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 Therapeutic Massage Certificate program is offered over the course of three semesters and core massage classes are not taught in the summer. The program cycles on a three semester rotation. Fall, 2019 began a new cycle of the program and includes delivery of level one massage courses. Since the previous program review there have been a few program changes. The core massage courses are taught by adjuncts who are licensed as massage therapist, however we have had some instructional changes. Ms. Harbor was not able to commit to instructing each semester for two to three nights a week, so the program recruited and hired an additional adjunct, Teresa Wall. Mrs. Wall is teaching the majority of the massage core courses. The program added a muscles in massage class to focus on kinesiology related to massage. The actual course changed from PTH 151 Musculoskeletal Structure and Function to HLT 193 Muscles in Massage. The course change was a result of the new PTA curriculum and the courses are not shared but rather are discipline specific. The program remains 39 total credits.
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.
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.
The Therapeutic Massage Certificate program is an applied program that is discipline specific. The courses do not stack into a degree pathway, as this is a professional discipline. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the MBLEX and apply for state licensure to become licensed as massage therapist in the state of Virginia, through the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
The program is not intended for transfer. The program is designed to prepare graduates to apply and complete the MBLEX (licensing exam) so that they may pursue licensure as a massage therapist in the state of Virginia through the Virginia Board of Nursing (the current regulatory body). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the profession is projected to grow 22% from 2018-2028. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-Therapists.htm#tab-6)
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
Not applicable to this educational pathway.
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 designed to be completed in three academic semesters, not including summer. If a student pursues the massage program when the program is in sequence the student has to wait for the sequenced introduction core courses to cycle again. The program is low enrolled and would not support multiple cohorts at the same time .The courses may not be collapsed, and offering the first, second, and third level courses more frequently would require additional resources such as classroom and lab space, and a full time program instructor.
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
The head count reflects students who are program placed. The number of students who have declared therapeutic massage as a major is greater than the actual number of students actively taking the core massage courses. This difference is associated with when the major was declared and how it correlates to the programs cycling of courses. In the current fall 2019 semester a new cohort of massage students began. As of October 7th, the headcount in the core courses was 13 students. The program completed a cohort in May, 2019 which included six (6) students which was 66% of the original cohort. The program completed six (6)students in Fall, 2017 which was also 66% of the original cohort who began in Fall, 2016.
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
The program consistently met outcomes for the program. The table identifies that one cohort yielded no SLO data, this is directly related to the three semester program graduation cycle.
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
The majority of students are completing this program part-time which extends the program beyond three total semesters and directly reduces the number of credits completed per semester. In addition, program placed students may have to wait for the introductory core massage courses to recycle based on the delivery sequence.
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
Persistence and Retention Table
This measure reflects traditional calculations on persistence (F2S) and retention (F2F) whereas this program has a rotating start date for which the last cohort began in Spring 2018 and graduated spring 2019 thus the lower percentages for the traditional persistence and retention calculation.
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?)
Not applicable
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
The percentage of students not completing within 150% completion time is directly related to timing of major declaration and when the student can begin the core massage courses. Students may spend more than six semesters in the program if they have pre-requisite course work for developmental education, in addition to, waiting for the core courses to cycle again. For example, if a student selected therapeutic massage during the fall, 2018 semester, students were able to complete developmental requirements (if needed) and other certificate general education requirements, but were not able to begin the core massage courses until the new cohort began in fall, 2019. The 150% completion time is 4.5 semesters the example yields a five semester completion time-frame.
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
This pathway is not intended for transfer.
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
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 current massage instructor plans to retire from practice (and teaching) in December, 2020. The program will need to recruit a new adjunct instructor who is willing to take on the instruction of the core courses to ensure program delivery. Massage tables have a lot of wear and tear and planning for replacements will likely occur in the next two years. Ten tables would generate a cost of approximately $4000-$5000.
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.)
Not applicable at this time.
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the profession is projected to grow 22% from 2018-2028. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-Therapists.htm#tab-6)