Primary Responsibilities:

The Graduate Fellow in athletic training holds a primary responsibility of clinical teaching and instruction of athletic training students during clinical experiences. Graduate teaching fellows follow and implement the educational guidelines for clinical field experiences outlined in the SC-ATEP Preceptor Handbook, Clinical Skills and Proficiency Manual, and as specified for each fieldwork experience.  They also attend preceptor workshops and enforce the clinical education standards of our undergraduate athletic training program. The GFs supervise athletic training students completing their ATRN 670, ATRN 672, ATRN 674, ATRN 676, ATRN 678, ATRN 680  practicums and are responsible for evaluating student’s competencies and progress in those courses. 

The majority (90%) of the GF position will focus on teaching and the GF will: 

  • Supervise students during clinical education

  • Provide instruction and assessment of the current knowledge, skills, and clinical abilities designated by the commission

  • Provide instruction and opportunities for the student to develop clinical integration proficiencies, communication skills and clinical decision-making during actual patient/client care

  • Provide assessment of athletic training students clinical integration proficiencies, communication skills and clinical decision-making during actual patient/client care

  • Facilitate the clinical integration of skills, knowledge, and evidence regarding the practice of athletic training

  • Demonstrate understanding of and compliance with the program's policies and procedures.

Secondary Responsibilities:  

Masters Level GFs in athletic training at times will function as adjunct instructors in our lecture and/or laboratory courses.  The GFs serve as an invaluable resource to our students both in their clinical education and through their informal interactions.  Graduate Fellows in athletic training also assist athletic training students with the development of their senior research projects.  The GFs and athletic training students work together to provide health care to members of Springfield College’s intercollegiate athletic population. The environment of the athletic training clinic fosters collaboration between staff athletic trainers, graduate teaching fellows and athletic training students in order to enhance student learning.  Graduate teaching fellows are expected to not only adhere to NATA Code of Ethics, SC-ATEP Code of Professional Standards and Behaviors, and SC Athletics Department policies, but also model those behaviors for our athletic training students.    

Fellowship Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications:  

Many Masters Level GFs have at least one year of clinical experience as athletic trainers and additional experience as preceptors.  Graduate teaching fellows are certified and state licensed healthcare providers who provide quality clinical instruction, teaching and evaluation of athletic training students as assigned by the Clinical Coordinator.  Minimum requirements include BOC certification or eligible in addition to state licensure in athletic training or eligible.

Position Requirements: 

The GF must be enrolled as a graduate student at Springfield College in the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership.  For a Masters Level GF, it preferred that the student be enrolled in the graduate athletic training program.