Body of Knowledge - 6

INTRODUCTION
FOCUS ON CORE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SUCCESS
This tool helps individuals and supervisors zero in on the most important areas for ongoing personal
and team development. It will allow individuals to self-assess critical knowledge and skills required
for ongoing development, performance improvement, and career progression. Likewise, supervisors
can use the tool to define recruitment, training, and team development priorities for their
department or unit. Ultimately, the NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™ could inform
future discussions about career pathways for dining professionals.
ENABLE NACUFS TO BETTER MEET THE LEARNING NEEDS OF OUR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY
The NACUFS community has a long and rich history of exploring new ideas, sharing best practices,
pooling resources/tools, and teaching the next generation of leaders. The NACUFS Collegiate Dining
Body of Knowledge™ offers association leaders and volunteers a clear picture of NACUFS' primary
learners and what they are looking for in NACUFS learning experiences. It allows the association,
moving forward, to develop diverse learning experiences that align with today's collegiate dining
professionals' training and development requirements. This foundational document also opens the
door for future discussions regarding certificate programs or certification.
How was NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™ developed?
The journey of inquiry that led to the articulation of key learning strategies, and subsequent development
of the NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™ began with this question: How can we build a
comprehensive learning strategy that is responsive to our members' learning behaviors and preferences
and is reflective of and relevant to the knowledge and skills they need in today's changing environment?
We began with the Member Learning Survey in the spring of 2017, followed by a retreat where a diverse
cross-section of stakeholders analyzed the data. These activities, among others, led to identifying the
membership's top priority: creating a body of knowledge to designate what professionals need to know,
one that would guide NACUFS' professional learning strategy. Throughout 2018 and 2019, a boardappointed
taskforce worked to:
* Identify the baseline knowledge and skills collegiate dining professionals need to successfully
perform in two functional areas: Management and Supervision, and Strategic Leadership; and
* Solicit feedback from members through mailings, information sessions at conferences, and focus
groups throughout the development process, plus a final validation survey of the entire membership.
The NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™ is a living, dynamic document. We anticipate that
as the field of collegiate dining evolves and the higher education environment changes, NACUFS and its
volunteers and members will review, adjust, and supplement this foundational tool.
What's the difference between a body of knowledge and professional practices?
While a body of knowledge identifies the competencies needed to be a successful campus dining
professional, professional practices define criteria for a dining operation or program.
Both documents are fundamental for defining a profession. Together, these two NACUFS documents form
and define the collegiate dining profession and move the profession to the next level.
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NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™
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Body of Knowledge

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