The NATA
The mission of the National Athletic Trainers' Association is to enhance the quality of health care provided by certified athletic trainers and to advance the athletic training profession.
Retrieved from http://www.nata.org/about_NATA/mission.htm on Aug 28, 2009.

Lee University
Lee University is a Christian institution which offers liberal arts and professional education on both the baccalaureate and master's levels. It seeks to provide education that integrates biblical truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures with truth discovered through the study of arts and sciences and in the practice of various professions. A personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior is the controlling perspective from which the educational enterprise is carried out. The foundational purpose of all educational programs is to develop within the students' knowledge, appreciation, understanding, ability and skills which will prepare them for responsible Christian living in a complex world.

Athletic Training Education Program
The Lee University Athletic Training Education Program serves as integral part of the Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Secondary Education (HESSE) under the direction of the College of Education (See Appendix A, Academic Administrative Structure). The function of the program shall be to enhance health care for the habitually active community of the university. The program will service the college community by endeavoring to help its members attain higher levels of performance through proper health care and appropriate injury/illness preventive measures. 

The program's educational philosophy encompasses current research and formal instruction in prevention, recognition, evaluation, and rehabilitation of conditions and injuries sustained by the physically active in various settings. An ATEP student will have the opportunity to develop applied technical and clinical skills incorporating analytical problem-solving abilities to assist with the daily operation of traditional and non-traditional athletic training settings.

It is an aim of the program to establish and maintain a corps of athletic training students that shall be trained in the educational competencies and clinical proficiencies required for an entry-level athletic trainer. The unique purpose of the program is multidimensional. Our students will:

• Acquire competent clinical skills that utilize analytical and critical thinking emphasis
• Enhance health care of the physically active population on campus and in our community
• Encounter volunteerism and cross-cultural experiences that will enhance their professional and personal growth
• Develop a professional code of behavior as models by our faculty, staff, and clinical instructors
• Experience numerous clinical rotations to facilitate a widened appreciation for ATC job performance employment options, and business marketability in the health care arena.

Foundational Behaviors of Professional Practice
These basic behaviors permeate every aspect of professional practice and should be incorporated into instruction in every part of the educational program. The behaviors in this section comprise the application of the common values of the athletic training profession as stated in the Athletic Training Educational Competencies (4th ed.).

Primacy of the Patient

• Recognize sources of conflict of interest that can impact the patient's health
• Know and apply the commonly accepted standards for patient confidentiality
• Provide the best health care available for the patient
• Advocate for the needs of the patient

Teamed Approach to Practice

• Recognize the unique skills and abilities of other health care professionals
• Understand the scope of practice of other health care professionals
• Understand and execute duties within the identified scope of practice for athletic trainers
• Include the patient (and family, where appropriate) in the decision making process
• Demonstrate the ability to work with others in effecting positive patient outcomes

Legal Practice

• Practice athletic training in a legally competent manner
• Recognize the need to document compliance with the laws that govern athletic training
• Understand the consequences of violating the laws that govern athletic training

Ethical Practice

• Understand and comply with NATA's Code of Ethics and the BOC's Standards of Practice
• Understand the consequences of violating NATA's Code of Ethics and the BOC's Standards of Practice
• Understand and comply with other codes of ethics, as applicable

Advancing knowledge

• Critically examine the body of knowledge in athletic training and related fields
• Use evidence-based practice as a foundation for the delivery of care
• Understand the connection between continuing education and the improvement of athletic training practice
• Promote the value of research and scholarship in athletic training

Summary
The ATEP is progressive and sequential and is designed around the cohort model. Course sequence is developed to fit with Lee University and HESSE departmental requirements to provide a soundly structured educational experience. The program strives to incorporate the competencies and proficiencies in both the didactic and clinical experiences of the student. The faculty and clinical staff of the program make every effort to:

• Prepare the student to function as an entry-level professional and be eligible to challenge the NATABOC certification examination.
• Prepare highly educated and skilled professionals who specialize in health care of the physically active
• Prepare students for graduate study in the areas of other Allied Health Fields, (e.g. physical therapy, nursing, physician assistant, and athletic training)
• Prepare students for employment in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs, industrial facilities, and other health care settings.