NCAA President Charlie Baker Visits Springfield College To Discuss Athletic Training Workforce Issues

Springfield, MA (12/14/2023) — NCAA President Charlie Baker spent Thursday morning at Springfield College meeting with President Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper and faculty members from the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training. The conversation centered around the current state of athletic training within intercollegiate athletics, and the role that the NCAA has relative to athletic training workforce issues.

A collection of eight Springfield College faculty members representing over 140 years of athletic training experience spoke with Baker about different healthcare models across the collegiate setting and the alignment of the NCAA mission to the value, culture, and compensation of athletic trainers. As a group, they discussed challenges that athletic trainers at the collegiate level are currently facing, including lack of staff, increased needs and expectations of student-athletes, burnout, and how recent rule changes within the NCAA has directly impacted the athletic training field.

""It was an honor to meet with NCAA President Charlie Baker today to discuss athletic training workforce issues. Springfield College Athletic Training has a long history of excellence, education and advocacy for the profession, and today once again highlighted Springfield College's commitment to improving the wellbeing of both the healthcare provider and to the patients we serve," said Dr. Sue Guyer, Dean of Springfield College's School of Physical Education, Performance and Sports Leadership.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 3,500 students, including 2,050 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy - educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

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NCAA president Charlie Baker gathers for a group photo with Springfield College president Mary-Beth Cooper and faculty members from the School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership, including Athletic Training department during a visit to the College on Thursday, December 14, 2023.