Program Directors' Perceptions of Undergraduate Athletic Training Student Retention

Abstract

Context: The average retention rate for students enrolled in undergraduate athletic training programs (ATPs) nationwide has been reported to be 81%, and slightly more than half of program directors (PDs) have indicated that retention of athletic training students (ATSs) is a problem. However, why PDs do or do not believe ATS retention is problematic is unknown.Objective: To determine why PDs do or do not believe ATS retention is problematic.Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Undergraduate ATPs. Patients or Other Participants:We obtained responses from 177 of the 343 PDs (51.6%). Using data saturation as a guide, we randomly selected 16 PDs from the survey responses to participate in follow-up telephone interviews; 8 believed retention was a problem and 8 did not.Data Collection and Analysis: During audio-recorded telephone interviews, we asked PDs why they thought retention was or was not a problem for athletic training education. Following verbatim transcription, we used grounded theory to analyze the interview data and maintained trustworthiness by using intercoder agreement, member checks, and peer review.Results: Program directors believed that retaining ATSs was a problem because students lack information regarding athletic training and the rigor of the ATP. Program directors were consistent in their perception that ATPs do not have a retention challenge because of the use of a secondary admissions process. This finding was likely based on personal use of a secondary admissions process in the ATPs these PDs lead.Conclusions: Program directors who lead ATPs that struggle to retain ATSs should consider using a secondary admissions process. During the preprofessional phase of the ATP, faculty and staff should work to socialize students to the demands of the ATP and the professional lives of athletic trainers.

Retention Initiatives Used by Professional Bachelor's Athletic Training Program Directors

“…Articles about athletic training student retention rates and strategies have gained a foothold in the literature. [1][2][3][4] One reason for the increase in attention may be that retaining athletic training students has become increasingly important due to competition from the growing number of athletic training programs (ATPs) across the country. 5 The retention rate of athletic training students at institutions sponsoring undergraduate ATPs has recently been found to be 81%.…”

“…2 Approximately half of ATP directors have acknowledged retaining athletic training students as a current problem facing athletic training education. 3 Several reasons have been identified for why ATP directors believe athletic training student retention is a problem, including a lack of information regarding the ATP and the profession, as well as the rigor of completing an ATP. 3 An ATP with a strong reputation and consistent leadership will learn how to market its strengths, leading to incoming students who are better informed about athletic training.…”

Multistakeholder Perspectives on the Transition to a Graduate-Level Athletic Training Educational Model

“…6,7 Our participants believed a move to graduate-level education would foster professional commitment and retention because graduate students would select this degree as their intended career rather than still exploring career options, as undergraduate students would be. The finding corroborates previous observations that program directors believe students persist in PM programs due to commitment to the profession 9 and that program directors of undergraduate ATPs have said they would like to transition their programs to the graduate level to increase student retention.…”

“…8 This observation was noted in the white paper 3 and is one area in which evidence supports a transition. Potential reasons for the retention differences are the PB students' discovery that the athletic training profession is not appropriate for them, 6 whereas the PM student selects the ATP because of a commitment to a career in athletic training. 9 The PB ATP provides a suitable educational degree for the move to a graduate-level degree, such as physical therapy, physician assistant, or medical school.…”

“…6,7 Limited information exists on the retention differences between PB ATPs and professional master's degree (PM) ATPs, but PB ATPs have lower retention rates and lower athletic training career-placement rates than PM ATPs. 8 This observation was noted in the white paper 3 and is one area in which evidence supports a transition.…”