Student Retention and Progression

The program director maintains a student file containing application materials, clinical information and overall student progression. The program director and/or the academic advisor maintains a student file containing grade reports and course progress information. The student’s program file contains: master competencies lists for the six clinical education courses, immunization verification, physical examination verification, admission and selection materials, copies of certification cards, proof of a completed background check, signature pages for the athletic training program (ATP) policies, and any disciplinary notices. In addition, several items are stored electronically on ATrack such as total clinical hours, student evaluations, and signature pages for completion of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen and HIPPA/FERPA training modules, just to name a few.

Each student in the Nebraska Wesleyan University ATP must meet the following requirements to retain their position in the program:

The student must:

1. Show normal progress towards completion of required courses for a Bachelor of Science in athletic training. Students accepted into the program prior to March 1, 2021 must earn a “C” (2.00) or higher in all coursework relevant to a Bachelor of Science in athletic training. This includes courses with and without the ATTR. Students accepted into the program after March 1, 2021, must earn a “B-” (2.67) or higher in all coursework relevant to a Bachelor of Science in athletic training.
   a.  A student may petition to have a leave of absence from academic and clinical requirements for not more than one year and must be make the request in writing to the program director.
2. Maintain an overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
3. Follow all policies and procedures of the NWU ATP.

In addition, here are specific requirements for each level of the program:

Pre-Athletic Training Students (1st-year)

A pre-athletic training (pre-AT) student is typically a first-year student who is a candidate for application to NWU’s ATP in the current academic year.

The pre-AT student is introduced to basic athletic training principles. This is primarily a year of observation and is designed to familiarize the student with the roles, responsibilities and schedule of an athletic trainer. Pre-AT students will be required to obtain a minimum of 30 observation hours to observe the staff evaluating and treating student-athletes. In addition, each student is assigned a mentor who is usually a Level II or III student in the ATP. All hours should be documented using ATrack within seven days of an observation.

Pre-AT students must complete these requirements prior to starting in the ATP:

1. Current Emergency Cardiac Care certification
2. Completion of the OSHA regulations/universal health precautions training module
3. Completion of the HIPPA/FERPA privacy and confidentiality training module
4. Completion of 30 observation hours
5. Familiar with the ATP student manual and electronically verifying it was read and understood
6. Application to the ATP

Failure to satisfactorily complete these requirements will prohibit the student from applying to the ATP.

Level I Athletic Training Student 

A Level I AT student is typically a student in his/her sophomore year at Nebraska Wesleyan University, who has been accepted into NWU’s ATP and is completing the first year of didactic instruction and clinical assignments.

The Level I AT student will have six clinical assignments over the entire academic year with each assignment lasting about six weeks. The Level I AT student will receive a performance evaluation completed by the Preceptor for each assignment. Evaluations will be completed at the end of the assignment. The evaluation form must be signed electronically by the student and Preceptor before the form is submitted electronically to the clinical education coordinator (CEC). All hours should be documented using ATrack within seven days.

Students must provide evidence of a negative TB skin test and/or negative chest X-ray, a physical by the team physician or student health, and Hepatitis B vaccine (or a waiver form) before beginning their first semester in the program.

Level I AT student must complete these requirements by the end of the academic year:

1. Current Emergency Cardiac Care certification
2. Completion of the OSHA regulations/universal health precautions training module
3. Satisfactory completion of clinical assignments and AT competencies
4. Basic knowledge of documentation and record keeping
5. Basic skills in treatment and application of tape, braces and other equipment
6. Injury evaluations and applications of modalities
7. Complete BOC Progression Steps (listed below in bold): Successfully passing the annual exam with a 70% or better (completed in AT 2020)
8. ATrack Membership

Level I ATS must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better. Failure to meet these standards will result in the student being placed on probation (see “Academic Disciplinary Policies”).

Level II Athletic Training Students

A Level II AT student is a student who has been accepted into NWU’s ATP and is completing the second year of advanced AT academic courses and clinical assignments (typically a junior).

Each Level II AT student will be assigned to a Preceptor for the entire length of a sport’s season (typically 3). The Level II AT student will receive two performance evaluations completed by the Preceptor for each assignment. Evaluations will be completed at the mid-point and end of the assignment. Students will also gain experience with a non-sport population by being assigned to a rehabilitation clinic during the spring semester. The student will be evaluated for that experience as well. The evaluation form must be signed electronically by the student and Preceptor before the form is submitted electronically to the clinical education coordinator (CEC). All hours should be documented using ATrack within seven days.

Students must provide evidence of a negative TB skin test and/or negative chest X-ray before beginning their third semester in the program.

Level II AT students must complete these requirements by the end of the academic year:

1. Current Emergency Cardiac Care certification
2. Completion of the OSHA regulations/universal health precautions training module
3. Satisfactory completion of clinical assignments and AT competencies
4. Use of evaluation techniques, rehabilitation skills and equipment, injury prevention measures, and physical examination techniques and equipment
5. Act as a mentor to the pre-AT students and Level I AT students
6. Current ATrack membership
7. Complete BOC Progression Steps (listed below in bold): Successful completion of the annual exam with a 70% or better (taken in AT 3020)

Level II AT students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better. Failure to meet these standards will result in the student being placed on probation (see "Disciplinary Procedures").

Level III Athletic Training Student 

A Level III AT student is a student who has been accepted into NWU’s ATP and is completing the third full year of academic courses and clinical assignments (typically a senior).

The Level III AT student has completed the majority of the athletic training course work. The Level III AT student will help to mentor the pre-AT students and facilitate the Level I and Level II AT students knowledge acquisition and skill practice. In this regard, the Level III AT student will learn how to improve as a mentor discovering the best way to help the Level I and II AT students, as well as the pre-AT students, learn and prosper in the field of AT.

Each Level III AT student will be assigned to a Preceptor for the entire length of a sport’s season (typically 3).  The Level III AT student will receive two performance evaluations completed by the Preceptor for each assignment. Evaluations will be completed at the mid-point and end of the assignment. Students will also gain experience with a non-sport population and conditions other than orthopedics by being assigned to medical clinics/and or physician offices during the fall semester. The student will be evaluated for that experience as well. The evaluation form must be signed electronically by the student and Preceptor before the form is submitted electronically to the clinical education coordinator (CEC). All hours should be documented using ATrack within seven days

Students must provide evidence of a negative TB skin test and/or negative chest X-ray before beginning their fifth semester in the program.

Level III AT students must complete these requirements by the end of the academic year:

1. Current Emergency Cardiac Care certification
2. Completion of the OSHA regulations/universal health precautions training module
3. Satisfactory completion of clinical assignments and AT competencies
4. Current ATrack membership
5. Successful completion of health care provider observations
6. Successful completion of all competencies and competency reviews
7. Develop an appreciation for research as it relates to the field of AT
8. Complete BOC Progression Steps (listed below in bold): Successful completion of the BOC exam preparations (implemented into AT 4010) which includes BOC Practice Domain Tests, BOC Notebook submissions, individual meetings, and the BOC practice exam
9. Students must report their results of the official BOC examination upon being received

BOC Preparation Requirements:

All senior athletic training students must undergo BOC Preparation Meetings. These meetings will start approximately five weeks prior to taking the BOC Examination. Each week, a Level III student will meet with the program director to plan a schedule for BOC Examination preparation. There will be five meetings that must be completed in order to graduate from NWU.