ATEP Academic Policies

 

Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Admission of Transfer Students

Students wishing to transfer to Heidelberg and the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) must apply to both the institution and the program. All potential transfer students must follow the same application procedures as non-transfer students. Transfer students must have their transcript evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and the ATEP Director. Courses may be transferred from the student’s original college or university if they are substantially the same in scope and content as similar courses offered at Heidelberg. Such courses may be counted toward the degree requirements for the Athletic Training major; however, every student must take the following courses at Heidelberg in order to qualify for the Athletic Training major:

  • ATR 251    Management of Athletic Injuries and Illnesses

  • ATR 345    Orthopedic Assessment of the Lower Extremity

  • ATR 350    Orthopedic Assessment of the Upper Extremity

  • ATR 371    Clinical Competencies III

  • ATR 372    Clinical Competencies IV

  • ATR 381    Therapeutic Modalities

  • ATR 382    Therapeutic Exercise

  • ATR 425    Medical Aspects of Sport

  • ATR 371    Clinical Competencies V

  • ATR 371    Clinical Competencies VI

  • ATR 485    Organization and Administration of Athletic Training

  • ATR 490    Senior Seminar in Athletic Training


All or a portion of the prospective student’s clinical experience may be eligible for transfer from another institution to Heidelberg if the student passes a proficiency exam for each clinical competency course. This process is limited only to clinical experience associated with the following courses: ATR 270 Clinical Competencies I and ATR 271 Clinical Competencies II. The required 800 clinical experience hours may be pro-rated if the student’s previous clinical experiences were supervised according to the standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

 

Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Student Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics

Because of the intimate relationship between athletics and athletic training, many prospective students who express interest in Heidelberg's ATEP are also interested in participating in intercollegiate athletics. We have had many alumni in our ATEP who were successful in balancing both the demanding curriculum of the ATEP and intercollegiate athletics. The ATEP does have a significant clinical component that requires a strong commitment on behalf of the student. This involves a weekly average of 20 hours that includes a combination of morning, afternoon, evening and weekend time commitments. Time conflicts between sport demands and clinical requirements may occur if careful planning is not taken into consideration. The Athletic Training Faculty and Staff are committed to encouraging students and assisting them in taking advantage of the many opportunities afforded to them at Heidelberg. We are also dedicated to guiding the student and the student athlete so he/she fulfills the graduation requirements of the Athletic Training major, has diverse and quality clinical experiences and graduates within the four-year plan. The following guidelines are designed to help accomplish these goals:

  • The intention on the part of a prospective student to participate in intercollegiate athletics shall not factor into the admissions decision for the ATEP.

  • Athletic Training students shall limit their participation to one intercollegiate team.

  • Participation in the student athlete’s non-traditional season is subject to the availability of his/her schedule only after fulfillment of clinical rotation responsibilities.

  • Athletic Training students who participate in intercollegiate athletics must, like all students, fulfill all the didactic and clinical program requirements before he/she may graduate. All such students are strongly encouraged to consult with the ATEP Director for effective planning to ensure on-time graduation.

  • All students are required to have at least one “equipment-intensive” clinical experience (e.g., football). Student athletes who play a fall sport may achieve this requirement through a clinical rotation assignment at one of our affiliated sites.

 

Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Retention and Probation

Academic Rention Criteria:
1) Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 while enrolled in the ATEP.
 
2) Each semester students must maintain a 2.5 GPA. 
 
3) In athletic training; students must earn a minimum 3.0 GPA within the core AT courses (offered within the athletic training department.) 
 
4) The student shall receive satisfactory evaluations from supervising clinical instructors. 
 
Other Non-Academic Retention Criteria:  
1) Maintaining First Aid and CPR / AED Professional Rescuer Certifications
2) Maintaining a current physical on file with the health center
3) Demonstrating compliance with all Heidelberg's ATEP policies
4) Obtaining Hepatitis B vaccinations and annual TB vaccinations
5) Completing annual Blood borne Pathogen training.
6) Continuing to meet the Heidelberg College ATEP Technical Standards for Admission.
7) Other tasks as deemed necessary of students by the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE) for an accredited ATEP.
 
Probation:
Once admitted to the ATEP, the athletic training student will be evaluated each semester by the athletic training faculty. As long as appropriate progress is being made, the athletic training student will be allowed to move on to the next semester of sequential coursework.
An athletic training student will be put on program probation if their GPA falls below the GPA criteria or any of the other criteria is not maintained. They will receive written notification from the program director indicating that they have been placed on program probation. The athletic training student will be allowed one semester of program probation status in order to comply with all retention criteria.  The athletic training student will be dismissed from the program if they have not met retention criteria by the end of the probationary semester.  The athletic training student will receive written notification from the program director of their being dismissed from the program.  Dismissal and/or probation also may result from excess absences from clinical coursework / rotations, failure to complete the field experiences satisfactorily, or from academic dishonesty.
Clinical Coursework: Students must demonstrate mastery of each competency skill to his/her ACI with 80% proficiency. Each competency skill must be demonstrated to pass and receive credit for this course.  Students are not permitted to progress to the next level of the program and sequence of courses until all assigned competencies have been demonstrated with 80% proficiency.  In addition, each final proficiency evaluation must be passed with a passing point of 80% minimum. Scores with a rating of below 80% on the proficiency evaluation will not be accepted.  Not meeting these require level of proficiency will result in the athletic training student retaking the entire proficiency course and must be retaken with the ATEP Director before progression to the next level of sequential coursework in the ATEP is allowed.
ATEP Progress: The athletic training student is expected to meet appropriate deadlines and to demonstrate appropriate progress for the completion of proficiencies and other responsibilities for membership in the ATEP. Failure to meet the defined deadlines or being deemed at a level of in-appropriate progress is grounds for probation or dismissal from the program.
Appeals: Students may appeal decisions if they feel they are not being treated fairly. Appeals of decisions should be made in the following order;
1) ATEP Director
2) Dean of Professional Studies
3) VPAA
4) Educational Policies Committee
 NOTE: Dismissal from the Athletic Training Education Program does not automatically lead to dismissal from Heidelberg College.


Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Academic Reinstatement

Students who are dismissed from the program may request a reinstatement of their
position by adhering to the following parameters:
 
1) The student must submit a typewritten request to be reinstated that includes why reinstatement is being requested and how the student plans to be successful. This is due to the Program Director by the dates illustrated below.
a) If the student was dismissed after the fall semester, he/ she would have to submit
their request by January 15th.
b) If the student was dismissed after the spring semester, he/ she would have to
submit their request by August 30th.
c) No request will be accepted after these dates.
 
2) The student will not be allowed to take any specific Athletic Training courses, nor engage in any clinical experiences for two full semesters (not including summer terms). The student may take courses to fulfill another major, minor, or general education requirement (s).
 
3) Two semesters after dismissal (not including summer terms), the student’s cumulative GPA must be at or above 2.5 for reinstatement to be considered.
 
4) Once the student is reinstated into the ATEP, he/she must adhere to the ATEP retention policy with the exception of the probationary period. If the student does not adhere to the retention policy, he/she will not be granted a probationary period, but will immediately be dismissed from the ATEP.
 
5) Once the student is reinstated into the ATEP, he/she may resume the academic sequencing of the specific Athletic Training Department courses.
 
6) A student may only request a reinstatement policy once after being dismissed from the program.
 
Appeals: Students may appeal decisions if they feel they are not being treated fairly. Appeals of decisions should be made in the following order;
1) ATEP Director
2) Dean of Professional Studies
3) VPAA
4) Educational Policies Committee
 NOTE: Dismissal from the Athletic Training Education Program does not automatically lead to dismissal from Heidelberg College.


Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Professional Conduct

Professionalism as an athletic trainer reflects a large variety of character traits as well as communication and clinical skills. It is the commitment of the program faculty and clinical instructors to model professionalism for the athletic training student. In return students are expected to promote and maintain professional conduct at all times.
Students who fail to comply with professional conduct will be subject to disciplinary actions. The following list outlines professional traits, but in no way is meant to be inclusive:
 
1. Professional Dress and Appearance: Athletic Training students working with Heidelberg College
Athletic training and off-campus sites may be issued certain items that remain the property of Athletic Training. Students are expected to provide additional clothing, at their own expense, that is in compliance with each site’s dress code. At the conclusion of the student’s time in our program, some non-expendable clothing items may have to be returned.
 
A. It is the responsibility of the Athletic Training student to seek out a place to store, secure and change clothes at each facility, if necessary.
 
B. Standards of professional dress will be established by each individual site and/or supervising Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI)/Clinical Instructor (CI).
 
C. Athletic Training students shall keep a professional appearance during their clinical rotations. Students are expected to shower/shave daily. Some clinical settings might require the removal of piercing(s).
 
2. Interpersonal Relationships
As an Athletic Training student you will have extensive interaction with student athletes at Heidelberg. As a result you may become friends with many of them. It is the policy of the ATEP to discourage the Athletic Training student from fraternization with student athletes or other Athletic Training students associated with a sport they are currently working with. If this does occur, the ATEP director will have the prerogative to reassign the student(s) involved to a new site. These fraternization rules are standard at many places of employment and exist for your own protection and benefit.
 
3. Confidentiality
All information regarding the health of a student athlete is confidential and is not to be shared by the athletic training student with anyone not directly involved in the care of the student athlete. Any breach of the confidentiality policy will result in re-assignment to an alternate clinical site.
 
4. Punctuality
The athletic training student is expected to be punctual, arriving at whichever time has been established with the clinical instructor. If the Athletic Training student has a conflict at any time he/she needs to contact his/her clinical instructor as soon as possible for resolution. 
5. Adherence to Athletic Training Room and Affiliated Site Rules and Regulations
Students are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of each medical care facility during clinical assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to gain clarification on any rules or regulations set forth in the clinical setting.
 
6. Code of Ethics
Students are expected to promote professional conduct in compliance with the code of ethics set forth by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (www.nata.org).
 
7. Harassment and discrimination in any form (sexual, verbal or physical) is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. Any student found to be in violation will be immediately dismissed from the program. Students should report any problems with other students, faculty members, coaches, athletes or clinical instructors to the ATEP Director.
 

Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP): Policy on Disciplinary Actions

The ATEP will operate on a “three strikes and you’re out” policy for the enforcement of the policy on professional conduct.  The ATEP Director will be contacted by the ACI or CI in the event disciplinary action is warranted
1. First offense will result in a written verbal warning that will be placed in the student’s file.
 
2. Second offense will result in a written warning that will be placed in the student’s file.
 
3. Third offense will result in expulsion from the ATEP.
 
Special Note: The ATEP Director reserves the sole authority to expedite the three strikes process to a higher level of action for offenses that warrant such a response under his/her discretion.
 
Appeals: Students may appeal decisions if they feel they are not being treated fairly. Appeals of decisions should be made in the following order;
1) ATEP Director
2) Dean of Professional Studies
3) VPAA
4) Educational Policies Committee
 NOTE: Dismissal from the Athletic Training Education Program does not automatically lead to dismissal from Heidelberg College.
 

  • Reference: Mr. Brian Czajka, University of Michigan ATEP Director

    • (www.umich.edu academics/at/)

  • Reference: Ms. Tisha Hess, Millikin University ATEP Director

    •  (www.millikin.edu/ exercisescience/AthleticTraining.asp)