Fort Lewis College is offering a new dietetics program that will help students pursue careers in nutrition and health care without leaving Southwest Colorado.
The college has earned candidacy for accreditation for its Didactic Program in Dietetics, clearing a key milestone needed to prepare students to become registered dietitian nutritionists — health care professionals who use nutrition to prevent and treat disease.
“This is really about access and meeting community need,” said program director Marnie Clay, a registered dietitian nutritionist and assistant professor in Fort Lewis College’s Department of Health and Human Performance. “Our students are anchored to place, and now they can complete this critical coursework without leaving the region.”
The candidacy status was granted by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the national accrediting body that oversees dietetics education programs in the United States. The designation allows students who complete the program to meet the academic requirements needed to pursue careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.
Often called RDs or RDNs, registered dietitian nutritionists work in hospitals, clinics, schools, and community settings. They help people prevent and manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease through evidence-based nutrition care.
Until now, students from the Four Corners interested in dietetics often had to travel several hours to attend accredited programs, frequently leaving their home communities to do so.
“Our region faces high rates of chronic disease, including diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease,” Clay said. “Nutrition plays a powerful role in prevention and improving quality of life, especially in rural areas where access to health care can be limited.”
Clay said the accreditation process involved an extensive self-study, a site visit and a comprehensive review of curriculum, student support services and institutional resources.
“Accreditation exists to protect the public,” Clay said. “It ensures that graduates are prepared to serve patients and communities with the highest standards of care.”
Candidacy status means graduates of the program can apply for supervised practice programs or dietetic internships and continue along the pathway toward earning the RDN credential.
In addition to preparing students for dietetics careers, the coursework opens doors to a range of health-related professions, including food service management, nutrition technician roles, medical school, naturopathic physician programs and physical therapy. Clay said the program’s foundation in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, psychology and statistics also helps students build competitive applications for graduate and professional programs.
The program has already begun building partnerships with local and regional health organizations to provide students with hands-on, pre-professional experiences.
Students have worked with nutrition professionals through Colorado State University Extension, a community-based nutrition practice in New Mexico, and the Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center (SWCAHEC), a regional health education organization. One former student intern has since been hired part-time by a local nutrition practice.
Clay has also convened an advisory committee made up of regional health care leaders, alumni, and campus partners to ensure the program aligns with workforce needs and community priorities.
“Our goal is to become a hub for nutrition and dietetics in the Four Corners,” Clay said. “That means hosting continuing education opportunities, connecting students with professionals, and strengthening health care pathways that serve our communities.”
As Fort Lewis College continues to expand accredited health care programs, Clay said the new dietetics pathway complements existing offerings and reinforces the college’s commitment to place-based education.
“This program keeps students here, supports rural health care, and gives our graduates the tools to make a real difference,” she said.
Additional information about the Didactic Program in Dietetics, including advising requirements and coursework details, is available here.