Saginaw Valley State University’s (SVSU) Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) (Roundtree TX, www.caate.net). The Athletic Training Education Program at SVSU has evolved over the past 12 years.
In 1999, a program director was hired to begin the process of seeking accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Beginning the fall semester 2000, the athletic training major (BS) became a stand alone major.
The program had its initial accreditation site visit during the winter semester in 2003 and received initial accreditation during the fall semester 2003. During the 2004-2005 academic year, the ATEP oversight and administration was separated from the SVSU Athletic Department (athletic training staff) and oversight of the ATEP became the full responsibility of the Department of Kinesiology. During that year, students began completing clinical education experiences at off-campus sites. The athletic training room at SVSU became just one of several clinical education sites utilized by the ATEP. Because of the increase in clinical sites, the ACI to athletic training student (ATS) ratios were decreased to primarily a 1:3 or 1:2 ratio, which makes this ATEP unique. The ATEP achieved continuing accreditation in March 2009 and successfully earned a 10-year accreditation by CAATE.
