North Carolina Central University

ATHLETIC TRAINING

CONTACT:        Sharon Saunders
                         Pamela Tolson
                         (919) 530-6295

DURHAM, N.C. - The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) voted recently to grant initial accreditation to the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), making NCCU the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation to have this distinction.  

"Our faculty in the Athletic Training Program worked very hard to secure accreditation," said Chancellor James H. Ammons.  "The accreditation is going to add value to the degree our students receive.   While we are the only HBCU offering an accredited program, we are not going to rest on our laurels.  We will work toward developing one of the top programs in the state and nation because we are committed to increasing minority participation in this field."

Currently, there are 322 undergraduate CAAHEP accredited programs nationwide. According to the National Athletic Trainer's Association, African-Americans represent only 2% of the more than 30,000 certified members. 

"Gaining accreditation in this specialized area is a historical event for the University and the Department of Physical Education and Recreation as we are the first HBCU to do so," said Dr. Beverly Allen, chair of the Department of Physical Education and Recreation. "It attests to the high quality programs in the department and the expertise and dedication of the faculty. This will increase our appeal to a broader range of students, increase our enrollment and the number of African American and other qualified athletic trainers in the field." 

CAAHEP accreditation will allow ATEP graduates to sit for the National Athletic Trainer's Association Board of Certification exam.  Certified athletic trainers are allied health professionals who deal with injury prevention, evaluation and management in physically active populations.  Once certified, an athletic trainer can be employed in a variety of settings: college/university, high school, sports medicine/physical therapy clinics, hospitals, industrial/corporate settings, the military, professional sports, and as a physician extender just to name a few.

"The achievement of CAAHEP accreditation for the athletic training education program at this university is a huge step toward increasing the diversity in the athletic training field," said Dawn Maffucci, ATEP program director at NCCU. "With NCCU becoming the first HBCU to achieve this honor, minority students will no longer have to choose between attending an accredited athletic training education program and attending an HBCU.  Now they can attend both." 

The ATEP faculty and staff aren't the only individuals excited about this accreditation.  Veronica Ampey, chair National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee said, "CAAHEP accreditation is a wonderful accomplishment at any institution and I am especially pleased to finally see an HBCU receive accreditation.  Although the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee may have played a minute role in assisting the process, kudos goes to Lori Vazquez and the rest of the NCCU ATEP staff for all their persistence and hard work.  I look forward to the positive impact that recruiting, retaining, educating, and matriculating ethnically diverse athletic training students will have on the entire association." 

NCCU ATEP students are equally excited about the accreditation.  

"I'm very proud that our department has gone through this process," said Isaac McNeill, senior ATEP student from Wilkesboro, N.C.  "It has been enlightening.  I plan to uphold the high standards of the ATEP." 

Kimberly Porter, a junior from Durham, said, "I am proud of this great accomplishment of the Athletic Training Education Program and understand that as one of the first students that will graduate from this program I have a huge responsibility to represent this University.  I am excited to add some color and ethnicity to the athletic training field and create new opportunities in the field for future graduates of the North Carolina Central University ATEP." 

Gary Johnson first year student said, "The ATEP program has opened up internships for me and provided me with future job opportunities."

Dr. Virginia Politano, former chairperson of the Department of Physical Education and Recreation, was instrumental in the program's development.

Last Revised:  May 4, 2005