Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           
    Date: Sept. 19, 1996
      Contact:                           John Kemp   25


SLU INITIATES STATE'S FIRST FULL-TIME ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University has launched the state's only full-time
athletic training education program.
     Housed in the University's kinesiology and health studies department, the new program is
the only athletic training education program in Louisiana that is working toward accreditation by
the National Athletic Trainers Association.
     "By the year 2004," says program coordinator Ronnie Harper, "the National Athletic
Trainers Association will require all applicants sitting for the athletic trainers certification
examination to be graduates of accredited programs. There are none in Louisiana. Southeastern
has decided to go in that direction and it is an excellent opportunity to align ourselves with the
national movement." Mississippi currently has one accredited program, Texas and Alabama have
two.
     Southeastern's program, which began with the current fall semester, will award a bachelor
of art's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in athletic training. The program is designed to
prepare students for careers in sports medicine, athletic health care and athletic training for
school, university or professional teams.
     For additional information about the program, call Ronnie Harper at 549-2130.
                                  -slu-