Program Policy Review Site for Athletic Training

The University of Iowa

Exercise Science and Orthopaedic Surgery

This site is dedicated to presenting policy changes for the Athletic Training Education Program.  A schedule of policy review that begins each year in April serves to update our Program Handbook; however, policy changes may occur during the course of any given year.  It is the purpose of this site, to display those changes and other policies under review.  Sections below indicate which policy category changes have been made. 

The Handbook is published once every year.  Information in the current edition of the Handbook is current as of July 2005.  The Athletic Training Education Program strives to publish accurate information.  However, since the Handbook is printed once a year, and policies and procedures are amended as warranted, you can get the most current modifications to the program at this site.

Policies and regulations affecting faculty, staff, and students are found on the Athletic Training website Http://www.hawkeyehealthcare.com.  Program faculty and staff are contacted each year in August to review the document before a general education program meeting is scheduled to highlight key portions of the document, which both explain policies and rules as well as answer questions they may have.

For further clarification or information on this temporary web page document or other questions, contact the Program Office, 414 Field House, (319) 335-9393, or danny-foster@uiowa.edu.

Latest Review Ended July 2005 (contents in this review site will be purged on September 1, 2005)

Next Review Period begins April 2005

Review Period Changes for September 1, 2004 to April 1, 2005

Link to sections of the Handbook here for specific review of implemented and pending policy or rule changes.

Changes are noted by a light yellow border.  When the border is at a section heading, the entire section has had substantial changes.  When the border highlights sentences or paragraphs, specific wording changes appear within that section.

Athletic Training Education Program

No changes in 2004-5

Strategic Plan (Revised 12/2004)

Aspirations

We are hopeful to further the University of Iowa’s aspiration of national distinction by developing, encouraging, and supporting the active inquiry of our faculty, staff, and students; by ethically gathering patient-based evidence for clinical practices and reporting them; by the unbiased methods of weighing evidence important to questions involving physically active populations; and by responsible processes in constructing arguments and influencing colleagues as members of the athletic training community.

Mission

To prepare undergraduate students for professional practice as athletic trainers and for health care leadership roles with the physically active primarily for the clinic-high school and college ranks.  We will do this by maximizing our local resources in health care, exercise science, UIHC, athletic training services, and the ICCSD.  These resources will serve as expert mentors of the highest quality throughout campus and the local community; and in their combined efforts influence the future development of athletic training with research and professional preparation products.  Further, our mission is accomplished by supporting and advancing the values of professional education in light of the study of human interactions and relationships and in the pursuit of broadening and maturing of critical professional characteristics, those characteristics intrinsic to effective stewardship of a profession, thus providing our students with the vision and awareness of competence and standards, of diverse applications, of strong work ethic, and of commitment to balance in life.

The complete strategic plan developed in December 2004 can be viewed on line at this link.  Listed here are key points of planning from that planning document.

Core Athletic Training Values

We subscribe to promote core values in athletic training professional preparation by modeling those values for our students.  We have used those core values in the context of guiding principles with Professional ethics to establish our Program and in steering our strategic plan.  The full description of those core values are located in Appendix ?

Professional Ethics

3-5 Year Plan (2005-2010)

1.    expanded teaching laboratory space to incorporate emergency care, modalities, evaluations, and exercise rehabilitation

2.     regular clinic out-reach practicum assignments for all students at the Sports Medicine Center

3.     Clinical Education Coordinators in-charge of ACI workshops and training by contract

4.     consistently high quality senior research projects with regular funding

5.     all clinical course work incorporated into outcomes-based practice content

6.     fully incorporate age-span health care and population specific issues in all aspects of the curriculum

7.     establish a sports and activity-related ergonomics course or content with the biomechanics/anatomy lecturer

8.     increase modalities course to 3 sh

9.     increase rehabilitation course to 4 sh

10.   clinical faculty whose specialties are in epidemiology, materials biology, assessment, and management take over 27:57 by contract, either dual appointments or overtime appointment

11.  formal adjunct and clinical faculty appointments for clinical education coordinators in Orthopaedics and Exercise Science

12-Month Plan (2005-2006)

1.             regular clinic out-reach practicum assignments will be worked through the Sports Medicine Clinic Administrator for all students during their second year in association with 27:182 and 27:183 through a change in the UIHC Affiliation Contract to the Sports Medicine Center Contract.

2.             due to his qualifications and background expertise, we will submit a request to the appropriate administrators to contract with Dr. Doug West to take charge of ACI workshops and training.

3.             we will request support from the Orthopaedics Department and access to needed expertise and technology from the Sports Medicine Center as well as support from the Director of Athletic Training Services to nurture and engage the clinical supervisory staff in mentoring and reviewing the senior projects for consistency and for high quality work.

4.             for the short term we will submit a proposal for integrative agreement with the Sports Medicine Center to contribute to the Hawkeye Sports Medicine Symposium in return for regular senior research project funding.

5.             the faculty and clinical education coordinators will meet to systematically review course work in athletic training that ensures that age-span health care content is incorporated into the athletic training specific course work and newsletter information will support the process of course content review with the supporting faculty – this will be follow up in the Spring 2006 with a request from faculty for a status of content support at that point.

6.             distribute a monthly (or at least regular) newsletter to faculty and staff pointing out the ways and means that athletic trainers are incorporating age-span health care for the physically active into the curriculum.

7.             request to replace a graduating ½-time TA line for support of the Program Director.

8.             propose that official dual appointment be approved for Dr. Glenn Williams in the School of Physical Therapy with a 0% appointment in Exercise Science – the appointment solidifying a role for Dr. Williams as Research Coordinator for the Program.

9.             submit a request for adding internet access to S501f (Athletic Training Teaching Lab) along with modifying and updating the computer capabilities in that lab for class and lab presentations and student use.

10.          submit a request for maintenance of the Lab (S501f) due to removal of shelving, tack boards, and cabinets to include spackling and paint.

11.          adjust fee expenditures for 27:37 and 27:186 to reflect more frequent use of PPE equipment items and a broader application of equipment-related skills than is suggested for entry-level.

12.          submit a complete self-study to the JRC-AT in September 2006 and arrange for an on-site visit in the Spring of 2006.

13.          conduct a review of the orientation processes of each clinical supervisor to ensure that student welfare is safeguarded and to assist clinical supervisor staff with practical applications of the orientation process.

14.          formal contact reinforcement by the Program will take place with each head coach involved in program contributions to meeting student travel objectives to supplement the plans established by the clinical supervisor staff with education program background explanations – these coaches will be put on the Newsletter mailing list.

15.          follow up on UI and ICCSD policy reviews to post the updated versions on the webCT and Program webpage for supplements to the clinical instructor orientation process.

16.          finalize discussion of an additional physical examination for students and then implement any changes in the health policy for entering and retained students.

17.          review the maintenance sheets developed for equipment inventory and maintenance both in the education program labs setting and the service clinical setting assignments for provisions of health and safety of athletes,  students, and staff.

18.          submit an analysis of security concerns for the athletic training lab and office space for the athletic training faculty

19.          conduct a systematic review of team physician contact and exposure for the third year students, related to a change in the Sports Medicine Center operation, as a series of items in the senior exit survey.

20.          systematically review the clinical supervisor performance appraisal process that is associated with the student’s self-evaluation for consistency, pertinent feedback, efficiency, and potential modification to ensure that students get timely feedback about their clinical progress and about professional acculturation.

21.          complete annual reports to the BOC, JRC-AT, Education Counsel, and Program Annual Report

22.          admit 15 new students and 1 deferred student to begin in August 2005

23.          review returning students for Program retention by June 2005

24.          revise the UIHC Agreement to work through the UISMC and revise all GA Agreements for licensing requirements

25.          increase scholarship requests by 9% over the 2004-5 total amount

26.          stabilize line item funding resource through the Sports Medicine Center for the annual student banquet

27.          revise and update travel policies as the clinical supervisor mission is revised

28.          develop faculty awards to be distributed at the student banquet

29.          incorporate formal learning plans into the Practicum courses and support clinical supervisor use of the plans

30.          incorporate age-related content into 27:57, 27:171, 27:182, and 27:183

31.          add subcomponents to the mid-semester formative assessment to include physician and allied heath exposure in both a summative and formative way

32.          submit requests the Program to be included in Stadium Renovation, and Field House Renovation Plans

33.          commit advising to more 1 on 1 time during the fall Football Camp for 1^st year students, during the summer clinical sciences course for 2^nd year students, and periodic 3^rd year appointments to sequence and promote professionalism

34.          revise clinical supervisor staff contracts to reflect changes in staff roles and responsibilities

35.          solidify Dr. Williams role in research projects and support the integration of clinical supervisor faculty into the presentations

36.          provide support, assistance with training, opportunity, release support, and technical advise and support to the clinical supervisor staff

37.          as a group, submit at least two publications and develop a training grant through NIH in collaboration with the SM fellows

38.          participate in the public presentations of the UISMC

Program Administration

Physical Facilities  (Updated 08/2004)

Modern classroom space available to faculty range in size from seminar style to large lecture halls.  Classroom seating accommodates 15 to 300 persons.  Classrooms for most of the required courses are located in the Field House.  Other classrooms used are located in the College of Pharmacy, the Larson Conference Room of the UIHC Orthopaedic Department, Bowen Science Building, and McLean Hall.  Each facility that houses classroom space provides A-V equipment and apparatus for instruction.  Several classrooms are hardwired for computer and internet access.  The departmental computer lab also serves as a classroom containing 20 computers.  The cadaver laboratory is a spacious, well-equipped facility.  Full-time staff operate the facility and can easily accommodate the 50 students (Physicain Assistant and Athletic Training) each summer.  Other specialized or additional A-V resources are readily available in a central location at a campus-wide Audio-visuals Department.

Office space for the Program Director is located in the Field House near the classroom area and on the fourth floor.  The Exercise Science Department Office is located also on the fourth floor of the Field House.  Secretarial assistance for the Program Director and full-time athletic training faculty are located in the Field House Department office.  The teaching lab space for the athletic training faculty is located on the fifth floor of the Field House.  The space and facility for offices, classrooms, and administrative offices are of adequate size for management, advising, storage, and other program needs.  Other office space for  faculty are located in the Orthopaedics Department in the John Pappajohn Pavilion UIHC.  This facility is located 20 feet west of the Field House.  Laboratory spaces for orthopaedic faculty are located throughout the hospital and considered to be some of the best facilities in the United States.  We have determined that a review of repair needs for the athletic training lab and a campus concern for access and security should take place.

Four intradepartmental and fully operational Athletic Training Rooms are located on campus and within two blocks of one another: Carver Hawkeye Arena, Field House, Jacobsen Athletic Building, and Recreation Building.  The facilities surround the University Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) and are located near classrooms and athletic practice fields.  Each facility is modern, has updated equipment, and is supervised by full-time staff, year-round.  Each facility serves a specified population of athletes with a known injury risk.  The Director of Athletic Training Services assigns staff, along with the Associate Directors, to facilities based on the patient care needs of those sports.  The Program Director assigns students, along with the Clinical Education Coordinators, to sport experiences under the supervision of full-time staff.  The size of the athletic training rooms and the clinical services offered in them are comparable to similar schools in the Big Ten Conference. 

Two separate high school athletic training rooms are located within 2 miles of the Field House and on city bus routes.  These facilities are small but comparable to large school space and equipment in Iowa.  A qualified graduate assistant is assigned to provide athletic training services at each high school and to supervise students with a full-time certified athletic trainer.  The physical environment has been determined to be supportive of clinical education and not detrimental to student learning, yet these facilities are not comparable to facilities on campus nor comparable to the range of services available on campus.

The UIHC Sports Medicine Center is a well-designed but temporary unit located next to the UIHC Orthopaedics Department in the John Pappajohn Pavilion.  A patient waiting area with information and registration desk, a nurses station, a computer satellite area and x-ray viewing room, sports physical therapy office space, therapy education room, 8 examination rooms, soft goods storage area and orthotics rooms make up the bulk of the center.  Student Health Services is located in the Westlawn Building and houses two floors of office, patient waiting, nursing, and examination space.  Conference, meeting, and classrooms are available in this space.  A large reception and records room along with specialized services such as a lab and pharmacy are located in this space.

Developmental Activities  (Updated 12/2004)

Developmental activities preserve and enhance the integrity and strength of instructional programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Ensuring that students' needs are met fully and that their programs of study are not diminished, obstructed, or delayed is a primary objective and responsibility of faculty and departments. Faculty developmental activities, if planned appropriately, assist rather than conflict with this objective.  Career Development Awards support faculty development projects for one semester at full salary or two semesters at half salary.  The Old Gold Summer Fellowship Program is a competitive developmental program that supports summer work on an approved developmental project.  Faculty Scholar Awards are meant to provide faculty of great promise with opportunities for extended and concentrated work.  The Global Scholars Program is intended to provide the opportunity for tenured faculty members, with established records of research and teaching, to consider their research and teaching in relation to significant globalizing trends.  The Faculty Fellowship most closely directed toward athletic training is The James Van Allen Natural Sciences Fellowship which is a competitive award designed to encourage and support scholarly work in the physical, natural, and mathematical sciences.  For all professional and scientific staff, monies are allocated for membership dues, license, and CEU activities on a yearly basis.

Equipment and Supplies  (Updated 12/2004)

Adequate educational equipment and supplies are provided to instructors and students through several resources on campus.  Exercise Science Department A-V; Orthopaedic Department A-V; A-V Department equipment, assistance, and film libraries; University Library system, internet, and modem/CD ROM access to documented resources comprise the bulk of classroom directed and utilized A-V material.  Storage of these items is located in each facility responsible for their use.  Instructor uses of A-V resources are discretionary.  Students have access to these and additional resources through the University Library system.  Expendable supplies purchased through the Exercise Science Department for labs in several courses are housed primarily in the Carver Athletic Training storage area for distribution to the various sites.  Each clinical facility has some shared models and resources for clinical education and patient education.  The academic program has updated models for clinical facilities as needed.  Through the cadaver dissection lab, numerous A-V models are available and easily accessible for students 24 hours a day.

Also available through academic budgeted funds is a cadaver for use in two classes: 27:182 Evaluation (2^nd year students), and 76:187 Practicum IV (3^rd year students).  We have developed a process whereby the 2^nd year students reflect the skin as we work on specific extremity sections in the course.  The 3^rd year students then dissect the joint by reflecting muscles and exposing key anatomic features for palpation and mechanical assessment.  Finally at the end of each body part section, the 2^nd year students review with the instructor the dissected specimen for the key landmarks and mechanical examination.  Through this course, the full cadaver course, and others students are exposed to x-ray, MRI, CT scans, bone scans, and similar radiographic studies.  Blood studies, ECG, EKG, EMG, and nerve conduction studies are used by instructors and at least minimally available to students for review.

BOC Approved CEU Provider  (Updated 08/2004)

The University of Iowa ‘s Exercise Science Department and it’s academic program in Athletic Training is an approved provider of continuing education recognized by the Board of Certification (BOC).  The primary programs sponsored by the Department in conjunction with the Orthopaedics Department are two main events: Sports Medicine Conference and the Hawkeye Sports Medicine Symposium.  The Sports Medicine Conference is a weekly one-hour sports medicine update presented by local experts, faculty, staff, residents, and fellows.  Dr. Ned Amendola is the director of the conference and schedules for the year are established each summer.  The plan of presentation responsibility by week of the month is as follows: week one, Orthopaedic Faculty; week two, Athletic Training and Therapy Faculty & Staff; week three, Family Practice Faculty; week four, residents and fellows; week five for odd months, specialty consultants and outside experts.  The Hawkeye Sports Medicine Symposium is held each December and invites first class speakers in Orthopaedics, Family Practice, and Athletic Training/Therapy.  This is a two-day event that promotes the University and Sports Medicine Center.  Faculty and Staff are expected to contribute to the program.

Faculty Handbook

Class Lists and Attendance  (Revised 09/2004)

To receive credit for a course, students must register for the course by the designated deadline, as identified on the Registrar's deadline calendar.  Instructors must not allow students to attend classes unless they are registered for the course. Students who do not wish to earn credit for a course must register as an auditor.  Students may only audit a course if they have the permission of an instructor.

The Registrar provides class lists to instructors on-line through Infobank (these lists include student information including addresses) and OSIRIS (these lists show official class enrollment and are used to submit grades).

Faculty are asked to review their class lists on-line at the beginning of the semester and to supply mid-term grades. In some departments, faculty are required to submit mid-term grades, in other departments mid-term grades are optional.

At the end of the semester, instructors submit grades to the DEO on-line, through OSIRIS. The DEO approves each class list. After DEO approval the grades are recorded on the permanent record and made available to students through their ISIS accounts. For more information, please see the Registrar's information on submitting final grades, here [see also the College's discussion of grades and grading and student records and confidentiality.]

Faculty members should complete FERPA training (available on-line) before using the on-line information system (see also, Student Records and Confidentiality). For more information on the on-line grading system, please contact David Salisbury at 335-0235.

Timeliness of Grade Reports:  Each semester the Registrar determines a due date for grade reports. As required by the University's Operations Manual, this deadline is no later than the third business day after the close of the final examination period. All grade reports must be turned in on time to permit the evaluation of students for graduation, academic probation, or dismissal. Grades from independent study courses and off-cycle courses are as necessary as all other grades. Instructors may be penalized for delinquent grade reports by a delay in the issuance of the paycheck following the delinquency.

Student Attendance:  The University's Operation Manual specifies only one rule on attendance, covering "Excused Absences from Examinations." This policy requires that students be permitted to make up examinations missed because of illness, mandatory religious obligations, certain University activities, or unavoidable circumstances.

Within the parameters of the University's guidelines, the individual instructor, course director, or department determines the policy on class attendance and on tardiness (covering both late arrival and early departure). Attendance policies and tardiness policies should be clearly stated in the required syllabus, distributed on the first day of class. Students are required to observe the attendance policy announced for the course.

In developing attendance policies, the College asks instructors to provide for students' participation in authorized University activities. Students participating in such activities are expected to present to each instructor before each absence a statement signed by a responsible official that specifies the dates and times the student must miss class. Authorized activities include participation in athletic teams, the marching band and pep band, debate teams, and other recognized University groups, as well as participation in University field trips, service with the National Guard, and jury duty.  We will accept student travel as an excuse but only on a limited basis, but no excuse will be made for other on-campus related but unscheduled Practicum experiences such as Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic visits.

The Program prefers that each instructor establish a no tolerance or expected attendance policy for all Program students.  Whether or not the attendance policy states that attendance affects the course grade, students should be warned that poor attendance is likely to affect the quality of their work and their success in the course so that students will be counseled and a specific inquiry made for each absence by the course instructor. The attendance policy should provide information for students outlining their options (if any) for "making up" work missed due to an absence.

If, late in the semester and after the relevant deadlines, a personal crisis affects a student's ability to complete a course or affects an entire semester's registration, the student should be referred to Program Office which office will then refer the student to the CLAS Academic Programs & Services for special academic consideration. Instructors also have the option of assigning a grade of incomplete (I) if the circumstances warrant.

Absences Due to Illness and Other Emergencies:  The College recommends that attendance policies include procedures to accommodate student illness and absences due to family emergencies. Clinicians at the Student Health Services (4189 Westlawn, 335-8392) are always willing to discuss issues of illness and accommodation with instructors. Student Health Services offers the following advice:

• Most students are honest and do not invent illnesses or other emergencies to avoid faculty expectations.
• Individuals differ markedly in their response to discomfort. Some students can attend class and take examinations when suffering from minor or even serious illness; others have a lower tolerance for stress, and their work can be legitimately compromised by even minor illness.
• A student may have a chronic illness that necessitates special arrangements. Early in the semester, ask students to notify you of any such condition. Consider referral to Student Disability Services
• A student may have an underlying condition (such as anxiety disorder, panic disorder, attention deficit disorder, depression, or alcohol or drug dependency) that can be exacerbated by illness. The student may not be willing to disclose this information when asking for a medical accommodation.

Instructors may request that students absent for medical or personal reasons report the reason for the absence. The student may complete an Explanatory Statement of Absence from Class form (available at the Registration Center, 30 Calvin Hall) and present it to the instructor. A student who is absent for more than five days may request that the Registration Center notify each instructor of the reason for the absence. Instructors may request further documentation of the absence.

Faculty Recognition and Achievement  (Revised 06/2005)

The Athletic Training Education Program is committed to excellence in education.  Promotion of educational leadership excellence is one avenue to creating excellence in education.  Recognizing individual and group achievement acknowledges the achievement of our goals as a Program and serves to provide examples of excellence for all faculty and staff to aspire.  Recognition not only rewards individual achievement but also acknowledges those contributions of peers and students to the achievement of excellence.  Faculty recognition is formally described in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the College of Medicine Recognition pages.

Clinical Supervisor Handbook

Mission  (Established 01/2005)

The clinical supervisors agree to provide the opportunity for cases, case studies, and situations that allow for professional practice and leadership building opportunities with development of the student in mind.  Opportunities are offered for students to interact with patients, family and team members, coaches, administrators, and other support staff by continually challenging the student to grow toward developing maturing professional behavior within their current capabilities.  We will hold students accountable for their learning and encourage and support their motivation to learn from every opportunity while encouraging them to be consistent in their actions and driven by a sound and basic worth ethic.  While leadership is a complex process, we will focus our attention on leadership with acceptance of responsibility and respect for the profession, for health care and healthy life styles, and for each member of the health care team.

Student Use of University Vehicles  (Revised 03/2005)

Transportation on-campus or off using University vehicles is restricted.  Only as necessary, students may use University vehicles if they possess a current and valid drivers license and following a background check listed with the Motor Pool as an eligible driver.  Transport of patients is highly discouraged.  Each clinical supervisor must report regular transportation expectation of students, the name of each student who will be driving a University vehicle, and the nature of the transportation to the Program Director at the beginning of the academic year or whenever the situation becomes known that a student may be asked to drive a University vehicle.

Dress Code  (Revised 03/2005)

Each clinical supervisor staff must submit each April new or updated dress code requirements, if such codes exist, to the Program Office.  The dress code will be forwarded to students in advance of the academic year for which they apply.  Other rules about appearance and behavior are guided by the Student Dress Code Policy.  The current dress codes in place are shown in Appendix ?

Clinical Faculty Recognition and Achievement  (Established 04/2005)

The Athletic Training Education Program is committed to excellence in education.  Promotion of educational leadership excellence is one avenue to creating excellence in education.  Recognizing individual and group achievement acknowledges the achievement of our goals as a Program and serves to provide examples of excellence for all faculty and staff to aspire.  Recognition not only rewards individual achievement but also acknowledges those contributions of peers and students to the achievement of excellence.

Clinical Supervisor Faculty Teaching Excellence Award

Recognized as one or more of the Athletic Training Education Program clinical supervisor faculty with five consecutive years or more of clinical supervisor status with the academic program for their significant and consistent contributions of time and participation to promote student learning and development and in transferring their excitement for the field of athletic training in a positive way.  The clinical supervisor faculty award nominations will come from a request by the Athletic Training Education Program Director each March and presented by the Program Director at the Annual Athletic Training Education Awards Banquet.  Nominations with a paragraph explanation will be collected and distributed to each class of students through the Class Representatives.  Neither the Program Director nor the Medical Director are eligible for this nomination.  The selection or selections will be determined by undergraduate student popular vote.   A final selection(s) is/are made by a consensus of the students. This recognition is made by the Program on behalf of the students, consists of an engraved plaque, and may not be given each academic year.  Only clinical supervisor faculty who have not received the award within the past four years will be eligible for the award.  Funding for the plaque comes from the Athletic Training Education Awards Banquet Budget allocation.

 [Return]

Student Handbook of Academic Information

Beginning Your Clinical Studies

Registration  (Revised 07/2005)

Once advising sessions have been completed and you have a registration code for ISIS (Iowa Student Information Services - https://login.uiowa.edu/uip/login.page?service=https://isis5.uiowa.edu/isis/ ), it is your responsibility to see that you are properly registered.  Specific deadline dates exist for registration, changes in registration, and withdrawal of registration.  You are responsible to meet those deadlines (See the University Student Handbook for details).

It is important that if you terminate any or all course work, formal withdrawal through submission of a student withdrawal card be made.  These cards can be obtained from course instructors, advisors, or the Registration Services Center, 17 CALH).  There may be a financial impact on withdrawal or in failing to meet deadlines established by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences or the University Registrar’s Office.  The financial impact of these situations can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid (208 CALH).

For the Program of Study and some required courses in Athletic Training, fees are assessed.  Currently course fees are assessed for the Advanced Emergency Care Course, Practicum I, II, and III, and for Advanced Human Anatomy.  These fees are in addition to your course registration costs.  The fee schedule is as follows for 2005-6:

Insurance Requirements (Established 07/2005)

All athletic training students will experience significant clinical exposure as part of their training.  You are required to maintain health insurance to satisfy minimum standards of coverage throughout each year of attendance at the University of Iowa.  You must have at least a student-only or single SHIP policy starting in the fall semester in which you are first registered for a Program Clinical Practicum Course unless alternative plans are made each year by the first day of practicum course work.  Notification of insurance coverage takes place at the Annual Education Meeting in August.  The University Benefits Office, 120 University Services Bldg (USB), Suite 40, Phone 335-2676, has information on SHIP’s insurance coverage for Health Science Students and can be accessed at this website: http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/benefits/healthinfo/index_grad.html .

Since this is a Program Policy in the implementation stage, you are given the opportunity to purchase a student-only policy through the SHIP’s Plan or retain your current level of health care insurance without notifying the Program Office.  This policy will take effect with the 2006 entry class.

Health and Safety

Immunizations (Revised 06/2005)

All students are required to present evidence of immunization or documented evidence of immunity to: rubella, rubeola, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, and proof of immunity to chicken pox (varicella) by receiving two doses of the vaccine or having had the disease.  Additionally all students must present evidence of tuberculin skin test (Mantoux 5TU/PPD intradermally only – the Tine test is not acceptable) each year, or a documented previously positive test.  Students receiving clinical training at other facilities than the University of Iowa are required to meet the immunization and testing requirements of the training facility.

Students are highly encouraged to complete the full hepatitis B immunization series (3-doses) prior to the beginning of clinical practicum exposure.  Immunization is the student’s personal responsibility.  Students may wish to contact their personal physician for immunization.  Immunization for hepatitis B is available through Student Health Service.  The vaccine is given over a period of six months, with three separate shots. 

Physical Examination (Revised 06/2005)

All students are required to present evidence of an initial physical examination prior to engaging in the first clinical Practicum assignments in order to determine the student’s ability to meet the Technical Standards for observation (vision, hearing, smell, and touch), neuromuscular function (lift, bend, kneel, push, stabilize, resist and grasp using the body and extremities), and emotional behaviors (signs of psychological disorders and signs of drug dependence).  Forms used to complete initial and yearly health reviews as well as an initial physical examination are obtained from the Program Office (414 FH, 335-9393).  Students may use their personal physician, the Student Health Service, or the Sports Medicine Center to complete this requirement.  Each year, students must complete a yearly health & safety review and submit it to the Program Director for review.  Any requests by the student or indications that a student may not meet the Technical Standards are forwarded to the Program Medical Director for action.  All costs associated with the initial physical examination or any follow up examinations from the initial or yearly reviews are the responsibility of the student.

Since this is a change in Program Policy that is in the implementation stage, you are given the opportunity to complete a separate program physical examination or retain your current physical examination on file at the Student Health Service.  This policy will take effect with the 2006 entry class.

Dress Code  (Revised 06/2005)

In order to achieve our goals related to a professional preparation program in the area of athletic training, we must immerse our students in the professional culture of athletic training.  Part of that cultural development is to honor and respect the profession, it’s ideals, values, and practices.  In this context, we will subscribe to use a dress code and will guide students in professional behaviors that follow the objectives of our program and that adheres to accepted principles of practice.  Those principles are as follows:

1.             dress should be appropriate in order to behave in a manner consistent with the location and nature of educational activities

a.             being cognizant of personal attire and expectations for attire

b.             model cleanliness and to be consistent with socially accepted norms

2.             clothing should not interfere with the ability to establish appropriate relationships with athletes/patients

a.             attire should not be eccentric or suggestive (e.g. short shorts, bare midriff, low neck lines or unbuttoned shirts)

b.             attire and behavior should promote a positive impression for the individual student, the specific course or activity, and the institution

c.             clothing, name tags, and other identifiers are important to detection, ease of recognition, and in turn ease of accessibility to a trusted resource

3.             clothing should not impair ones ability to carry out specific functions of their position or practicum experience

Students will be expected to adhere to these principles in the choice of their dress and in the behaviors displayed in all program classes (including practicum courses, travel, and other times when they represent the University of Iowa) once they are admitted to the athletic training education program.

To implement this policy, students and clinical supervisors should adhere to these procedures:

1.             All clinical faculty will submit to the Program Director each year by April 1, an expectation sheet regarding dress and behavior of students.  These will be reported to students and found on the Program Education Website.

2.             Uniforms must be provided to students in sufficient quantity and in appropriate sizes to allow them to comply with expectations under each clinical supervisor.

3.             The Program Director will inform all students retained and newly admitted each year in June about the dress and behavior expectations of staff in conjunction with their practicum assignments.

4.             Each staff will work with students to create a positive growth environment, including that regarding professional dress and behavior.

5.             Any student unable to meet the staff expectations regarding dress or behavior may petition with a committee to find a way to comply with staff expectations, if fair and equitable.  This same committee will determine fair and equitable requirements, and include in its composition one representative from each status level: students, faculty, and staff.  This committee will be formed by the Medical Director.

6.             Students unwilling to comply with the dress and behavior code will first be advised by the Committee convened above and a recommendation for action made to the Medical Director.

7.             In cases where a student remains unwilling to comply with the dress or behavior code of a clinical faculty, the student will be reassigned as long as a comparable experience is available and appropriate to Program goals and objectives.  No reassignment will be made that decreases the student’s ability to complete practicum objectives.

Earning Your Degree

Occupational Safety  (Established 06/2005)

The Program and Affiliation Sites provide education and training about infection risk and infection prevention procedures and adheres to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations, standards and regulations regarding blood borne pathogens along with other work place controls for accident prevention.  Questions related to occupational safety may be referred to the Health Protection Office.

A student who becomes injured or believes they may be injured as a result of participating in required Practicum activities, should immediately notify the supervising faculty, staff, or other responsible person. The complete reporting procedure for students who are injured during Practicum course activities at The University of Iowa is found in the Risk Management Reporting of Potential Liability Incidents Document.  The document will be provided through consulting with the student’s supervisor.

Program Web Site (Updated 07/2005)

An additional web site for courses is currently located on the University sponsored WebCT.   All students faculty and staff have access to the WebCT courses.  We will be transitioning to ICON is 2005-6 as a course based web service. 

Confidentiality and HIPPA Compliance  (Revised 07/2004)

Athletic training students are expected to respect the rights of patients, including the right to confidentiality and shall safeguard patient confidences within the constraints of the law and mandatory reporting obligations.  As a member of the patient care team, students will have access to information from patient medical records and/or computer-stored information. This information may not be discussed with anyone unless this disclosure is required in the performance of required clinical tasks. It is a breach of confidentiality to review medical records or to access computer-stored information not required in the performance of tasks assigned to you by your supervising staff.  Students are responsible for maintaining the confidence of patients by sharing confidential information only with others who need to know and by handling any documentation of information appropriately.  Students will be required to attend HIPPA compliance training and submit a signed confidentiality statement to the Program Office annually. This document is signed during the annual education program HIPPA training and will be placed in the student’s academic file.  Students are mandatory reporters of all suspected injury or illness in athlete-patients and all suspected substance abuse.  Disclosure of this mandatory obligation must be made to the athlete-patient .  Mandatory disclosure is only made to the student’s immediate clinical supervisor.

Technology and Computers

Information pertinent to students is announced on the University e-mail system. It is essential that all students maintain their e-mail accounts properly and that they report any changes in e-mail address to the Program Office.  The main form of non-emergency communication and preliminary information will be made by e-mail.  Students are encouraged to check their e-mail at least once each day.  During 2005-6, we will be adding a netserv account for the academic program to encourage exchange and communication using this medium.  Use of e-mail should conform to confidentiality principles as well.  Sharing e-mail contents with others if not explicitly allowed from the contents of the e-mail must not be shared, so when you compose or answer an e-mail be sure to include a subject line and only enough content to be appropriate.  This means that you should erase most of the content of an e-mail that you are using as a reply.  Doing this saves on space in e-mail accounts as well.  Should you receive an e-mail that is not directed at you, be sure to send it back to the sender and delete it from your messages.

Use of University computers is expected to be for academic and business purposes only.  Students have several sites on campus in which to use computers including, dorms, libraries, classrooms, labs, and athletic training rooms.  Designated computers for students should be used.  Because we are transitioning to a health care wide system for records in 2005-6, the information below is still pertinent about records in athletic training.  Your clinical supervisors will keep you abreast of the changes as they occur and we will make adjustments on appropriate record confidentiality in course work as clarifications are made.

SIMS - The University of Iowa Athletic Training Services Sports Injury Monitoring System

Athlete information furnished to The University of Iowa Athletic Training Staff stored in SIMS data bases are confidential. The following are basic rules of confidentiality you are required to respect:

1. Under no circumstances should you access (read or copy) any information that is not required in the performance of your clinical tasks or for authorized clinical education.
2. Information you properly obtain while carrying out your clinical tasks may NOT be discussed with others who do not have the same need to know.
3. Once confidential information is on paper and in your hands, you are responsible to dispose of it appropriately: (a) distribute to authorized persons only, (b) file securely, or (c) destroy.

Confidential information is protected by State law that requires you to obtain specific consent before any disclosure outside of your immediate supervisor to whom you are a mandatory reporter.

Note: Training in the use of the SIMS system is provided to students at the beginning of the clinical assignment sequence.

Program Information

Conduct Expectations for Enrolled Students (New 07/2005)

University Expectations

All Program students, as volunteer representatives of the University and the Departments of Exercise Science and Orthopaedics must abide with the ethical standards summarized in the Ethics and Responsibilities for University of Iowa Staff:  http://www.uiowa.edu/~our/opmanual/iii/16.htm.

All students associated with the University of Iowa Athletic Training Education Program as volunteers with clinical assignments associated with Practicum courses are subject to expectations outlined in this policy, and in the policies referenced and contained elsewhere in the University Operations Manual. Specifically, students are bound by all requirements outlined in the University policies on Rights, Sexual Harassment, Consensual Relationships Involving Students or other students, Discrimination, Violence, Anti-Retaliation, and Drug Free Environment, as examples (see below).  Violations of University expectations should be reported to proper University authorities, and those found in violation will be subject to disciplinary action.

An athletic training student volunteer within their Practicum assignment should consult his/her immediate supervisor for assistance in understanding, evaluating or enforcing these policies.  Additional resource people include the Department’s Program Director, the Ombudsperson’s Office, and/or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. 

Athletic Training Education Program  Expectations

The Department of Athletics on campus and other affiliated sites both on- and off-campus have a very high profile among the general public and media.  As a result, your actions are held to a higher level of public scrutiny than the average student.  Our students must also maintain appropriate relationships with student athletes and other patients.  Because of the public profile of coaches, athletes, and many patients and the nature of our work with coaches, patients and athletes, personal activities during non-work hours are also open to scrutiny.  It is the Director of Athletic Training’s expectation that all enrolled students will strive to maintain integrity in both their professional and personal lives, consistent with the values and expectations of the University and the academic and service departments associated with clinical Practicum assignments. This expectation is expressed in our mission.

Excerpt from the Mission Statement:

Further, our mission is accomplished by supporting and advancing the values of professional education in light of the study of human interactions and relationships and in the pursuit of broadening and maturing of critical professional characteristics, those characteristics intrinsic to effective stewardship of a profession, thus providing our students with the vision and awareness of competence and standards, of diverse applications, of strong work ethic, and of commitment to balance in life.

Therefore, disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, may be taken for actions of moral turpitude or which would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule upon the University, and for conference or national violations of rules to which students are subject.  In addition, under no circumstances is it appropriate for an enrolled athletic training student who is considered a volunteer with employed staff both on- and off-campus to engage in a consensual relationship or to socialize on a personal level with student-athletes. The terms of this paragraph shall apply to behavior that occurs during practicum and/or non-practicum hours.

Program Classroom and Clinical Facilities (Updated 07/2005)

Your classrooms, labs, and clinical facilities are located in several buildings on the west side of the Iowa Campus and in Iowa City proper.  Those buildings are: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (athletic training room and several sports: basketball, field hockey, golf, softball, volleyball, and wrestling); Dental School (classroom);  Field House (classrooms, athletic training lab, Program Office, Exercise Science Department Office, athletic training room, and several sports: gymnastics, rowing, swimming and diving, spirit squad and cheer); ICCSD (athletic training rooms are located at City High School and West High School); Jacobson Bldg (athletic training room and football); Recreation Bldg (athletic training room and several sports: baseball, soccer, track, and tennis); Westlawn (classroom and Student Health Service); UIHC JPP (classroom, conference room, office space, Orthopaedics Department Office, Sports Medicine Center, surgery suites).

Clinical, Faculty, and Support Staff Directory (Updated 07/2005)

We have places a couple of directories in appendices for convenience in locating contact information and providing you with quick access to services and key contacts on campus.  A link to the University’s electronic phonebook is also a good recourse.  See Appendix ? and ?

Student Work Policy (Revised 06/2005)

The Program maintains fair and reasonable practices in all matters affecting students who are enrolled in the Athletic Training Education Program.  Athletic training students are not to take the place of a Certified Athletic Trainer at any time.  Athletic training students are not to act as athletic/sport managers and/or secretarial support staff.  Athletic training students are enrolled for a quality education and should not be asked or expected to perform any duties that will compromise their educational opportunities and experiences.

Athletic training students are not paid for their participation in clinical and field experiences. Clinical experiences are part of the clinical practicum required courses. It is expected that all students enrolled within the Program fulfill the educational requirements, which include clinical practicum courses.

Scholarships:  Students qualify for class year scholarships on the basis of enrollment qualification or retention qualification.  These scholarships are intended to support student academic achievement and are applied equally to all students by class year.  Other scholarships are available for students under special provisions of class achievement.  Scholarships qualifications and opportunities are described in the Scholarship Program.

Outside Employment:  Students are encouraged to concentrate on their academic studies.  The Program recognizes the need for students to earn money while pursuing the Program; however, the Program does not encourage such employment.  Should a student engage in outside employment during Program enrollment, such employment must not interfere with educational requirements of the student, including clinical practicum course work.  The increasing involvement in clinical practicum over the three years of clinical studies makes it especially difficult for third year students to hold outside employment when they maintain a full-time course enrollment.  During any clinical enrollment year, outside employment is discouraged.  Should outside employment be necessary for the student to remain in the academic program, contact with the program advisor is suggested as early in the planning process as possible.  If outside employment interferes with the student’s ability to achieve the education objectives of the program or severely limits the opportunities of students to achieving those objectives, the student will be notified of the situation and a Program decision will be made in consultation with the student.

Summer Camps and Other Related Employment Opportunities:  Students are encouraged to gain summer employment or volunteer opportunities to enhance their skill development between the second and third clinical years.  Employment during the summer between the first and second clinical year is not advised due to the heavy class and study commitment with the advanced anatomy laboratory class requirement.  Students who plan to seek summer employment or employment at any time during enrollment in the athletic training education program where the position title or duties reflect athletic training skills, the student must inform the Program Office of such plans, to include: the employer or supervisor (and contact information), position title, beginning and end dates, work times, and specific duties.  The Program will help the student to ensure that the student is able to represent themselves and the University and to ensure that the employer or supervisor protect the student in a manner that reflects ethical good practices.

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