Program Mission, Goals, and Assessment

Ohio Northern University’s Athletic Training Education Program

Mission Statement

The mission of the Athletic Training Program at Ohio Northern University is to offer athletic training students the academic and professional services needed to become an entry-level certified athletic trainer and provide the university student-athlete with the highest quality of athletic health care. Our commitment is to the complete health and safe participation of Ohio Northern University intercollegiate student-athletes and provides athletic training students with a unique and comprehensive education and clinical foundation as it relates to the profession of athletic training.  The groundwork of our program is to promote excellence in athletic training through scholarship, skill and professionalism. 

Program Objectives, Assessment & Evaluation

ONU’s athletic training education program strives to offer athletic training students the academicand professional services needed to become an entry-level certified athletic trainer.  We offer students a unique and comprehensive education and clinical foundation relating to the profession of athletic training and work to promote excellence through scholarship, skill and professionalism.

              All students enrolled in ONU’s athletic training education program will develop the cognitive and clinical skills necessary to:

                 1.          Assist athletes in maintaining a high level of performance by

                               recognizing and minimizing risk of injury/illness and implement

                               proper course of action

                 2.          Design and implement physical conditioning programs, conduct

                               pre-participation screenings, design and fit protective

                               equipment and promote sound nutritional practices

                 3.          Understand pathomechanics and predisposing factors of

                               injury/illness and assess pathology and severity of injuries,

                               illnesses and conditions while maintaining patient confidentiality

                 4.          Execute initial care for life-threatening and non-life threatening

                               conditions including appropriate referral and guidance to allied

                               health care professionals to match service with need

                 5.          Educate staff, coaches, administrators and community in

                               standard immediate care procedures relative to athletic injury

                               and keep current in changes/trends regarding such procedures

                 6.          Assess status of injuries, illnesses or conditions to determine

                               appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and/or reconditioning

                               needs, and administer appropriate therapeutic modalities and/or

                               therapeutic exercise

                 7.          Determine the need for treatment/rehabilitation modification,

                               continuation or discontinuation and apply functional criteria to

                               evaluate readiness for partial or full return-to-play status

                 8.          Develop policies and procedures to promote safe athletic

                               participation, timely care and legal compliance

                 9.          Develop a plan of action to provide routine and emergency

                               health care for individuals and athletic activities/events

                 10.        Understand the requirements to maintain competence in and

                               comply with the latest educational and regulatory issues in the

                               profession through continuing education

           Outcomes Assessment & Evaluation Methods

             The ONU athletic training education program assesses it’s effectiveness to 

provide the educational learning objectives stated above through the following means:

                 1.          Student retention and graduation rates

                 2.          Students academic and clinical course success

                 3.          Students academic and clinical evaluations

                 4.          Student portfolios & program files

                 5.          Clinical field experiences

                 6.          Senior student exit evaluations

                 7.          BOC certification exam results

                 8.          State licensure/certification/registration results

                 9.          Student’s job placement results following graduation

                 10.        Alumni ATEP program evaluations

                 11.        Alumni’s employer evaluations