FAQ

All sites where students are involved in patient care or observation-only experience (excluding the Program’s sponsoring institution) must have an affiliation agreement or memorandum(s) of understanding that is endorsed by the appropriate administrative authority (i.e. those bearing signature authority) at both the sponsoring institution and site. In the case where the administrative oversight of the preceptor differs from the affiliate site, formal agreements must be obtained from all parties.

A sample of the tools would be more appropriate than just one in each category.  No need to include all, but enough to allow the reviewers to evaluate.

The intent of this Standard (2012 Professional Program Standards) is to ensure that program directors are given adequate time and resources to fulfill the requirements of their position and the needs of the program.  The PD’s overall load must be comparable to similarly held health care positions at the institution or benchmarked by peer institutions. It is up to the institution to describe a case where this practice is consistent with other health care programs at the institution or peer institutions. If the program cannot verify this practice is consistent with the required benchmarking criterion, the practice would be non-compliant.

The list of Faculty and Instructional Staff is maintained on the Faculty Tab. A direct link is provided within the Standard in the self-study.

Yes, typically faculty appointment letters would include multiple courses if that was the expectation for the faculty member to teach.

If the chair or dean of the academic unit gives academic release time to a faculty member for clinical responsibilities, that person would fulfill the faculty status as described in the glossary and Standard 30.

Standard 51 (2012 Professional Program Standards) states that all clinical education sites must be evaluated by the program on an annual and planned basis and the evaluations must serve as part of the program’s comprehensive assessment plan. The Standard does not indicate the types of evaluations that need to be performed. Educationally it may be appropriate to evaluate the site and the surgeon to determine if it is a worthwhile experience for the student.

A clinical experience can extend beyond the academic semester and during breaks as long as it is tied to an academic course. The aforementioned scenario could be considered compliant if all other criteria are met.  For example, it is critical that this practice is approved by those in the institution with authority to do so to ensure students are not prohibited from returning early for a variety of reasons (e.g. liability insurance coverage).

Assessment of knowledge, skills, and abilities can occur in any fashion consistent with the program’s policy including, but not limited to, times during early arrival and holiday coverage.

Any deviation from the Standard that occurs outside of institution’s normal academic calendar must be written within an institutional policy that has been approved by the Program Director, the Department Chair, Dean, and the institution’s legal counsel to ensure this practice does not contradict any federal and state statutes.

The athletic training student must be supervised at all times, therefore, sending the student to perform athletic training services, including application of ice, on a patient would require the presence of an appropriately credentialed preceptor (e.g. licensed athletic trainer).  Failure to assure athletic training students are supervised during all clinical experiences will result in non-compliance.

Yes, Standard 78 (2012 Professional Program Standards), as well as Standard 79 (The program must have a process for site specific training and review of the EAP with the student before they begin patient care at that site.) and Standard 80 (Students must have immediate access to the EAP in an emergency situation.) apply to all venues where athletic training students are placed for clinical education.

Standard 12 (2014 PP Degree Standards) is referring to the need for the existence of a comprehensive assessment plan, while Standard 14 (2014 PP Degree Standards) is referring to the need for the existence of comprehensive assessment measures and also asks the program to relate the measures back to the plan as well as the Program’s mission, goals, and objectives.

Standard 17 (2014 PP Degree Standards) is asking the Program Director to explain and submit documentation demonstrating how this is done. It may be in the form of Course evaluations, but it may also be exit interview data (depending on questions), or other unique metrics that you may have incorporated within your program.

Standard 17 (2014 PP Degree Standards) is asking the Program Director to explain and submit documentation demonstrating how this is done. This might be in the form of course evaluations, capstone experience evaluations, Practical examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE), student portfolio developments, or other unique metrics that the program utilizes.

Standard 18 (2014 PP Degree Standards) is referring to the program learning outcomes and the student learning outcomes.  The Program would have identified how they would measure a program outcome or a student learning outcome within their comprehensive plan, and this question is asking the program to explain how those measures were analyzed in relationship to the completion of those objectives.  The upload(s) could be in the form of summary or data sheets demonstrating this.

Yes. It is expected that programs will remain in compliance with ALL Standards during the withdrawal process. Programs that have non-compliances with the Standards will be required to complete Progress Reports on the noncompliant Standards until the withdrawal date.

Automatic extensions are not granted, however a program can appeal at the point that the CAATE would move to withdraw accreditation. Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Edited 03/16

The program will most likely not hire a faculty member to meet this requirement. A program will continue to submit progress report indicating how the instructional needs of the program are being met.

f withdrawal is voluntary, all aspects of the programs closure plan, including their teach-out plan and staffing levels, must be approved by the Commission.