The Massage Therapy Advisory Board met recently and I was lucky
enough to be in attendance. One of the functions of this group is
to review evaluations filled out by our students at the end of each
trimester. Through this process, they acknowledge the successes
within the program and make suggestions for improvements down the
road. Dr. Randy
Swenson chairs this board and takes the students' responses
very seriously. One of the reasons that National University
students have a 91% pass rate on their national
board exams is because their feedback and suggestions are used
to improve the program and better their experience.
Favorite Classes
The results of the most recent evaluations completed by first
trimester students showed that they gave the highest kudos to the
fundamentals class. In this course, new students are taught a full
body one hour massage. Second trimester students indicated that the
chair massage and sports massage courses were their favorites.
Third trimester students overwhelmingly gave a high five to the
orthopedic and assessment course which they felt gave them
invaluable working knowledge of multiple syndromes which might
throw them off in future practice.
Students identified the chair massage course as a
favorite.
Open to Suggestions
In addition to evaluating the program, current students are also
asked to comment on the university as a whole. One area where
students thought we needed improvement was to have the campus store
open a little later so that they can stop in before classes (which
start at 6:00 p.m.). I am happy to report that this request is in
the works.
It was also suggested that the CPR course be included in the
basic curriculum since it is required that students have this
training before their clinical rotation starts. Because many of our
students come to us with CPR already under their belt, the Advisory
Board didn't think it would be fair to put it in as a required
course at this time.
Watching the group in action is just delightful. They have
enthusiasm for the work we accomplish here and a true passion for
touch therapy. They are the guardians of our program and knowing
who they are and how they operate I am reassured that the massage
therapy program is in very good hands.