Full text (pdf)In 2002, General Nutrition Corporation, Inc. contacted the Department of Food
Science and Human Nutrition at the University
of Florida to collaborate in offering a series of courses in introductory nutrition
for GNC employees in order to equip them with basic
nutrition knowledge. The purpose of this case study was to describe the GNC
University program as a model for business-education
partnerships via distance education, to describe student expectations for the
GNC University experience, to describe student reactions to
the GNC University experience, and to describe the reaction of teaching assistants
to their experience with GNC University. There
were several key findings in this study. Students’ expectations are to
increase in nutrition knowledge, professionally and personally, and
to increase in their technological skills. There is a need, in future evaluation
of this program, to measure whether students feel their
expectations of increased knowledge and technological skills are being met.
Additionally, focus groups with teaching assistants
revealed a need for greater preparation for assisting students with technical
difficulties. Overall, this program shows promise for business-
education partnerships through distance education.