UTC ATEP
Professional Fitness Policy
Professional Fitness Evaluation Form
- The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) has established standards of professional fitness in compliance with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Code of Ethics, Foundational Behaviors of the NATA Educational Competencies (4 th ed), and the Board of Certification Standards of Practice. ATEP students are required to adhere to, and will be evaluated on, these standards for program continuance and graduation.
- When a student fails to meet the ATEP professional fitness standards, a recommendation for dismissal can be made by a majority vote of the Athletic Training Review Committee (ATRC) (see below).
- Students are first notified of the assessment process after their expression of interest in the program.
- Students are notified during the admissions process that they will be evaluated on their professional and personal competencies through the program. The assessment process, including the evaluation instrument and the grievance procedure is included in the admissions materials on the website and Graduate Catalog as well as in the student operational policies manual.
- Students are also informed annual orientation sessions, through practicum course syllabi (HHP 553, 563, 573, & 583) and verbally on the first day of each practicum class about the specific criteria on which they will be evaluated.
- The evaluation instrument (Professional Fitness Evaluation Form) will be completed at the end of each semester by the instructor of the course for HHP 553 and 563 based on input from all of the respective clinical instructors from that semester. The evaluation instrument will be completed two times (mid-term and end) for HHP 573 & 583 by the assigned clinical instructor. The forms are reviewed with the student by a faculty or staff member (for first year students) and by the ACI/CI for second year students. Evaluator and student signatures on the PFE form indicate that the evaluator has reviewed the form with the student. Signatures do not imply that the student agrees or disagrees with the review. Students must receive satisfactory scores (no zeros) on the evaluation to pass the practicum class.
- When a problem is identified (e.g., zeros on the evaluation form), a faculty or staff member will meet with the student to communicate the concern and afford him or her the opportunity to address the problem (e.g. student may offer remediation suggestions).
- No decision concerning the student and/or remediation plans will be made or expressed prior to this initial meeting with the student nor will finalized decisions be expressed to the student during this initial meeting.
- If the problem is not resolved, the faculty member submits a letter to the Program Director requesting that the student meet with the Athletic Training Review Committee (ATRC).
- Upon receipt of the letter from a faculty member requesting review of a student, the Program Director informs the student in writing and requests his or her presence at the review meeting within five-working days subsequent to the mailing of the letter to the student. The student may bring a representative of choice to the review to assist him or her in the process.
- The ATRC will assess the student’s performance and recommend a course of action that may include any of the following:
- The student is ready and fit to continue,
- The student should undergo remediation
- The student should be dismissed from the ATEP
- After meeting with the ATRC, a recommendation by the committee is made to the Program Director who notifies the student of the committee’s decision.
- The student has the right to appeal the final decision. The appeal process (below) can also be located in the UTC graduate catalog.
The Athletic Training Review Committee (ATRC)
The athletic training review committee will consist of the Program Director (committee chair), the ATEP Medical Director, an ATEP faculty member, an ATEP staff member, a member of the allied health community, and an ATEP student representative.
Program Dismissal for Reasons Other Than Grades
The director shall provide written notification of dismissal to the student with-in five working days. Such notice shall inform the student of the right to appeal and specific procedures to be followed. Following written notification of dismissal from the program, the student has the right to appeal. A written appeal, including a documented rationale for the basis of the appeal, must be submitted to the Program Director within five working days. In all cases, the program faculty shall be presumed to have taken appropriate action and the student appealing shall have the burden of proof to the contrary. The question of whether or not the student may continue to attend classes during the appeal process or register for subsequent semesters will be determined on a case by case basis. In particular, if the student’s presence poses a continuing threat to persons or property or an ongoing risk of disrupting the academic process, the student may be immediately removed and may not attend classes while his/her appeal is in process. Any such determination shall be included as part of the Program Director’s written notification to the student.
Appeals Process
Step 1. Within five working days of receipt of the student’s written appeal, the Department Head/Program Director will meet with the student and review the student’s written appeal with him/her in person. If the student declines such a meeting, the department head/director will proceed to Step 2.
Step 2. Within five working days of the meeting described in Step 1, the department head/program director (in consultation with the Dean of the academic college) will notify and confirm in writing to the student the results of this appeal. The head/director will also notify the Dean of the Graduate School regarding the results of this appeal. Copies of this notification will be sent to the program faculty.
Step 3. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Department Head/Program Director, he or she may appeal this decision to the Graduate Council Appeals Committee. Such appeal must be made within five working days of notification of the head/director’s decision.
Step 4. Within five working days of receiving the student’s written appeal, the Graduate Council Appeals Committee will meet to hear the student’s appeal. The Chair of the Graduate Council shall preside over this hearing as a non-voting chair. The student may bring such materials and/or witnesses as necessary to support his or her position. The Department Head/Program Director and/or a representative(s) of the program faculty mayalso attend this hearing in order to explain the reason(s) for the dismissal and answer questions. After hearing, the Dean of the Graduate School will notify and confirm in writing to the student the results of this appeal. The graduate dean will also notify thecollege dean and the department head/director, who will in turn notify the program faculty.
Step 5. If the student remains unsatisfied with this decision, he or she may appeal in writing to the Chancellor of the University. Such request must be made within five working days of notification from the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the
Graduate School shall forward all pertinent information to the Chancellor with a recommendation. The Chancellor’s decision shall be made within ten working days and shall be considered final.
Rev :
February 13, 2008 3:35 PM
