Program Review for Therapeutic Massage
Program Review Framework & Criteria
I. Connection: From interest to application (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of any changes to the program since the last cycle and the appropriate updates to the catalog (general education changes, program requirement changes, ancillary program costs for students, hours/credits of credentials, etc.).
The massage program remains a three-semester program that operates on a fall, spring, fall cycle followed by a spring, fall, spring cycle. This current semester the program will graduate 6 students. These students will be able to pursue licensure through the Virginia Board of Nursing following completion of the MBLEX. The program has adopted a new HLT 110 course in place of HLT 116 which was a system wide change as a part of the transfer Virginia work.
The Therapeutic Massage program remains at 39 total credits as a certificate program. The program has experienced instructor changes, as the core massage courses HLT 170, 180, 280, and 281 are taught by massage therapist. There is an elective course titled Muscles in Massage that has been taught by a Physical Therapist Assistant who also adjuncts in the PTA program.
2) How do students find out about the program? Please provide examples of advising activities, marketing materials, or other outreach and engagement events designed to recruit students to the program.
The
massage program is advertised in the college catalog which is updated annually.
The program also maintains a program webpage accessible by clicking the student
link on the main P&HCC website and selecting "Health Science".
The landing page is Health Careers with an option to access each program
webpage, including therapeutic massage. The health program advisors participate
in recruitment events with high school students (i.e., Senior field trips, SEED
Scholarship night, SEED advising days, campus advising events, and outreach
opportunities within the community). Our department also collaborates with the
high school career coaches and shares program information as requested.
The program has a program specific advising sheet that the health care
advisor gives to students who are interested in the program. The advising sheet
provides details of the program and the schedule/cycle of courses.
II. Entry: From application to pathway entry (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of your program credentials and how they stack into one another.
This program is a standalone certificate and does not stack into other credentials. Graduates may pursue licensure as a massage therapist.
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
This certificate is not designed for transfer. Graduates may work in private settings, salons, chiropractic offices, resorts, or other settings that employ or offer massage services.
Currently the US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a growth rate of 18% in this profession from 2022-2032.
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
1.c. What is the timeframe of completion for all credentials within the program (i.e. is the program setup to award sub-credentials prior to the parent credential)?
The program is three semesters, fall, spring, fall or spring, fall, spring. The program only operates with one cohort at a time. Students can only begin the core massage courses following completion of a cohort. For example, in December 2023 a cohort will graduate. Students who begin the core massage courses in Spring 2024 will complete in spring 2025 (massage core courses are not offered in the summer). Once a student begins the core massage courses the program is three academic semesters (not including summer) in length.
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
|
Acad Plan |
AY2022-2023 |
AY 2021-2022 |
AY 2020-2021 |
AY 2019-2020 |
|
|||||
|
Headcount |
FTEs |
Headcount |
FTEs |
Headcount |
FTEs |
Headcount |
FTEs |
|
||
|
179--Certificate in Therapeutic
Massage |
5 |
3.23 |
10 |
5.23 |
19 |
7.57 |
16 |
8.23 |
||
In the
2022/2023 academic year, seven (7) students began the first semester of core massage
courses, six (6) continued in the second semester in spring of 2023 and
currently there are six (6) students enrolled in the last semester of the
massage program (fall 2023). One student is missing in the headcount above as
the declared program of study is general studies and therapeutic massage. The
student is program placed in two academic programs and thus the data query
excluded the student from the headcount above.
The head
count for Academic Year 2021/2022 indicates ten (10) students. There were seven
(7) students in the terminal semester of the program in spring of 2022, there
were students who added the program of study during the 21/22 academic year who
began general education classes that were part of the certificate but were
waiting for the new cohort of core massage courses to begin in fall of
2022.
The
academic cycle for 2020/2021 included a fall 2020 cohort of five (5) students
in their last semester (13 students started originally in the fall of 2019, 10
continued in spring of 2020 with on withdrawal leaving nine (9), and five (5)
completed in fall of 2020.) In spring of 2021, nine (9) students began the
first semester core massage courses and were slated for completion in spring of
2022. There may have been one additional student completing general education
classes as opposed to beginning the core massage courses in that academic
cycle.
in the
academic year 2019/2020, the program started a new cohort of core massage
students. As noted above 13 enrolled in the first semester of the program, nine
(9) returned in the spring of 2020, and five (5) returned in the fall of 2020. Attrition
was related to the immediate impact of Covid, the program had to halt
operations in face-to-face setting in the spring of 2020 but did resume on
campus learning in fall of 2020.
Enrollment
by Massage Cohort Semester I-III
|
New
Cohort |
Massage I |
Massage II |
Massage III |
|
Fall 2019 |
13 |
9 |
5 |
|
Spring 2021 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
|
Fall 2022 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
·
Fall 2019, there was one (1) academic failure
and three (3) who did not return to second semester.
·
Spring 2021, all nine (9) students passed and seven
elected to return.
·
Spring of 2023, all seven (7) passed, one
student did not progress due to non-academic reasons.
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
| Program: Therapeutic Massage Certificate | |||||||
| Year | Outcome | Assessment | Course | Criteria | Benchmark | Data | Action Plan for Next AY |
| 2020-21 | Identify all major systems within the human body and list each major organ with its primary functions | End of course cumulative exam. | NAS 150 | 80% of students will score 70% or higher on designated assignment | 70% or higher | 57% % (15 of 26 students) scored 70% of higher or a designated assignment | Book changed to Enhanced 14th edition when it moved from LWW to Jones & Bartlett publishers. |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massage at the introductory level | Practical Assessment | HLT 280 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | n/a | not offered in 20/21 year | |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massages using the specified techniques | Practical Assessment | HLT 281 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | 100% of students scored 70% or higher on the practical exam. | Live labs were used to promote the highest level of instruction in the midst of Covid restrictions. | |
| 2021-22 | Identify all major systems within the human body and list each major organ with its primary functions | End of course cumulative exam. | NAS 150 | 80% of students will score 70% or higher on designated assignment | 70% or higher | 30% of students (5 of 17 students earned 70% or higher | Answers were added to the Class Assignments that posted after class was over for students to review and update any notes they took in class. Revised the majority of the PowerPoints utilized in class and posted them to Canvas. |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massage at the introductory level | Practical Assessment | HLT 280 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | 100% of students scored 70% or higher on the practical exam. | Ensure that students have ample practice time for hands on manipulation to prep for demonstrations. | |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massages using the specified techniques | Practical Assessment | HLT 281 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | 100% of students scored 70% or higher on the practical exam. | New instructor (adjunct) hired to assist in team teaching massage courses spring 2022. | |
| 2022-23 | Identify all major systems within the human body and list each major organ with its primary functions | End of course cumulative exam. | NAS 150 | 80% of students will score 70% or higher on designated assignment | 70% or higher | 18 &(4 of 22 students)earned 70% or higher | Changed textbook, revised lecture material. And adjusted point values for assignments allowing for increase in points toward class assignments. |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massage at the introductory level | Practical Assessment | HLT 280 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | 100%( 6 of 6 students) earned 70% or higher | Continued with team instruction in HLT 280, added a PTA adjunct to teach a co-enrolled course dealing with muscles in massage to compliment the program as opposed to being taught by a MT. | |
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massages using the specified techniques | Practical Assessment | HLT 281 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | n/a | Not offered in 22/23 | |
| 2023-24 | Identify all major systems within the human body and list each major organ with its primary functions | End of course cumulative exam. | NAS 150 | 80% of students will score 70% or higher on designated assignment | 70% or higher | ||
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massage at the introductory level | Practical Assessment | HLT 280 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | |||
| To demonstrate practical ability to deliver massages using the specified techniques | Practical Assessment | HLT 281 | 80% of students will score a 70% or higher on the practical assessment | 70% or higher | |||
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
|
Academic Plan |
N |
2022-23 |
|||
|
One Term |
Two Consecutive |
||||
|
12 |
15 |
24 |
30 |
||
|
179 -
Therapeutic Massage |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Academic Plan |
N |
|
|||
|
One Term |
Two Consecutive |
||||
|
12 |
15 |
24 |
30 |
||
|
179 - Therapeutic Massage |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Academic Plan |
N |
|
|||
|
One Term |
Two Consecutive |
||||
|
12 |
15 |
24 |
30 |
||
|
179 - Therapeutic Massage |
19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Academic Plan |
N |
2019-20 |
|||
|
One Term |
Two Consecutive |
||||
|
12 |
15 |
24 |
30 |
||
|
179--Therapeutic Massage |
16 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Most students complete the general education classes prior to completing the core massage courses (HLT 170,180, 280, 281, 220 and 193). The massage courses are sequenced, only one semester is offered at a time this impacts the number of credits a student is taking in a given semester.
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Academic Plan |
N |
Fall 20 |
|||||||||
|
F2S |
F2F |
||||||||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
||||||||
|
179 - Therapeutic Massage |
2 |
2 |
100.00% |
2 |
100.00% |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Academic Plan |
N |
Fall 19 |
|||||||||
|
F2S |
F2F |
||||||||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
||||||||
|
179--Therapeutic Massage |
2 |
2 |
100.00% |
1 |
50.00% |
||||||
Enrollment by Massage Cohort Semester I-III
New Cohort | Massage I | Massage II | Massage III |
Fall 2019 | 13 | 9 | 5 |
Spring 2021 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Fall 2022 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
|
· Fall 2019, there was one (1) academic failure and three (3) who did not return to second semester.
· Spring 2021, all nine (9) students passed and seven elected to return.
· Spring of 2023, all seven (7) passed, one student did not progress due to non-academic reasons.
IV. Completion: Credential attainment (Quantitative, IE)
1) Sub-credential attainment and timeframe (are students completing sub-credential prior to or at the same time as parent credential?)
n/a
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
|
|||||||
|
Row Labels |
N |
AY 2022-23 |
|
||||
|
Grads |
150 |
|
|||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
|
|||
|
179 - Therapeutic Massage |
5 |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
|
| *No scheduled completers 22/23 the natural | |||||||
| progression will yield graduates in fall 2023. |
|
||||||
|
|||||||
|
Row Labels |
N |
AY 2021-22 |
|
||||
|
Grads |
150 |
|
|||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
|
|||
|
179 - Therapeutic
Massage |
10 |
7 |
70.00% |
7 |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
N |
AY 2020-21 |
|
||||
|
Row Labels |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Grads |
150% |
|
|||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
|
|||
|
179 - Therapeutic
Massage |
19 |
4 |
21.05% |
1 |
25.00% |
|
|
Fall 2020 - 5 of the original 13 who. began core massage courses completed the final semester in fall 2020. |
|
||||||
|
|||||||
|
Row Labels |
N |
AY 2019-20 |
|
||||
|
Grads |
150% |
||||||
|
n |
% |
n |
% |
||||
|
179-Therapeutic Massage |
16 |
0 |
- |
0 |
- |
||
It should be noted that when a student selects therapeutic massage as their program of choice that they may not be able to begin the core massage courses in that initial semester since the program only offers the core massage courses on a three-semester cycle. Often students may have to work on their respective general education classes while they wait for a cohort to complete the program cycle and the first semester massage courses to be offered. This timing impacts on-time graduation rates.
A new cohort began in fall 2019, spring, 2021, and fall 2022.
Enrollment by Massage Cohort Semester I-III
New Cohort | Massage I | Massage II | Massage III |
Fall 2019 | 13 | 9 | 5 |
Spring 2021 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Fall 2022 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
|
·
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
In reviewing the cohort of students once emersed in massage courses, the completion rate is positive, with the exception of the fall 2019 cohort who completed in fall 2020. This information only tracks completion of the massage courses, as the general education classes can occur prior to or concurrently with the program.
Enrollment by Massage Cohort Semester I-III
New Cohort | Massage I | Massage II | Massage III | Rate of Completion |
Fall 2019 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 38.4% * |
Spring 2021 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 77.7% |
Fall 2022 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 85.7% |
|
· *Covid impact
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
Data for all P&HCC academic programs.
|
IN1: The courses I took at PHCC
prepared me for my educational goals. |
||||||
|
Responses: |
47 |
Average: |
82.81 |
|||
|
Rating |
# of Responses |
% of Total |
||||
|
<60 |
9 |
19.15% |
||||
|
60-69 |
2 |
4.26% |
||||
|
70-79 |
4 |
8.51% |
||||
|
80-89 |
4 |
8.51% |
||||
|
>90 |
28 |
59.57% |
||||
|
IN2:The faculty at PHCC are fair and
supportive of students. |
||||||
|
Responses: |
47 |
Average: |
82.17 |
|||
|
Rating |
# of Responses |
% of Total |
||||
|
<60 |
9 |
19.15% |
||||
|
60-69 |
3 |
6.38% |
||||
|
70-79 |
1 |
2.13% |
||||
|
80-89 |
2 |
4.26% |
||||
|
>90 |
32 |
68.09% |
||||
|
IN3: The faculty at PHCC demonstrate
thorough knowledge of the subject matter. |
||||||
|
Responses: |
48 |
Average: |
80.4 |
|||
|
Rating |
# of Responses |
% of Total |
||||
|
<60 |
11 |
22.92% |
||||
|
60-69 |
1 |
2.08% |
||||
|
70-79 |
3 |
6.25% |
||||
|
80-89 |
3 |
6.25% |
||||
|
>90 |
30 |
62.50% |
||||
|
IN4: In the courses I took at PHCC,
classroom activities and outside assignments were appropriate and meaningful. |
||||||
|
Responses: |
47 |
Average: |
79.87 |
|||
|
Rating |
# of Responses |
% of Total |
||||
|
<60 |
9 |
19.15% |
||||
|
60-69 |
5 |
10.64% |
||||
|
70-79 |
3 |
6.38% |
||||
|
80-89 |
1 |
2.13% |
||||
|
>90 |
29 |
61.70% |
||||
|
IN5: I would recommend the faculty
at PHCC. |
||||||
|
Responses: |
48 |
Average: |
82.23 |
|||
|
Rating |
# of Responses |
% of Total |
||||
|
<60 |
8 |
16.67% |
||||
|
60-69 |
2 |
4.17% |
||||
|
70-79 |
4 |
8.33% |
||||
|
80-89 |
5 |
10.42% |
||||
|
>90 |
29 |
60.42% |
||||
Survey means represent strong averages based on questionnaire responses.
VI. Sustainability: Future Program Outlook (Mixed methods, IE, program head and dean)
1) Program forecast (major expenditures, changes, personnel needs, etc.); any future costs should be explained in this section)
The program includes a mix of general education classes and massage courses. The massage courses are taught 100% by adjunct instructors who are licensed massage therapists.
The cost of the program has been sustainable as the majority of expense is for adjunct instruction. The program requires supplies such as oils and lotions, they use a linen service for sheets and towels which is factored into the health science department budget. Larger purchases for this program include massage tables, and those tables generate a cost of $400-$600 per table.
The program will be transitioning from a team-teaching approach to a one instructor model. One of the current massage instructors has announced they are not returning in the spring 2024 semester and the other instructor has agreed to teach the program in the spring independently. Should instructional support be needed, the program will recruit additional adjunct support.
The Nursing and Allied Health office supports the program including advising interested and program placed students, supporting adjunct needs and expenditures for program supplies, and completion of program reporting.
a. Any other pertinent information relevant to the review process should be provided here (e.g. community need, state/federal requirements, external accreditation, SCHEV low enrollment warning, etc.)
This program maintains an assigned school code by the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
Graduates must complete the MBLEX (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) and apply for licensure in the state of Virginia through the Virginia Board of Nursing. Virginia BON does not provide updates on specific licensing pass rates by program.
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
|
Massage Therapists in Patrick & Henry Community
College, 2023Q11 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
Current |
5-Year History |
5-Year Forecast |
|||||||||||
|
SOC |
Occupation |
Empl |
Mean Ann Wages2 |
LQ |
Unempl |
Unempl Rate |
Online Job Ads3 |
Empl Change |
Ann % |
Total Demand |
Exits |
Transfers |
Empl Growth |
Ann % Growth |
|
31‑9010 |
Massage Therapists |
31 |
$46,000 |
0.68 |
1 |
1.2% |
1 |
5 |
3.6% |
23 |
11 |
11 |
2 |
1.1% |
|
00‑0000 |
Total - All Occupations |
48,857 |
$48,400 |
1.00 |
2,044 |
3.4% |
2,511 |
-431 |
-0.2% |
26,945 |
11,873 |
16,303 |
-1,232 |
-0.5% |
Source: JobsEQ®
Data as of 2023Q1
unless noted otherwise
Note: Figures may not
sum due to rounding.
1. Data based on a
four-quarter moving average unless noted otherwise.
2. Wage data
represent the average for all Covered Employment
3. Data represent
found online ads active within the last thirty days in the selected region. Due
to alternative county-assignment algorithms, ad counts in this analytic may not
match that shown in RTI (nor in the popup window ad list). Ad counts for ZCTA-based
regions are estimates.
Currently the US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a growth rate of 18% in this profession from 2022-2032.