The Athletic Training Education Program at Eastern Kentucky University, has received official notification from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) of an Extension of your Programs Accreditation to the 2017-2018 academic year after a positive review of a Progress Report Submitted by June 1, 2009 as a final step of a comprehensive review process that included an on-site program review in the Spring of 2008.

The EKU-ATEP was established in 1971 and is continuing in the programs established tradition and excellence in athletic training education, which includes being the first accredited athletic training education program in the state of Kentucky. The EKU-ATEP Program Faculty strive to provide a quality education program that provides students with current and state of the art practices in athletic training both in the classroom and outside the classroom. This reaffirmation by CAATE’s ongoing rigorous review of our programs compliance to national standards assures our current students, future students and faculty that we are in fact providing a high quality ATEP.

This reaffirmation is culmination of the hard work and dedication of the EKU ATEP Faculty, Staff, Approved Clinical Instructors and Clinical Instructors ongoing effort to keep the EKU ATEP on the cutting edge of athletic training education.

Additionally, the continued support and resources provided to the EKU ATEP Faculty and program by Dr. Jack Rutherford, Chair of the Exercise and Sports Science Department and Dr. David Gale, Dean of the College of Health Sciences has allowed the EKU ATEP to continue to remain a top tier ATEP.EKU ATEP students are seeing the benefits of being a part of the EKU ATEP by applying for and take advantages of various summer internships or other summer opportunities to enhance their athletic training education outside the classroom. This past summer two students worked as NFL Team Interns one with Washington Redskins, Gary Coldiron, the other with Seattle Seahawks Ben Felz, and Reid Jones completed an internship with the Colorado Rapids Professional Soccer Team. The EKU-ATEP quiz bowl team comprised of four ATEP students, which won the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association 1st Annual Quiz Bowl, then went on to compete at the 1st Annual NATA Quiz Bowl and Finished 4th in this national competition this past summer. Twelve students from the EKU-ATEP attended the National Athletic Trainers Association annual conference in San Antonio, TX. The EKU ATEP is also developing student leaders and future leaders in the profession as this previous academic year graduated senior Alyse King served as a Chair of the NATA Student Committee, while this year, Reid Jones an ATEP student was selected to be the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association Representative to the NATA National Student Committee and serve as Chair of the SEATA student Senate.

If you are interested in more information about the EKU-ATEP program please feel free to contact Dr. Eric J. Fuchs, ATC, EMT, Director, Athletic Training Education Program.