Competitive Admissions Process-Application to the Athletic Training Education Program

Selection of Students

The role of the athletic training education program is to provide the skills and knowledge needed to learn the process of providing systematic and competent care for injured athletes. Students must learn how to provide swift, effective and complete diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, which occur during practice and competition in various sports. This knowledge and skill comes not only from a structured academic setting, but also from exposure within the athletic training room and during clinical experiences. It is necessary to establish some guidelines for students to follow to be able to remain actively involved as an athletic training student and to ultimately prepare the student for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination upon completion of the program.

Competitive Admissions Process – Fall Semester Entrance

OhioNorthern Universityhas a CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited athletic training program. A limited number of students are selected for admission into the ATEP by an established competitive admissions process. Students majoring in athletic training during the fall semester will have priority admittance opportunity into the ATEP at the end of the fall semester. Students that successfully complete a portion of the requirements listed below will be conditionally admitted at the conclusion of the fall semester with the understanding they must also successfully complete required courses and sport observations during the spring semester. Upon completion of spring semester requirements and formal admittance, students will begin clinical experience rotations the following year. Specific requirements and deadlines for completion are listed on the following pages.

Competitive Admissions Process - Spring Semester Entrance

Students entering the athletic training major mid-year (i.e. spring semester) will be able to compete for any remaining spots not yet filled by fall semester students. Specific requirements and deadlines for completion are listed on the following pages.

PROGRAM ADMITTANCE REQUIREMENTS

1.) Directed Observation

First year students will participate in directed observation within the clinical aspect of the athletic training program. Students will be assigned to complete 2-3 hours per week* based around their academic schedules. Schedules will be posted during the second week of classes and students will maintain the same observation schedule throughout the semester. Directed observation schedules will change for spring semester based upon student’s academic schedules. Students must obtain a minimum of 50 directed observation hours during to be eligible for the formal interview (see #7). Hours obtained during sport observations will also count towards the required 50.

First year students must successfully complete a physical examination, including documentation of immunizations and “Technical Standards for Admission” (see pg. 4) to be eligible to perform directed observation hours.

Students must obtain 30 hours of observation by the end of fall semester to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

* Students entering spring semester may be assigned additional observation hours per week in order to accumulate a minimum of 50 .

2.) Freshmen Skill Sheet

Basic Athletic Training Lab (ATTR-1011) teaches student’s a variety of entry-level clinical psychomotor skills (i.e. crutch fitting, applying an ice bag, etc.). Specific skills have been selected that the student must learn, practice and perfect throughout the semester. Students will be evaluated on these skills during class. Skills are worth a maximum of 10 points each, and must be completed with 80% proficiency (i.e. 8/10). Any skills performed at less than 80% proficiency must be repeated until this proficiency level is met. The score that is received the first time a skill is attempted will be the score applied towards the student’s course grade as well as the grade entered for the master check sheet (see #8).

Students must complete ALL skills with an 80% proficiency by the conclusion of the fall semester to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

3.) Sport Observations / Upperclass Student Evaluations

All students must complete four (4) one-week sport observations. At least two (2) observations must be completed during fall semester*, and at least one (1) observation must be completed by a designated date in the spring semester. The remaining observation may be completed either fall semester or by a designated date in the spring semester. Students will attend all practices during the week and any home games, including Saturday, should there happen to be one.

*Students not entering the major until spring semester may complete all four sport observations during spring semester. Observations MUST be completed no later than the designated date.

Students will be evaluated on their performance during these sport observations by the staff athletic trainers as well as the upperclass (sophomore, junior & senior) athletic training students. The top 4 scores from the upperclass evaluations will be used for the selection process and entered into the master check sheet (see #8). Students will be required to complete a “sport observation worksheet” at the conclusion of each observation and return it to the ATEP director.

Students must have completed 2 sport observations and receive successful (minimum 70%) upperclass student evaluations by the conclusion of the fall semester to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

4.) Staff Evaluations

Students will receive two written evaluations during the first year by the athletic training faculty. The first evaluation will occur at the end of the fall semester (or at the beginning of spring semester for fall sport athletes). The second evaluation will occur as part of the formal interview process in spring semester. Students will also complete a self-evaluation each time.

Students must receive a successful (minimum 70% average) first staff evaluation to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

5.) Selected Course Grades

Six specific athletic-training related courses have been chosen to be used as indicators of successful academic completion of the athletic training major.

Students must pass with a “C” or better: (as they are major course requirements)

Fall Semester:

Basic Athletic Training (ATTR 1001)

Basic Athletic Training Lab (ATTR 1011)

Advanced Weight Control & Sports Nutrition (ATTR 1201)

Spring Semester:

Anatomical Structure & Function (EXPH 1301)

Professional Emergency Care (ATTR 1101)

Students will generally be accepted prior to the end of the academic year on a “conditional” basis of successful completion of their spring semester courses, but should realize that unsuccessful completion of these courses WILL adversely affect their prior acceptance.

Grades from these courses are transferred into “quality points” (A=4, B=3, etc.), multiplied by the number of credits the course receives, and then the sum of these is multiplied by 4 and entered into the master check sheet. If a student re-takes a course, the higher of the two grades received is entered into the master check sheet (see #8).

Students must pass Introductory Biology (BIOL 1201), Basic Athletic Training (ATTR 1001), Basic Athletic Training Lab (ATTR 1011), and Advanced Weight Control & Sports Nutrition (ATTR 1201) by the conclusion of the fall semester to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

6.) Cumulative Grade Point Average

The students overall GPA (Grade Point Average) at the end of the fall semester is transferred into a total point system (i.e. 3.75 – 4.00 GPA = 130 points), which is entered into the master check sheet (see #8). A student must have a minimum 2.00 GPA at the end of the fall semester to be eligible to sit for the formal interview for admission into the ATEP. Once a student has been accepted into the ATEP, they must also maintain this minimum 2.00 GPA to remain active in clinical experience rotations.

Students must have a 2.00 GPA at the conclusion of fall semester to be eligible for priority admittance opportunity.

7.)Formal Interview

A formal interview is the final required process for admission into the ATEP. This interview will occur around the 11^thweek of the spring semester. Five criteria must be met in order to SIT for an interview:

A. Application / Recommendations

A formal application to the ATEP must be completed, and 2 recommendations must be obtained, one from a professor or supervisor on-campus, the other from an off-campus individual (pastor, employer, teacher, etc.). Due dates for these will be announced in advance.

B. Directed Observation

A student must have completed at least 50 directed observation hours over the course of the fall and spring semesters in the athletic training room.

C. Freshmen Skills

All freshmen skills must be completed with at least 80% proficiency.

D. Sport Observations

All 4 sport observations must be completed and all worksheets associated with the observations must be turned into the ATEP director.

E. Grade Point Average

A student must be in good academic standing within the university (minimum 2.00 GPA) at the end of fall semester.

8.)Master Check Sheet / Final Selection Process

Once formal interviews are completed, a master check sheet is tallied, based on a ‘total points’ system, which may be different for some students (based on students entering spring semester, staff evaluation points and course grade points). The components of this check sheet include:

a. Skills (23 worth 10 pts. each. Max 230 total points possible)

b. Sport Observation Student Evaluations (Top 4 scores used. Max 96 total points possible)

c. Staff Evaluations (Total Score of Four/ Mid-Term & Final Evaluations. Total points possible varies)

d. Selected Course Grade Points (Based on courses listed in #5. Total points possible varies)

e. Overall GPA – at end of fall semester (130 total points possible)

f. Formal Interview (Max 150 total points possible)

A percentage is then derived from the total points achieved divided by the total points possible for each student, and the top students are selected for admittance into the program. The ATEP has a right to deny admission to any student who does not achieve a minimum of 75% of the total points.

The number of students accepted into the program each year may differ, based on the total number of students enrolled in the ATEP at that time and availability of space for clinical field experiences. A maximum of 8 students will be accepted into the ATEP each year, although more may be accepted in any given year based on current enrollment statistics.

Technical Standards for Admission

The Athletic Training Education Program at Ohio Northern University is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the ATEP establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]).

All students admitted to the ATEP must meet the following abilities and expectations. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, without reasonable accommodation as set forth by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio Northern University, the student will not be admitted into the program.

Compliance with the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for the BOC (Board of Certification) examination.

Candidates for selection to the ATEP must demonstrate:

The mental capacities to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, and integrate concepts and demonstrate problem-solving abilities to formulate assessments and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
Sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques, and accurately, safely, and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
The ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.
The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
The perseverance, diligence, and commitment to complete the ATEP as outlined and sequenced.

A complete health evaluation must be performed before applying the above technical standards to each individual candidate. The evaluation must include a determination of the candidate’s physical health and communicable disease immunity. It must assess the medical components of physical health and other disability that may be present and to verify appropriate immunization history. The immunization history must be in compliance with the Center for Disease Control policy for health care workers before being exposed to blood or blood-contaminated products. These immunizations include: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria. This evaluation may be completed by any licensed health care provider (MD, DO, PA, or NP), but the ATEP Medical Director will be the final reviewer and final authority as to a candidate’s compliance with the technical standards and qualification to enter into the ATEP.

If a candidate is unable to meet each component of the technical standards listed above, that candidate will then be referred to the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences for evaluation of possible accommodations to be offered and applied to enable a candidate to meet the technical standards. If after a reasonable time period (as set by the candidate, the Dean’s office, the University Physician, the Human Performance and Sport Sciences Department, and the ATEP Director) to ensure compliance and evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations, or reasonable accommodation is unable to be met, the candidate will be unable to enter the program.

If a student receives a significant injury at any time that they are enrolled as an athletic training student at ONU that will not allow them to comply with the “technical standards” requirement they had demonstrated upon entering the program, it may be necessary to remove the student from a clinical experience altogether. Should the student demonstrate that, within a reasonable amount of time, they will be able to mentally or physically adhere to the technical standards previously set forth they will be allowed to continue with their clinical assignment. These decisions will be made by the ATEP Director in consultation with the ATEP Medical Director and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, if necessary.

Re-Application to the Athletic Training Major

Program applicants who are not selected to enter into the ATEP for the following fall semester will have the opportunity to re‑apply the following year. An individual choosing to re‑apply must realize that it will be necessary to stay at Ohio Northern University additional semesters to complete all necessary didactic and clinical experiences. You will be required to matriculate through the selection process exactly as you did the previous year, actively taking part in the sport observations, re-completion of the skill check-offs, continued directed observation hours in the athletic training room, and be required to again meet the requirements to sit for a formal interview, as those parts that you did previously complete will not be carried over from one evaluation year to the next. You may want to consider retaking courses that you did not do well in the first time to increase your quality points and GPA, although it is not mandatory.

Transfer Students

A student desiring to transfer from another college or university must follow the university procedures outlined in the course catalog. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will determine your academic standing in cooperation with the registrar’s office.

Students who wish to transfer core athletic training courses in place of those required at ONU must submit a transcript of grades for consideration to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Specific athletic training courses may receive transfer credit, but will only be accepted for graduation from the ATEP if there is documented evidence from the transfer institution that it includes the same educational competencies & proficiencies as the course(s) it is replacing. It will likely be necessary to retake these courses to fulfill the competency and proficiency requirement for graduation. Each situation will be handled on an individual basis, as many variables might need to be addressed.

Transfer students must be accepted into the ATEP through the same competitive admissions process as previously outlined for traditional students. Individual consideration will be made for those students who may be transferring with high credit hours and those who are transferring core athletic training courses in order to facilitate a reasonable graduation time.

Please reference the “Selection of Students” section to become familiar with the requirements for admission into the ATEP program at ONU.