Athletic Training Education Program

A prospective student must declare an interest in athletic training as a chosen field within his/her first year of study. A student beyond his/her freshman year at IWU (e.g., changing majors) will also be considered for the program; however an additional year or two of study may be necessary to satisfy the educational and clinical requirements for IWU’s ATEP program. A transfer student may apply certain athletic training courses from another university/college towards our major if the course is acceptable to the athletic training program director (e.g., course content, credit hours, and description) and meets all transfer requirements by the Records office.

This is a competitive program and application alone does not guarantee admittance. Any student designating athletic training as their major is given a pre-athletic training major description which signifies their intent to apply to the program. The application process should be started in the fall of the first year of declaring the major, with formal application due on December 1 of that semester. Decisions will be made by the athletic training faculty and students will be notified by mail during Christmas vacation of the decision.

All students applying to the IWU ATEP must meet the following Technical Standards and expectations in order to gain acceptance into our program. Applications are available from the athletic training faculty upon request. If a pre-athletic training student does not gain acceptance into the program, they cam continue to take the necessary steps (listed above) to apply to the athletic training education program within three semesters or change majors. The following criteria must be met to gain admittance into the athletic training education program as an athletic training student:

• A formal letter of application stating why you want to apply to our program and why you want to become a certified athletic trainer.
• Completion of the Indiana Wesleyan University Athletic Training Education Program application, recommendation forms, technical standards, interview with the athletic training faculty, and a minimum of 75 hours of clinical observation. (A photocopy of the observation log should be included in the application).
• Completion of ATR 195 and 196 at least a 2.0 GPA (C) or above in each course. A student cannot enroll in other athletic training courses until the athletic training course with the unacceptable grade (C- or below) is retaken and passed with a grade of C or above. A student changing his/her major to athletic training at the start of the spring semester may take approved classes towards the athletic training major. Spring semester applications to the program will be considered on an individual basis for students changing majors or transfer students depending on there academic standings and previous coursework.
• Completion of one semester of attendance at Indiana Wesleyan University or transferring to IWU with the proper course work in athletic training and a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (C+).
• Commitment to the mission of the university as demonstrated by professional conduct. Apparent interest and motivation, as evidenced by work habits, promptness, etc. Athletic training background through previous high school and/or college-level experience prior to application to the ATEP program is desirable but not required.

Athletic Training Education Program Retention Policy
To remain in the Athletic Training Education Program as an athletic training student, the student must achieve the following standards each semester:

• Earn at least a 2.0 GPA (C) or above in all required classes within the major
• Earn at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA (C+)
• Be in good standing with the University (e.g., no citizenship probation)
• Participate in blood borne pathogen training at the beginning of each academic year
• Maintain CPR-PR certification every year
• Show progress through clinical instruction and learning over time
• Perform all duties assigned to the best of one’s ability
• Show a professional attitude and character in all areas of athletic training, both academic and clinical

Any athletic training student within the program may be subject to a probationary status. A probationary status will be assigned if an athletic training student does not abide by the standards of the IWU Athletic Training Education Program. This is a working model, as there may be an exception in some circumstances. The athletic training program director is the only authority that can administer a probationary status or remove a probationary status within this program. The athletic training program director and athletic training faculty may also remove athletic training students from the program for infractions of divisional and university policies. Athletic training students may not accumulate clinical hours while on probation but may progress through the athletic training major course sequence.

Athletic Training Student Health Policy
Athletic training students must have the appropriate health forms and records on file with the athletic training program director to be considered for admittance to the Athletic Training Education Program. In addition, athletic training students will be required to have the following tests and vaccinations by the start of their first semester in the major (or in process to receive the vaccinations – HBV);

• Tuberculin Skin Test. If the TB test is positive, a chest x-ray must be done. A yearly TB test is required and written results are given to the Athletic Training Faculty to be added to that student’s file. The athletic training student may have this test done at the IWU Health Center.
• Hepatitis B Vaccination. Athletic training students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated with the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). A sum of three injections in a six-month period is required for this vaccination. Each injection will vary in cost depending on where you obtain the vaccination. A waiver must be signed and in the athletic training student’s permanent file if he/she chooses not to obtain the vaccination.
• Physical Examination. Athletic training students will have a physical examination conducted by the team physician. If an student athlete is applying to the ATEP, their pre-participation physical is acceptable for this requirement.