UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 11
November 14, 1996
Athletic Training Program receives initial accreditation

     The University's Athletic Training Program has received
initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the largest
diversified accreditation system in the country that accredits
programs in 17 allied disciplines.
     According to Keith Handling, director of the athletic
training program, the UD program has been certified by the
National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) since 1975, when
it graduated its first students. However, about six years ago,
the NATA recognized that certification from an allied health
professional program would be more advantageous to the
profession.
     At the present time, Handling said, there are only about 80
institutions in the country that have been certified by CAAHEP,
but he expects that number to rise as other schools apply for
review.
     After a yearlong self-examination process, submission of a
400-page report summarizing the UD athletic training program and
an on-site visit last year by CAAHEP representatives, the
accrediting organization announced its findings.
     "When the CAAHEP representatives visited campus last year,"
Handling said, "they told us we had a very strong program, and
the accreditation is very satisfying. Over the years," Handling
added, "we've found that there is a great deal of interest in the
UD athletic training program. We've gotten inquiries from
students in the immediate area and from others across the
country."
     The CAAHEP accreditation standards are established by the
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Orthopedic Society for
Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and the National Athletic Trainers'
Association.
     CAAHEP ensures continuous quality improvement of allied
health education and also addresses market trends affecting the
role of health care professionals in a changing environment.
     The UD athletic training program maintains an 8:1
student/teacher ratio and currently has 32 students enrolled in
the program.
     The next comprehensive evaluation of the UD program will
occur during the 2000-01 academic year.