We sit down with a highly experienced, empathic, and culturally competent educator to discuss the impact of degree inflation on the recruitment and retention of students of Color.

References

1. Potential negative impacts of degree change to underrepresented student of color
2. Financial constraints
3. Bachelors versus masters degree
4. GA positions will change
5. Geographic constraints
6. Cost of education vs post grad salary
7. Greater length of time until in the work force
8. Isolation/alienation
9. Few POC in the program
10. Current programs don’t recruit
11. 80% of program directors do not intentionally recruit POC
12. Soon to be published data from Dr. Warren
13. Most AT programs are at predominantly white schools
14. One HBCU with athletic training major1
15. Bethune-Cookman Univ
16. Is there a gap in cultural competence in current AT education?
17. Most educators do not endorse having high levels of confidence in cultural comptency3
18. These educators lack diversity
19. Degree change FAQ’s from NATA2
20. How will the degree change impact diversity?
21. “It was found that greater diversity exists at the graduate level of athletic training programs than it does at the undergraduate level. In addition, minorities represent a high population of student athletes. Therefore, the degree level change may also open up the opportunity to become an athletic trainer for more minority students, as the athletes can complete their AT coursework once their undergraduate playing days are completed.”
22. Does the change increase student debt?
23. “The extra one to two years of school does mean debt will increase; however, when you compare ATs who have master’s degrees with those who don’t, ATs with master’s have more longevity in the profession and higher rates of full time employment, which often corresponds to increased salaries. Even though the debt is higher, having a master’s could help contribute to increased salary, thus reducing student debt at a quicker rate.”
24. References
25. 1. https://thewildcatden.net/new-blog/2019/8/28/bethune-cookman-university-leads-as-the-only-historically-black-college-and-university-in-the-nation-to-offer-a-nationally-accredited-master-of-athletic-training-program
26. 2. https://www.nata.org/career-education/education/resources-tools/degree-change-faqs
27. 3. Grove DH, Mansell J. Cultural competence: where are we as athletic training educators? Athletic Training Education Journal. 2020;15(1):49-54.
28. Contact/Support/Questions/Comments
29. How to contact the initiative to support, collaborate, ask questions:
30. Email: atlast@atvantagepodcasts.com
31. GoFundMe
32. https://www.gofundme.com/f/increasing-diversity-in-athletic-training
33. Gratitude and Blessings
34. Artwork by Jason Eisenberg
35. Instagram: @dots_and_squares
36. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoneisenberg00/
37. Intro/Outro music by Willie B the Ichiban Don
38. Instagram: @ichibandon
39. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-brown-25945b168/
40. Production / Engineering / Editing / Content Creation
41. Joseph “J Pash” Patrick
42. Website: https://www.passionnetpro.com/
43. Twitter: @passionnetpro
44. Instagram: @passionnetpro
45. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionnetpro/
46. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/passionnetpro/
47. Gerson Sandoval
48. Instagram: @thesoundarchitects
49. Websites: 
50. https://thesoundarchitects.com/
51. https://soundbetter.com/profiles/347950-the-sound-architects