The Beginning
The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) traces it’s origin
to 1965 when Elmer Kortemyer was hired as the first full-time athletic
trainer at the University of Northern Iowa. During Kortemyer’s
tenure he was able to begin establishing an internship based ATEP which
was formalized with the approval of an athletic training minor in the
fall of 1970. At that time, the ATEP was one of the programs located
within the Men’s Physical Education Department. In 1974, the Women’s
Physical Education Department hired Sharon Huddleston, the first female
athletic trainer at the University of Northern Iowa. Although both departments
hired athletic trainers, only men were able to minor in athletic training
until 1978 when the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
(HPER) was established. The ATEP was then housed within the Division
of Health.
In 1977 Dave Burton was hired as the head athletic trainer and oversaw
the administration of the ATEP. Burton was instrumental in building
the athletic training service and educational programs. During his tenure
Burton hired two assistants and one graduate assistant, renovated the
athletic training facilities, and developed new athletic training courses.
In 1985 Burton left UNI for the University of Colorado at Boulder.
In 1985 Terrance G. Noonan replaced Burton as the Head Athletic Trainer.
Noonan had been an assistant to Burton since 1980 and was a natural
selection for the position. During his tenure he established the University
of Northern Iowa Student Athletic Training Organization (UNISATO) and
started the development of a curriculum based ATEP. In 1996 the Division
of Health found that the ATEP did not fit the central mission of their
division. The ATEP was then moved to the Physical Education Division.
Noonan then appointed one of his assistants, Marchelle Austin, to begin
the process of creating an Athletic Training Major, which was to develop
into a CAAHEP-Accredited Entry-Level ATEP. The ATEP, however, was not
approved due to the lack of doctorally trained faculty. Mr. Noonan stayed
at UNI until 1999 when he left to become the Head Athletic Trainer at
Oklahoma State University, where he is currently employed.
In 1997 Dr. Christopher R. Edginton, Director of the School of Health,
Physical Education, and Leisure Services, established a tenure track
faculty position for an Assistant Professor in support of the ATEP.
In 1998 Dr. Richard Biff Williams was hired for this position. In the
fall of 1998 Dr. Williams wrote a proposal for an Athletic Training
Major, which was approved by the Iowa Board of Regents in May of 2000.
While waiting for the approval of the Athletic Training Major by the
Iowa Board of Regents, Dr. Williams completed the Athletic Training
Accreditation Candidacy report which was approved in October of 1999.
Dr. Williams then completed the Athletic Training Education Program
Self-Study, which was submitted September 1, 2000. The ATEP was formally
awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs on October 19, 2001.
Current Program Description
The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at the University of
Northern Iowa is housed within the Division of Athletic Training. The
Division of Athletic Training was created in April of 2002. Dr. Biff
Williams directs the Division under the direction of Dr. Christopher
R. Edginton, director of the School of Health, Physical Education and
Leisure Services. The ATEP faculty consists of four full-time tenure
track faculty, four part-time faculty, and 24 field experience supervisors.
The University of Northern Iowa ATEP is centered upon a 54 credit hour
Bachelor of Arts degree in Athletic Training. Students (freshmen, transfers,
etc.) desiring admission into the Athletic Training Education Program
must first meet all of the pre-requisites and admission criteria. The
students take Introduction to Athletic Training during their second
semester at UNI. During that same semester interested students apply
to the program by the first day of March. Once admitted into the program,
the students will then begin a formal curricular plan and field experience
rotation.
The ATEP is a six-semester program. There are six clinical experiences
that act as laboratory courses for the program core courses within the
Athletic Training Major. Each laboratory course follows the didactic
course and is designed to provide students ample supervised practice
time, allowing successful completion of their athletic training clinical
proficiencies. Students are not allowed to practice clinical proficiencies
within their field experience until they have successfully passed a
particular proficiency during their clinical experience course(s). The
clinical experience courses are designed to have a maximum ratio of
8 students to 1 instructor. The students taking these courses are also
directly supervised at all times.
The philosophy for which the clinical and field experience education
is based, is that the student must learn the clinical proficiencies
in a directly supervised and controlled environment. The intent is to
provide a comfortable learning environment that provides immediate feedback.
Once the student is able to pass the clinical proficiency at an entry-level
(95% or better), he or she is allowed to master the skill in an uncontrolled,
but supervised field experience environment.
Athletic Training field experiences are divided into three years. The
first year the students stay on campus at UNI and are provided four
seven-week field experiences rotations. Students are assigned to a field
experience supervisor that will directly supervise them during each
field experience. The second year students complete four seven-week
rotations at affiliated sites where they can see different settings,
staff, and patient populations. During the third year, the students
are assigned an annual rotation as a head athletic training student.
Third year assignments are either on or off campus, dependent upon the
career goals and needs of the student. The student is the head athletic
training student, but continues to be directly supervised by an approved
clinical instructor. This process allows the student to transform into
the role of a practicing professional who is prepared to enter the profession
as a Certified Athletic Trainer.
Students are directly supervised and evaluated throughout the program.
The students meet with their field experience supervisors as well as
their faculty advisor to review their progress and evaluations within
the program. The students must follow the athletic training curricular
plan in order to ensure that they learn the athletic training educational
competencies and proficiencies before they practice them. The final
goal is that each student is prepared to take the NATA Board of Certification
Examination.
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