Finding Aid: RG192-03 - School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership: Athletic Training Department Records

Item Information

Title:
Finding Aid: RG192-03 - School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership: Athletic Training Department Records
Description:
This is the Finding Aid for RG192-03 - School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership: Athletic Training Department Records. The Springfield College Athletic Training Program records collection include newspaper clippings, reports, correspondence, notes, printed materials, and surveys and reports, newsletters, printed materials, programs, manuscripts, photographs, slides, manuals and memorabilia that document the history and day-to-day operations of the Springfield College Athletic Training Program. Most of the materials are from the beginning of the program in the late 1970s through 2020+. There is some information going all the way back to 1950. Photographs and Visual materials of students and trainers participating in the Springfield College Athletic Training program come from the beginning of the program through the2010s, with most of them coming from the 1990s through the early 2000s. There are also printed pamphlets, newspapers, correspondence, and notes from events having to do with the Athletic Training Program at Springfield College, mostly the Athletic Training Recognition Banquet and the Charles J. Redmond Alumni Lecture (established in 2013). A far amount of the collection is taken up of Accreditation Materials including yearly, annual reports beginning in the 1981-82 academic year and continuing through the 2008-09 school year as well as materials provided by the program for the accreditation process, starting with the initial approval of the program in 1975 and running through 2016. There is a fair amount of correspondence, notes, and reports centering around the early development of the program from 1980-1981. There are also materials on and from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Certification. Rounding out information on the program are student, alumni, and employee Surveys and reports outlining the responses from the surveys contain information from 1996-2019. Most of the surveys are filled out by students completing the programs. Since its founding (1885) Springfield College has emphasized and supported a Mission encouraging physical activity, exercise and wellness. This emphasis can be found in the academic programing, athletics and co-curricular activities. Mission: "Educating students in Spirit, Mind and Body in Service and Leadership to others". Erastus Pennock 14' was one of the early faculty who provided leadership in developing coursework and learning experiences that supported the Mission. These areas include what we call today: physical education, wellness, exercise science, physical therapy occupational therapy and athletic training. Athletic Training: encompasses, the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions.. (National Athletic Trainers Association, NATA, founded in 1950) Erastus Pennock, (an NATA Hall of Fame Inductee) is considered the "Father of Athletic Training" at Springfield College supporting health care for athletic teams, teaching and research in this expanding area. He was the college's first Head Athletic Trainer. He set the standard for the continued growth of Athletic Training at Springfield College which today is considered one of the finest programs in the country (Academic and Athletic). As high school, college/university and professional sports continued to grow in the 1950's and 1960's the need for degree based professionally prepared and credentialed professionals to care for the athletes became a public health goal. The NATA established an approval process for schools interested in preparing credentialed athletic trainers. At a meeting in June of 1970 at the annual NATA Meeting (Denver) Charles Redmond, Head Athletic Trainer, at Springfield College met with Joe Altott, a Springfield College alum 54', athletic trainer and future NATA Hall of Fame member to discuss whether an approved NATA Professional Educational Program would be appropriate and supported at Springfield College. It was strongly agreed by both that an NATA Approved Athletic Training education program would fit well with the Mission of the College academically and athletically. With the support of other faculty and administrators Redmond developed a proposal which was strongly supported by academic affairs and ,athletics. The proposal was refined and submitted to the NATA Professional Education Committee (PEG) and the program was approved in 1975. The Athletic Training Program became the first of the Health and Exercise Science programs (Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Occupational Therapy) later developed ,that are a cornerstone of current academic programs at the college today. The initial Athletic Training program was a concentration in the Physical Education Major. The first students were admitted as "rising sophomores" in 1975 and after three years 13 graduated, all eligible to take the NATA Certification Exam. The first Program Director was Professor Sherry Shaw. Over the next 50 years the Athletic Training Profession grew dramatically. The body of knowledge grew, role delineations expanded, and new standards evolved. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed a law in 1982 requiring all practicing athletic trainers in Massachusetts be licensed. Licensure utilized the NATA BOC, Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)) credential as the standard. Program approval/accrediting agencies and process have changed was well. These changes were developed to assure the "entry level" athletic trainer has the skills and competencies needed to successfully complete the National Certification Exam allowing practice of athletic training. Irregardless of the accrediting organization and changes the Springfield College program has continued to meet and very often exceeded the changes. Implementing these changes at Springfield College has been accomplished under the exceptional leadership of the respective Program Directors, Clinical Coordinators, skilled and dedicated faculty, consistent support of Academic Affairs, Athletics and motivated and committed students. As the profession continued to grow: an expanding body of knowledge, scholarly expectations, growing employment opportunities and recognition by other health and professional organizations it was determined that the Bachelors degree was no longer an adequate entry-level degree to meet the Role Delineation of a athletic trainer and what the consumer of athletic training services could expect. It was determined that a Masters degree better served the profession . Steps were taken to develop an accreditation model where the Masters Degree would be the entry level degree. Schools with bachelors degree programs were give time and support to make the change. Springfield College completed the process and the undergraduate program was discontinued and the Masters Degree successfully implemented. (2020). A consistent and significant strength of the program has been the Clinical fieldwork ('experiential hands-on") learning opportunities students participate in. Springfield College's Athletic Program has been the primary experiential "Learning Laboratory" and along with excellent facilities, has always been supported by the Athletic Department staff and coaches and student/athletes. As mandated by Accreditation Standards, students rotate through various off campus Clinical settings including local high schools, colleges and universities, hospitals (ERs, Surgery, General Medicine) PT Clinics, MD Offices and Ambulance (BLS/ ALS) settings. Supervision of students in these setting is critical to the success of these experiences. Springfield College's has consistently set and maintained the high standards of the on and off campus clinical supervisors/preceptors, Athletic Training students are assigned to. They must demonstrate knowledge and skills mandated by the accreditation agency, providing meaningful clinical based learning experience supervision. Springfield College developed an Athletic Training Clinical Coordinator position and a training and evaluation process for supervisors/preceptors (1990). This was 1O years before it became an accreditation expectation. Springfield College remains a national leader in clinical education. The Athletic Training Program has consistently been described as "ahead of the curve" and innovative. A recent addition to the professional development of an Athletic Trainer is the NATA Residency Program. These program support the certified athletic trainer in building on achieved entry-level skills and expertise while being mentored by experienced Certified Athletic Trainers while providing optimal patient care. These programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Springfield developed an Residency Program and admitted the first resident in 2024. In addition to the day to day teaching, research, athletic health care, advising and mentoring Springfield College Athletic Training faculty and alumni have contributed to athletic training as "Leaders" contributing to the growth of the profession. These leadership positions (elected and volunteer) have included the NATA Board of Directors, NATA District 1 Secretary, the NATA Research and Education Committee, the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association (EATA) Executive Committee, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Regulation of Allied Health Professions, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA): Sport Medicine Committee, President and Committee Members of Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM) and other bad based National, Regional and State committees and organizations supporting Athletic Training. Supporting the Mission of the College Athletic Training Alums, Faculty/Staff and students regularly volunteer their time to various Athletic Health Care events and causes ("in service to others"). These have included the Massachusetts Senior Games (MASG), Boston Marathon, and the Massachusetts BayState Games. Written by Dr. Charles Redmond (January 2025)
Creator:
Springfield College
Creator:
Monseau, Jeffrey
Date:
2024
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Springfield College
Athletic Training
School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership
School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Department of Exercise Science
Springfield College--Curriculum
Redmond, Charles J.
Barnum, Mary
Pennock, Erastus W.
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
National Athletic Trainer's Association
Medicine
Physical therapy
Physical fitness
Sports
Medical education
Medical students
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/34082
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
175_104_152_28_2025-2-6_8305328-7605357730