:11:27,625 that I'd never seen in the lower 48. 175 00:11:27,625 --> 00:11:33,635 Yeah, I've lived in New England and the Southeast and in, um, the, you know, 176 00:11:33,704 --> 00:11:39,264 more like Northern California area, and it was just really, um, so fun to see 177 00:11:39,264 --> 00:11:44,410 all of the, uh, Different variety of plants and animals and scenery there. 178 00:11:44,410 --> 00:11:48,160 And of course, just this like constant view of the mountains. 179 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:53,029 So as someone that loved the mountains, that probably, even when you had that 180 00:11:53,030 --> 00:11:58,579 moment where you felt a little hard to rotate, you know, to see the weather. 181 00:11:58,939 --> 00:12:03,289 I hope also is kind of offering you a little bit of feeling of. 182 00:12:03,714 --> 00:12:05,064 You know, connection. 183 00:12:05,074 --> 00:12:06,954 Um, so thank you. 184 00:12:06,974 --> 00:12:08,925 Thank you so much for sharing that. 185 00:12:09,074 --> 00:12:13,734 Uh, and you were also mentioning another leap that you made where, you 186 00:12:13,785 --> 00:12:19,464 know, you described that you'd found your, your dream job, um, but then, 187 00:12:19,494 --> 00:12:26,814 uh, did make this, uh, transition into teaching in Higher Ed and it's, was 188 00:12:26,814 --> 00:12:32,324 it the kind of community that you had started to connect with at UAA that. 189 00:12:32,735 --> 00:12:39,535 You think kind of solidified that decision or were there elements about some of 190 00:12:39,535 --> 00:12:44,325 your, you know, prior teaching practice that kind of led you in that direction? 191 00:12:44,325 --> 00:12:46,794 What do you feel like might have been that kind of... 192 00:12:46,795 --> 00:12:53,280 you know, I think it, it was kind of a, Kind of a lot of different things. 193 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,380 I think, you know, so I'm a little bit of a, even though I've lived in Alaska for 194 00:12:57,380 --> 00:13:00,580 a long time, I always kind of describe myself as a little bit of a change junkie. 195 00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:03,030 Like, I'm kind of always like, what's next? 196 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,219 What's the next challenge? 197 00:13:04,219 --> 00:13:09,689 What's going to be the next, um, you know, I remember like after I had my third 198 00:13:09,689 --> 00:13:15,899 child, I am like, okay, like got married, had baby one, two, three, like now what? 199 00:13:15,949 --> 00:13:18,499 You know, like I had that feeling like, okay, let's go to PA 200 00:13:18,749 --> 00:13:21,049 school, you know, or something, whatever I was doing at the time. 201 00:13:21,379 --> 00:13:26,230 Um, And so, you know, I'd been doing, I'd been in that position 202 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:32,609 for eight years and, um, I think the thing that always kind of, I found 203 00:13:32,610 --> 00:13:35,579 myself in that role teaching a lot. 204 00:13:35,659 --> 00:13:39,210 So one of my main, so I did patient education. 205 00:13:39,220 --> 00:13:41,750 So I did diabetes education for patients. 206 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,580 Um, Which, it seems to a lot of people, they're like, Oh, 207 00:13:45,580 --> 00:13:47,160 don't you get tired of diabetes? 208 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,500 And I'm like, No, because my role here is really to be like an investigator 209 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:53,320 and a problem solver and figure out. 210 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:54,920 So different for why? 211 00:13:55,149 --> 00:13:55,689 Yeah. 212 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:57,989 So every person is so different. 213 00:13:58,029 --> 00:13:59,360 No two people are the same. 214 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,330 I always call diabetes a designer disease. 215 00:14:01,330 --> 00:14:02,660 It's very personalized. 216 00:14:03,170 --> 00:14:08,940 And so, built this rapport with the physicians and nursing staff and pharmacy 217 00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:10,820 and, you know, kind of was really a. 218 00:14:10,835 --> 00:14:14,705 I felt like a, an integral member of a, an interdisciplinary team 219 00:14:15,435 --> 00:14:18,725 where I would interview my patients and really try to figure out, you 220 00:14:18,725 --> 00:14:21,205 know, what is it that got you here? 221 00:14:21,245 --> 00:14:24,274 And so let's, let's figure out the barriers and let's figure out why, 222 00:14:24,285 --> 00:14:28,014 how it is that you have found yourself in the hospital and then, you know, 223 00:14:28,015 --> 00:14:30,724 see if I can't help coordinate that care and transition you to the 224 00:14:30,774 --> 00:14:32,844 outpatient world and, and all of that. 225 00:14:32,884 --> 00:14:36,744 So the interdisciplinary aspect was really important to me. 226 00:14:37,650 --> 00:14:43,130 And another big part of my role was to build a glycemia management 227 00:14:43,130 --> 00:14:47,660 program within the hospital, um, and kind of lead that charge. 228 00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:53,530 And what that really means is getting physicians, nurses, techs, 229 00:14:53,849 --> 00:14:58,599 pharmacists, to all understand each other and speak the same language. 230 00:14:58,829 --> 00:15:02,170 Um, and I love that. 231 00:15:02,220 --> 00:15:05,360 I mean, pharmacists are different, totally different than nurses. 232 00:15:05,370 --> 00:15:09,430 Like nurses, I mean, they have to like think on the fly and then pharmacy 233 00:15:09,430 --> 00:15:12,739 would be all upset because they're very, not all pharmacists, but some 234 00:15:12,739 --> 00:15:16,259 are like very linear and like, you know, well, but why would they do that? 235 00:15:16,269 --> 00:15:17,029 They can't do that. 236 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:19,400 And I'm like, well, they did that because of this, you know? 237 00:15:20,435 --> 00:15:22,495 And then the physicians are doing something different. 238 00:15:22,824 --> 00:15:27,395 And so I found myself doing a lot of presentations and education, 239 00:15:27,395 --> 00:15:31,064 and I would let physicians or different people, uh, follow with 240 00:15:31,064 --> 00:15:33,004 me and, um, you know, round with me. 241 00:15:33,005 --> 00:15:37,370 And we were, you know, I had the, The advantage of really 242 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,310 hyper focusing on one condition. 243 00:15:40,330 --> 00:15:42,280 So I felt like I could get really good at that. 244 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,900 Um, where other providers and things don't have that advantage, right? 245 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:49,580 They have to be experts and so many different things. 246 00:15:50,449 --> 00:15:56,814 So I found myself educating a lot and, um, And so not just patient education, 247 00:15:56,824 --> 00:15:59,165 but then also professional education. 248 00:16:00,015 --> 00:16:02,085 So I think I liked that. 249 00:16:02,135 --> 00:16:06,555 I found that really awesome and interesting, um, and rewarding, I guess. 250 00:16:06,954 --> 00:16:14,605 Um, and so when this became available, you know, this position at UAA, it 251 00:16:14,605 --> 00:16:16,665 kind of married those things for me. 252 00:16:16,835 --> 00:16:23,795 Um, So, it's obviously higher education, so I'm teaching students, you know, at a 253 00:16:23,795 --> 00:16:26,075 higher, obviously, like at a higher level. 254 00:16:26,394 --> 00:16:30,035 Um, I have the fortunate, I'm totally fortunate to be able to teach in the 255 00:16:30,035 --> 00:16:33,860 undergraduate and the graduate program, so it, it really, You know, I have a 256 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:36,189 lot of variety in my student population. 257 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:38,650 I am in charge of advising. 258 00:16:38,650 --> 00:16:41,829 I knew I was going to be in charge of advising for our program. 259 00:16:41,990 --> 00:16:46,150 And I've been told I spend way too long with my students. 260 00:16:46,390 --> 00:16:51,859 Um, I remember my coworker whose office is next to me, she came after I'd had 261 00:16:51,860 --> 00:16:55,800 like my, I don't know, like my fifth advising session in my first year, she 262 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,540 comes around, she's like, you're not going to spend an hour with each person. 263 00:16:59,540 --> 00:16:59,810 Are you? 264 00:16:59,810 --> 00:17:01,799 She's like, you're never going to get anything done. 265 00:17:01,870 --> 00:17:10,054 And I was like, Oh, I was like, I was like, okay, well, I like this. 266 00:17:10,084 --> 00:17:11,135 Like it felt like counseling. 267 00:17:11,675 --> 00:17:16,645 So, uh, so it, it utilized my counseling skills, um, to where, you know, so 268 00:17:16,645 --> 00:17:19,274 when we talk about, I know we'll talk about portfolios, but when we 269 00:17:19,274 --> 00:17:22,605 talk about like, You know, student success and all of that kind of 270 00:17:22,625 --> 00:17:25,484 stuff, like that felt like good to me. 271 00:17:25,514 --> 00:17:28,145 So I really enjoy the advising aspect of things. 272 00:17:28,564 --> 00:17:34,284 Um, and yeah, and then it was just, you know, it was like, why not? 273 00:17:34,515 --> 00:17:39,535 Um, you know, I, like I said, I felt like I had another, You know, I 274 00:17:39,535 --> 00:17:41,295 kind of had like my first 20 years. 275 00:17:41,735 --> 00:17:45,985 Um, it was like, okay, well, am I going to do this for the next 20 or, 276 00:17:46,335 --> 00:17:48,845 or 15 or however long I end up working? 277 00:17:48,845 --> 00:17:49,304 I don't know. 278 00:17:49,595 --> 00:17:53,244 Um, you know, or is there, there's something I had, I felt like I 279 00:17:53,244 --> 00:17:57,169 had enough time to be Good at something else, I guess, like 280 00:17:57,169 --> 00:17:59,049 develop and grow professionally. 281 00:17:59,340 --> 00:18:02,929 Um, I will tell people that that first year that I worked full 282 00:18:02,929 --> 00:18:08,629 time as faculty, um, was, I hadn't worked that hard in a long time. 283 00:18:08,830 --> 00:18:13,100 Uh, and so just everything, you know, was just so brand new, a whole 284 00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:14,639 different system and everything. 285 00:18:15,850 --> 00:18:18,950 This past summer though, I'm super was super happy. 286 00:18:18,950 --> 00:18:24,169 I took a position as a PRN per diem, Clinical Dietician back at the same 287 00:18:24,169 --> 00:18:29,959 hospital, um, and to kind of make sure my skills were, you know, current 288 00:18:29,959 --> 00:18:32,120 and accurate, and I had so much fun. 289 00:18:32,150 --> 00:18:39,559 I, I really do miss the, um, there is a culture in a hospital, um, and a very, 290 00:18:39,559 --> 00:18:42,249 it's a very social, uh, environment. 291 00:18:42,869 --> 00:18:44,219 Um, and so. 292 00:18:44,470 --> 00:18:47,250 Yeah, so I, there are, there are elements to that that I definitely 293 00:18:47,250 --> 00:18:49,340 miss, but this has been good. 294 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:50,420 Yeah. 295 00:18:50,570 --> 00:18:58,229 Well, and what an incredible kind of experience and, you know, in all of 296 00:18:58,230 --> 00:19:04,680 those different areas for you to be able to bring to your students now, too, you 297 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:09,570 know, even the element of the Things about that that you miss because you're 298 00:19:09,580 --> 00:19:14,450 able to kind of pull from that when you're communicating with your students 299 00:19:14,450 --> 00:19:21,670 and advocating for them and Um, helping guide them through the advising, you 300 00:19:21,670 --> 00:19:27,119 know, how lucky those students are to have somebody that, that committed to the, 301 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:30,679 the field and also to, to their success. 302 00:19:31,369 --> 00:19:39,060 Um, now I know one of your recent challenges as someone who said 303 00:19:39,060 --> 00:19:43,520 that they, you know, are kind of looking to, to do new things. 304 00:19:43,540 --> 00:19:51,620 Um, Was the recent kind of accreditation, uh, within dietetics and, uh, could 305 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:57,569 you share with us a little bit what, what that was like and, um, maybe 306 00:19:57,570 --> 00:20:03,040 at a high level, how Digication may have supported some of those efforts? 307 00:20:03,349 --> 00:20:04,079 Oh, for sure. 308 00:20:04,159 --> 00:20:09,419 So, um, so a part of my role here as assistant professor is I also 309 00:20:09,419 --> 00:20:14,080 this, uh, This other faculty member that recruited me, I didn't know 310 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,660 that she was moving up the ladder. 311 00:20:17,110 --> 00:20:21,160 Um, so she was, she's a very good friend of mine, uh, but she was the 312 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:25,339 director of our didactic program in dietetics, uh, which is our Bachelor 313 00:20:25,340 --> 00:20:26,670 of Science degree in dietetics. 314 00:20:26,949 --> 00:20:32,870 And, um, So, in my second semester of teaching, I became the director of our, 315 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:38,709 of our program, which means that, um, that in addition to those other things, I'm 316 00:20:38,709 --> 00:20:40,939 really in charge of outside accreditation. 317 00:20:41,219 --> 00:20:44,810 So, we are accredited by an organization called ACEND. 318 00:20:45,109 --> 00:20:49,789 Um, I couldn't tell you what it stands for, Accreditation Council for 319 00:20:49,969 --> 00:20:54,600 Dietetics Education, I don't know. 320 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:55,060 Anyway. 321 00:20:55,250 --> 00:20:56,809 That sounds, that's so terrible. 322 00:20:56,810 --> 00:20:58,770 I should have it written down here somewhere. 323 00:20:58,780 --> 00:20:59,370 No, we all have. 324 00:20:59,765 --> 00:21:03,805 You know, I'll have to try to memorize so many different acronyms. 325 00:21:04,505 --> 00:21:09,635 Yeah, they are crediting body and our, um, our larger body. 326 00:21:09,635 --> 00:21:13,454 So, uh, so would they accredit our program? 327 00:21:13,454 --> 00:21:18,225 So we're accredited as a didactic program in dietetics, um, which essentially is 328 00:21:18,310 --> 00:21:21,430 Just the undergraduate portion, when the student completes that, they're 329 00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:25,800 eligible, uh, they receive what we call a verification statement in addition 330 00:21:25,810 --> 00:21:29,760 to their degree, um, and it allows them to move into graduate education, 331 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,409 another accredited program where they do supervise practice or those internship 332 00:21:34,429 --> 00:21:38,790 hours, uh, that a lot of programs have, um, and then are able to sit for the 333 00:21:38,790 --> 00:21:40,879 registered dietitian nutritionist exam. 334 00:21:41,310 --> 00:21:45,010 Um, so we're accredited for seven years. 335 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:49,090 Um, Or were accredited for seven years now we are again. 336 00:21:49,270 --> 00:21:50,169 Uh, which is great. 337 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:58,080 Um, and so I sort of found myself in year four needing to start the process 338 00:21:58,140 --> 00:22:03,600 of, uh, writing a self-study and proving to our accrediting body that we. 339 00:22:04,330 --> 00:22:06,809 Should be reaccredited. 340 00:22:06,810 --> 00:22:09,040 And wow what a process. 341 00:22:09,290 --> 00:22:14,999 I learned a lot about the university as a whole. 342 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:19,240 And so we, you know you, like many of your viewers, have programs that 343 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:24,915 you write these gigantic Um, and then we had last fall, so in the fall of 344 00:22:25,715 --> 00:22:29,765 2022, we had some site reviewers, uh, external reviewers come up to 345 00:22:29,765 --> 00:22:32,895 Alaska, um, and do a site review. 346 00:22:33,885 --> 00:22:40,225 And so, a part of that site visit, um, is, you know, they want tons and tons and 347 00:22:40,225 --> 00:22:44,490 tons of evidence, uh, that you're that you're doing what you say you're doing. 348 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:47,139 So you write this big report and they're like, yeah, that's great. 349 00:22:47,159 --> 00:22:47,430 Okay. 350 00:22:47,430 --> 00:22:51,320 Now we want to see, you know, the proof that you're actually doing this. 351 00:22:51,830 --> 00:22:58,269 Um, so in what I was told, uh, as far as, you know, I, I talked to lots of different 352 00:22:58,269 --> 00:23:03,465 people who had gone through these, Uh, site visits in other professions, uh, 353 00:23:03,465 --> 00:23:09,514 like our dental program had just gone through a site visit, um, to other ACEND 354 00:23:09,625 --> 00:23:14,005 accredited programs in the lower 48, you know, what, what do you, how, you 355 00:23:14,005 --> 00:23:15,284 know, what's the best way to do this? 356 00:23:15,284 --> 00:23:19,225 I had, I interviewed our actual site reviewers to say, Hey, like, how do 357 00:23:19,225 --> 00:23:21,845 you want, All of these documents. 358 00:23:21,845 --> 00:23:25,995 I mean, it's like, I felt like it was just so overwhelming. 359 00:23:26,025 --> 00:23:29,235 Um, the amount of information that they wanted to have on site. 360 00:23:30,145 --> 00:23:35,204 And they said, well, some people will do a Blackboard shell, like create like 361 00:23:35,205 --> 00:23:40,185 a, a dev shell, like a, um, you know, and, and just plug things in there and 362 00:23:40,185 --> 00:23:41,824 then you give us access to Blackboard. 363 00:23:42,154 --> 00:23:46,494 Um, otherwise they found it to be really successful to do like a Google drive. 364 00:23:46,985 --> 00:23:50,925 And then just have all of your folders and, you know, organized. 365 00:23:52,555 --> 00:23:56,014 And I was just like, that sounds awful. 366 00:23:56,245 --> 00:23:59,764 Like as a reviewer, like how you could. 367 00:24:00,334 --> 00:24:03,215 open up each of those documents. 368 00:24:03,274 --> 00:24:06,725 I mean, I felt like you would want to have like four screens so you could, 369 00:24:07,635 --> 00:24:11,625 and that tells you, yeah, that tells you I'm probably should not be a reviewer. 370 00:24:11,684 --> 00:24:20,305 Um, but it just seems very, uh, Just like two dimensional, I guess, maybe, 371 00:24:20,355 --> 00:24:25,014 uh, if that's a good word to use, um, so, you know, I was like, well, how, 372 00:24:25,054 --> 00:24:29,144 like, how would you, like, you would close something and then you would open 373 00:24:29,274 --> 00:24:32,804 another document and, you know, and then the older days, you know, you had 374 00:24:33,164 --> 00:24:35,464 portfolios, you had binders, right? 375 00:24:35,795 --> 00:24:40,969 So, because we use ePortfolio in our program, um, You know, for our students 376 00:24:40,989 --> 00:24:44,370 to show competence and to have the fact that they've met all of these 377 00:24:44,370 --> 00:24:48,679 competencies as a part of our accredited program, um, I asked if they would be 378 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:54,339 willing to let me use an ePortfolio to house and to showcase all of our on 379 00:24:54,339 --> 00:24:56,090 site evidence and documents for them. 380 00:24:56,730 --> 00:25:00,935 Uh, they said, I have no idea what you're talking about, but that sounds great. 381 00:25:01,044 --> 00:25:02,834 I mean, they sort of, they sort of knew. 382 00:25:02,834 --> 00:25:05,195 I think, you know, there are other, you know, kinds of things 383 00:25:05,205 --> 00:25:08,475 that they had maybe, you know, dabbled with in their own programs. 384 00:25:08,614 --> 00:25:16,044 Um, so I reached out to Paul Wasko and he was wonderful in helping me do this. 385 00:25:16,225 --> 00:25:23,044 And I essentially just built a gigantic portfolio, um, which, you know, to have. 386 00:25:23,314 --> 00:25:28,174 You know, so it was super organized under all of, you know, we have, I think, eight 387 00:25:28,195 --> 00:25:32,235 different standards and underneath all of those standards, there are specific, 388 00:25:32,534 --> 00:25:37,445 uh, you know, student examples of work and all of that kind of stuff that had to 389 00:25:37,475 --> 00:25:42,004 be as a part of those on site, you know, documents that needed to be ready, um, 390 00:25:42,395 --> 00:25:48,145 and Paul was, you know, Super gracious to work with the reviewers to make sure that 391 00:25:48,145 --> 00:25:50,774 they had access and knew how to do it. 392 00:25:50,774 --> 00:25:52,784 We knew it was going to be FERPA compliant. 393 00:25:53,065 --> 00:25:55,085 There were, you know, some things like that. 394 00:25:55,134 --> 00:25:59,135 It's, it was great because I knew it was locked down, you know, so it didn't 395 00:25:59,145 --> 00:26:01,435 have to have, it wasn't public facing. 396 00:26:01,784 --> 00:26:04,365 Um, they knew that they just had access to it. 397 00:26:05,175 --> 00:26:10,314 And one of the beautiful things was that they didn't have to be present and in our 398 00:26:10,780 --> 00:26:13,010 Uh, you know, in our drive, like, right? 399 00:26:13,090 --> 00:26:16,040 So, like, I mean, I guess a Google Drive, I could, you know, give 400 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,490 them access to that ahead of time. 401 00:26:18,889 --> 00:26:23,070 Um, but the, the feedback that I got from our reviewers was 402 00:26:23,070 --> 00:26:25,540 really like, ah, this is so great. 403 00:26:25,579 --> 00:26:29,290 We were able to, you know, we sat at the hotel and we could just 404 00:26:29,349 --> 00:26:31,270 look at stuff and listen to things. 405 00:26:31,270 --> 00:26:31,439 And. 406 00:26:31,805 --> 00:26:33,254 You know, all of that kind of stuff. 407 00:26:33,315 --> 00:26:42,385 So, um, so yeah, it worked out really swimmingly and all of the things, you 408 00:26:42,385 --> 00:26:47,624 know, the, um, one of the nice things for me because I use Portfolio in my 409 00:26:47,624 --> 00:26:53,235 classes, um, is that it forced me to kind of become You know, like a super user. 410 00:26:53,345 --> 00:26:58,035 Uh, so, you know, I, because I was uploading all different types of files. 411 00:26:58,405 --> 00:27:00,364 So, we run an online program. 412 00:27:00,775 --> 00:27:05,564 So, it was a wonderful way for me to upload videos that students 413 00:27:05,565 --> 00:27:07,165 had developed and created. 414 00:27:07,175 --> 00:27:12,035 I could share, um, you know, audio recordings that they had done. 415 00:27:12,035 --> 00:27:16,940 I could share, you know, a lot of different Types of media, um, as 416 00:27:16,940 --> 00:27:21,800 far as what I thought in an online program, you know, really highlights, 417 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,559 you know, what we're doing here and the quality of online education that 418 00:27:25,559 --> 00:27:26,850 we're providing for our students. 419 00:27:27,399 --> 00:27:32,649 Um, so, but it did, you know, it, so I always have my students build these 420 00:27:32,659 --> 00:27:34,780 portfolios, so it was really good for me. 421 00:27:34,850 --> 00:27:39,600 It was very humbling to be like, Okay, like I'm gonna build something 422 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,610 from scratch and kind of do that. 423 00:27:41,630 --> 00:27:43,580 So it worked out really well. 424 00:27:44,780 --> 00:27:45,440 Wonderful. 425 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:46,559 I'm so glad to hear that. 426 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:50,420 And I would love to hear a little bit about how You know, you were 427 00:27:50,430 --> 00:27:56,370 able to, um, craft this incredible kind of presentation of your program. 428 00:27:56,370 --> 00:28:02,050 How are you using these kinds of tools with the students in your courses? 429 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:07,040 I think Dietetics has had a pretty long history with Digication. 430 00:28:07,089 --> 00:28:11,860 I believe it may have started in 2014, because it was one of the 431 00:28:11,870 --> 00:28:15,256 first programs, I think, to jump on board because of this program. 432 00:28:16,265 --> 00:28:21,105 We'll need to be able to record what the students were doing and see their 433 00:28:21,105 --> 00:28:24,995 growth towards particular standards that they were working towards. 434 00:28:25,175 --> 00:28:29,065 Yeah, I, my predecessor, uh, Kendra Sticca, Dr. 435 00:28:29,065 --> 00:28:31,885 Sticca, so she's the one who recruited me, moved out. 436 00:28:32,135 --> 00:28:35,495 Um, but she's the one that really brought, you know, she was on board 437 00:28:35,495 --> 00:28:41,170 with, portfolio Um, and so I inherited her courses that she had started. 438 00:28:41,190 --> 00:28:42,650 So I came in 2018. 439 00:28:42,660 --> 00:28:46,270 So she had really just started kind of building that in our curriculum. 440 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:52,410 Um, and, you know, and, and even to this day, I was actually kind of surprised 441 00:28:52,410 --> 00:28:53,960 because this is what I came into. 442 00:28:54,250 --> 00:28:59,040 So I just sort of made the assumption that this is what programs do. 443 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:01,930 This is the kind of stuff that they use because it made a lot of sense to me. 444 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:09,030 Um, I think like prior to when I was going through this site visit self study stuff, 445 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,650 we also had to adopt, uh, 2022 standards. 446 00:29:12,930 --> 00:29:19,660 Um, so within the ACEND community of, um, directors, we had lots of 447 00:29:19,660 --> 00:29:23,335 meetings kind of going through, you know, with um, you know, just like 448 00:29:23,335 --> 00:29:26,315 Zoom meetings, whatever, um, going through the different standards, what 449 00:29:26,315 --> 00:29:27,925 had changed, all of that kind of stuff. 450 00:29:27,955 --> 00:29:32,785 And one of the major things that had changed was that now our ACEND, 451 00:29:32,805 --> 00:29:37,455 our accrediting body is really requiring us to better document, 452 00:29:37,745 --> 00:29:40,825 um, achievement of competence. 453 00:29:40,865 --> 00:29:44,175 So, you know, have they actually, have your students actually met 454 00:29:44,215 --> 00:29:45,775 the competency and how do you. 455 00:29:46,020 --> 00:29:47,030 How do you show that? 456 00:29:47,740 --> 00:29:51,190 And so I was like, Oh, you know, we use this ePortfolio in our program 457 00:29:51,190 --> 00:29:54,680 and all of our students build an ePortfolio and I was blown away by how 458 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,350 many people were like, you do what? 459 00:29:56,900 --> 00:30:00,880 Um, and, and so it was actually really, really helpful. 460 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,770 And I hope, you know, and I think there are some other programs and program 461 00:30:03,770 --> 00:30:08,380 directors that are starting to think about how, um, you know, other than just 462 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:13,520 saying, yes, check, I did an assignment, yes, check, I got a C or better, check, 463 00:30:13,530 --> 00:30:17,080 you know, that kind of stuff that there's a way that you can actually have students 464 00:30:17,110 --> 00:30:19,200 demonstrate their level of competence. 465 00:30:19,540 --> 00:30:25,390 Um, so what we do throughout our program is in our, uh, DN 100. 466 00:30:25,390 --> 00:30:28,730 It's a 100 level, it's called the Profession of Dietetics. 467 00:30:28,770 --> 00:30:30,150 It's a one credit class. 468 00:30:30,670 --> 00:30:32,650 Um, it's for our pre nagers. 469 00:30:33,165 --> 00:30:39,435 Um, I teach that class and they learn how to build a portfolio, an e portfolio. 470 00:30:39,735 --> 00:30:42,255 And we have a template that we use, obviously. 471 00:30:42,425 --> 00:30:43,195 We're big on templates. 472 00:30:44,325 --> 00:30:47,455 I think everybody starts something from scratch is not a good idea. 473 00:30:47,715 --> 00:30:48,145 Um. 474 00:30:49,045 --> 00:30:55,555 And so, students really get the opportunity to use our dietetic templates. 475 00:30:55,565 --> 00:30:58,225 I tell my students, it's really like the bucket. 476 00:30:58,445 --> 00:30:59,655 It's the main bucket. 477 00:31:00,025 --> 00:31:04,755 Um, and they, you know, they just, they learn how to use it, for one, 478 00:31:04,775 --> 00:31:10,045 so they're not intimidated when they are taking some 400, 300 level class. 479 00:31:11,065 --> 00:31:12,784 And now not only do they have to use it. 480 00:31:13,415 --> 00:31:16,085 Do this big project that can be intimidating, but they 481 00:31:16,085 --> 00:31:17,515 have to do it in ePortfolio. 482 00:31:17,525 --> 00:31:23,065 So I like to use that 100 level entry point as, Hey, this is the purpose, 483 00:31:23,785 --> 00:31:26,615 you know, over the course of the program, you're going to be doing 484 00:31:26,615 --> 00:31:27,875 all these different assignments. 485 00:31:27,875 --> 00:31:31,625 You're going to, you know, that, you know, we utilize specific projects 486 00:31:31,625 --> 00:31:37,490 and assignments to Measure, you know, a competency in our program, um, 487 00:31:38,030 --> 00:31:43,520 and you know, they use, they use the portfolio to, um, to demonstrate that. 488 00:31:43,530 --> 00:31:45,520 And so they'll, you know, they do a personal statement. 489 00:31:45,770 --> 00:31:49,530 They learn how to do this, you know, the beaut, the pretty stuff if they want, 490 00:31:49,890 --> 00:31:55,580 um, and just, and then start kind of a little introduced into using reflection. 491 00:31:55,830 --> 00:32:00,740 Uh, as a tool of, you know, making sure, like, do I really know what that means? 492 00:32:01,030 --> 00:32:01,950 What does that mean to me? 493 00:32:01,980 --> 00:32:03,620 Like, what does that mean to somebody else? 494 00:32:03,620 --> 00:32:05,060 What does that mean for my profession? 495 00:32:05,570 --> 00:32:11,050 Um, and so we introduce it there and then throughout the program, 496 00:32:11,050 --> 00:32:13,090 they can kind of slowly work on it. 497 00:32:13,130 --> 00:32:17,775 But the primary hub is, uh, I teach a dietetic, a senior seminar in dietetics. 498 00:32:18,315 --> 00:32:21,355 It's a year long course in their senior year. 499 00:32:21,635 --> 00:32:25,175 And it's at that point that we really dive deep into all the competencies. 500 00:32:25,215 --> 00:32:27,155 We have group discussions and such. 501 00:32:27,575 --> 00:32:30,075 Um, my students do a self assessment. 502 00:32:30,265 --> 00:32:35,155 They go through, um, and rank themselves and whether or not they feel like they've 503 00:32:35,155 --> 00:32:37,235 already met a specific competency. 504 00:32:37,515 --> 00:32:38,375 Usually there's two things. 505 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,310 four or five that they say they still need some work. 506 00:32:41,810 --> 00:32:46,140 They identify outside opportunities, webinars, working with another 507 00:32:46,140 --> 00:32:51,290 organization, um, some other way that they work with me on figuring out how 508 00:32:51,290 --> 00:32:53,290 they can better meet a competency. 509 00:32:54,080 --> 00:33:00,090 And then they have, we have a one page, um, for each, you know, designated to each 510 00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:05,640 competency in their ePortfolio where they upload any evidence that they might have. 511 00:33:05,815 --> 00:33:07,975 that shows that they've met that competency, whether 512 00:33:07,975 --> 00:33:09,585 that's a project or assignment. 513 00:33:10,135 --> 00:33:15,165 Sometimes it's pictures of them volunteering somewhere, um, 514 00:33:15,205 --> 00:33:16,355 you know, whatever it may be. 515 00:33:17,075 --> 00:33:21,025 They write a description as far as like what that all, you know, you know, 516 00:33:21,025 --> 00:33:24,675 what that's, their evidence entails, but then the bigger piece is that they 517 00:33:24,675 --> 00:33:28,195 have to write a reflection on why they feel like they've met that competency. 518 00:33:28,685 --> 00:33:34,465 So we have, I think there are, 26 or 30 competencies. 519 00:33:34,505 --> 00:33:35,805 So it takes a while. 520 00:33:36,565 --> 00:33:43,395 Um, and you know, they kind of take that whole year and I use the portfolio as 521 00:33:43,405 --> 00:33:48,655 my means of not awarding a bachelor's degree, but of awarding that verification 522 00:33:48,655 --> 00:33:50,445 statement from our accreditor. 523 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:54,850 That says, yes, you can move on into supervised practice. 524 00:33:55,220 --> 00:33:59,720 Um, I've had students that then go on to utilize their portfolio. 525 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:02,930 They might tweak it a little bit, um, and they've used it to apply 526 00:34:02,930 --> 00:34:07,310 to graduate school internships, if they're out of Alaska. 527 00:34:08,365 --> 00:34:12,385 Um, so we try to, I don't want to say sell it, but, you know, try to say 528 00:34:12,385 --> 00:34:15,635 like, hey, this isn't just, you know, it's just not a program assignment. 529 00:34:15,745 --> 00:34:17,715 Maybe you never look at it again. 530 00:34:17,795 --> 00:34:18,255 Who knows? 531 00:34:18,635 --> 00:34:22,985 Um, but, you know, you can utilize it after. 532 00:34:23,075 --> 00:34:26,154 So for us here at UAA, it is very important. 533 00:34:26,305 --> 00:34:31,145 Very much kind of the, you know, it's, it's a thread throughout our entire 534 00:34:31,145 --> 00:34:37,475 program, um, which is why it felt so normal, I guess, for us to utilize 535 00:34:37,575 --> 00:34:43,075 it for our, to demonstrate that our program has met the accreditation 536 00:34:43,105 --> 00:34:45,875 competencies that we have, you know, or standards that we had to meet. 537 00:34:47,390 --> 00:34:51,640 Here's a preview of what's coming up next in part two of my conversation 538 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:56,330 with Amy Urbanus, assistant professor in the dietetics and nutrition program 539 00:34:56,380 --> 00:34:58,970 at University of Alaska, Anchorage. 540 00:34:59,300 --> 00:35:04,750 I always try to tell students that like you really can utilize, you know, portions 541 00:35:04,780 --> 00:35:07,820 of or all of or whatever you can utilize. 542 00:35:07,955 --> 00:35:13,765 A portfolio in providing you know, in sharing like your depth and breadth of 543 00:35:13,835 --> 00:35:20,125 experience, even though in a resume, it may not jump out at, uh, um, you 544 00:35:20,125 --> 00:35:25,255 know, at somebody, at somebody who's looking to hire somebody, um, you know, 545 00:35:25,265 --> 00:35:28,015 in a resume may not jump out as like, you you know, you look at their work 546 00:35:28,015 --> 00:35:29,795 experience, you're like, oh, okay, well. 547 00:35:30,325 --> 00:35:34,135 You're pretty green, you know, it's like there's not a whole lot, but in 548 00:35:34,135 --> 00:35:38,815 any portfolio, they might have done some amazing project that gives them an example 549 00:35:38,815 --> 00:35:43,655 of what they're capable of, um, and how they might fit within their organizations.