Announcements
The Evolution Of Health Enrichment Center School Of Therapeutic Massage.
A Special Note From Owner And Head Instructor Sandy Fritz
Health Enrichment Center is 23 years old this September (2008). The school has undergone many changes over the years. It grew very large and then it got too big. I made the decision to downsize. At the same time massage became very popular and schools popped up all over the place-some good- many not. It was hard to watch the changes in educational quality and to know that the educational standards for massage therapy were going to increase-while I was watching them decrease because of substandard education. Michigan does not licensed massage therapist yet- (hopefully soon- legislation is pending) so there is no legal standard for what type of education is delivered. The Michigan Department of Education tries to over see and promote the typical national standard of 500 contact hours with curriculum requirements for anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, safety and sanitation, massage theory and practice and professionalism and ethics but until licensing of massage therapists in Michigan is implemented, massage education can be just about anything. Please carefully investigate any school you are considering. Take your time.
I wanted my graduates to be able to transfer credit to a college for a degree and worked to negotiate an articulation agreement with Siena Heights University. (The first in the US). This process required that the school become accredited which is a huge undertaking but the end result provides assurance to the student that they will receive a certain level of educational quality. We were the first accredited massage therapy school in Michigan by ACCSCT which at that time was the only accrediting body Siena Heights would accept. A few other massage schools in Michigan followed the example, but most did not. We have continued to provide innovative and quality education that was more than up to date than most because I write the major textbook line for therapeutic massage. You can look at my personal web site to see all of the books I have written. www.Sandyfritz.info. I have to anticipate what massage education will be like at least five years in the future since that is the typical revision schedule for textbooks. So far I have been very accurate and considered an expert internationally in the massage therapy field. I have been around a long time and am very good at what I do. Experiences in life shape personal values. Three major events that have impacted my life:
- In 2005 I had triple bypass open-heart surgery. It was unexpected, everyone was shocked and I came to grips with life and death.
- In 2007 my oldest son got married, was expecting his first child (my first grandchild) and two weeks later was hit by a car and killed while walking across the street. So life and death again, not mine but my son. This was the very worst thing that could have happened to me. As a family we have pulled together in the worst of circumstances and made the best of unspeakable grief and loss. We cry but we laugh too.
- Baby Calee was born August 2007 and is a joy, blessing and healer of my heart. Greg (my son and her daddy) had a flexible work schedule and was going to be the primary care giver for the baby while his wife; Nicole would work the more traditional 9-5 schedule. So I am committed (as is the rest of the family) to taking care of Calee.
After all that happened I could have quit. I had an excuse. No one would have blamed me. Managing and teaching in a small single program massage school is hard work. I am getting older. I have been doing massage for 30 years and teaching for 23 years. However as I searched my soul I know that it is important to move forward with determination. But I also know that time is precious and not to be wasted and things would need to be different. What does this have to do with the school and you?
You are going to invest time and money in your education and should know what motivates my commitment. This brings me to the main point of this discussion. Massage education is changing again. The standards for practice of therapeutic massage are increasing. You need to receive a education that prepares you for this new and exciting future The 4th edition of Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage and the 3rd edition of Mosby's Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage will be available April 2008. There have been major changes in the textbooks to reflect the current and upcoming changes in the massage profession. Now it is time to bring the curriculum in line with the textbooks. So- Health Enrichment Center is moving forward and in some ways returning to the original roots of the school. It is very important for you as a prospective student to understand the core values of Health Enrichment Center. So- for me what is important at the school is:
- To only train those that really want to be the best massage therapists they can be.
- To train those who are willing to put forth an effort for quality education even though they may have struggled during previous educational experiences ( I have dyslexia).
- That I am able to do a majority of the teaching while taking care of my granddaughter
- To implement the most current curriculum content and be innovative in educational strategies.
- To train the future generation of massage therapy teachers.
- To provide continuing education to graduates.
For me to achieve my goals for the school, you, and myself, the number of students will have to be limited. The new curriculum will require more time to complete and assimilate. Three schedules will be offered. Each is designed to support the student's travel and time commitment, unique career development, clinical experiences and my ability to be in the classroom. The school will use a linear cohort system. This means a group (cohort) starts together, completes the course requirements in the scheduled sequence (linear) and will graduate together. The three scheduling options will be limited to 12 students per cohort. A core group of educational and administrative staff will support us.
Tuition for the entry-level program will be raised to the level of other schools. For years we have tried to keep tuition fees as low as possible and maintain the quality of education. Now that I am limiting the number of students, tuition will increase to $8200+$250 book and supply fee. Roxanne - the on site school director is able to provide numerous school based payment options and access to private educational loans. If a student is committed enough to convince us of their sincere desire to meet my standards of excellent, than I am confident we can find a way for them to pay for the tuition.
So there it is. Change is inevitable. Commitment is not. I choose to commit to those students willing to commit to quality education. Even if you have struggled in education before if you can demonstrate a real passion for this career I am confident that we can teach you. If you are serious about quality education and willing to commit to my high standards, I will want to personally speak with you. My schedule is really busy so the conversation may happen on the phone or we will set up a time in the office. If you are under 21 years old, I would also like to speak with your parents. Health Enrichment Center will remain unique in massage education because we are willing to make the effort to do it right even if it is hard. With the new system only a few will get the opportunity to learn from me but I know that those that do will have a huge impact as the future unfolds. The effort will be worth it.
Sincerely and with commitment and confidence - Sandy
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