Contact: Bruce Conley, News Information Director
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
e-mail: bruce_conley@augie.edu
www.augie.edu

February 14, 2003

Augustana Athletic Training Program Recommended for Full Accreditation

SIOUX FALLS - Brian Gerry MS, ATC, program director for Athletic Training at Augustana College, received notice from the Joint Review Committee on Athletic Training (JRC-AT) on-site evaluation committee that the program will be recommended for full CAAHEP (Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accreditation.

Augustana's program received no citations of non-compliance during the three-day on-site evaluation. Full accreditation status will be recommended to the JRC-AT Education Committee, who will make recommendations to CAAHEP. Full accreditation status will be awarded for five years as the new Standards and Guidelines for Athletic Training will be released in 2008.

Gerry said the on-site evaluation team praised the Augustana program's many strengths. Among then was the relationship between the college and Sioux Valley Hospital.

“The relationship we have with Sioux Valley Hospital's NORTH Center is very unique,” Gerry said. “Their facilities compare with the best in the country and the relationship we have with their allied health care personnel is a tremendous asset to the quality and didactic and clinical instruction we can offer our students.”

Also cited was the involvement of Augustana's team physicians and the educational role they play with the students in the classroom, in clinical settings, and internships.

“The evaluators also noted the uniqueness of our program's ability to actively incorporate our students into the community by providing medical support to youth athletic events,” Gerry said. “This has been a fantastic way for us to promote and recruit potential athletic training students to Augustana and to promote the profession of athletic training.”