PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The following professional organizations are associated with our majors. Many of our faculty members belong to one or more of these associations:

With 20,000 members, AAHPERD is the largest organization supporting and assisting professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, sport and coaching, dance, health education and promotion, and all specialties related to achieving a healthy and active lifestyle.

ACSM promotes and integrates scientific research, education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life. The ACSM has more than 45,000 members and certified professionals worldwide.

Based in Washington, D.C., the APA is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide, with more than 137,000 members. The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.

APHA aims to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to ensure that community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health professionals and others who care about their own health and the health of their communities.

The BOC was incorporated in 1989 to provide a certification program for entry-level Athletic Trainers (ATs). The BOC establishes and regularly reviews both the standards for the practice of athletic training and the continuing education requirements for BOC-certified ATs. The BOC has the only accredited certification program for ATs in the U.S.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is the largest programmatic accreditor of the health sciences professions. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits over 2100 individual education programs in 32 health science occupations. CAAHEP accredited programs are assessed on an ongoing basis to assure that they meet the Standards and Guidelines of each profession.

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)

The CAATE is the agency responsible for the accreditation of 360 professional (entry-level) athletic training educational programs. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and the National Athletic Trainers' Association Inc. (NATA) cooperate to sponsor the CAATE and to collaboratively develop the standards for entry-level athletic training educational programs.

Society members seek to influence and renew secular culture by integrating their Christian faith with their disciplines in their research, publications, public presentations and professional interactions. The society provides opportunities for personal and professional growth within a Christian context and supports and encourages Christian professionals in the disciplines of health, physical education, recreation, dance, sport and movement sciences.

GLATA strives to enhance the quality of health care for the physically active, promote the athletic trainer and advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries.

IAHPERD is a professional education association for teachers, administrators, researchers, coaches, students and other allied professionals who are actively engaged in and dedicated to the promotion of quality health, physical education, recreation, dance, sport and allied programming in public and private schools, colleges and universities, and community agencies throughout the state of Indiana.

The IATA is committed to the provision of quality health care for the physically active individual and strives to advance the athletic training profession.

NATA is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession. Founded in 1950, the NATA has grown to more than 30,000 members worldwide today. The majority of certified athletic trainers choose to be members of the NATA - to support their profession and to receive a broad array of membership benefits.

NRPA is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks and recreation opportunities. Founded in 1965 through the merger of five national organizations dedicated to the same cause, NRPA has grown over the years - in total membership, in outreach efforts, in building partnerships, and in serving as the voice and defender of parks and recreation.

The NSCA is an international nonprofit educational association founded in 1978. Evolving from a membership of 76, the association now serves nearly 32,000 members in 72 countries. Drawing upon its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings.

RCRA is an international nonprofit, nonregulatory organization comprised of professionals, educators and students in resort- and commercial-related industries. The mission of RCRA is to serve as a vehicle to communicate, educate and promote standards of professionalism within the industry and to provide opportunities for continuing education, networking and awareness of industry trends.