School Information

Program Description and Requirements  
           The Diploma of Massage Therapy program at The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine provides students with instruction in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, ethics, and business principles.  Students will also learn the principles and applications of therapeutic massage including soft tissue manipulation, Client assessment, treatment planning, hydrotherapy, massage history, the physiological effects of massage and massage contraindications.  Instruction concerning professional and legal issues that pertain to massage therapists will also be given.  The curriculum is designed to include a lecture and lab component.  Students that have met all the requirements of the program will be prepared to sit for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards Exam (MBLex), which is a necessary step to obtaining a license to practice therapeutic massage in the State of Ohio

Requirements for Entrance into the Program
            Applicants for the courses in massage therapy must possess a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent.  Massage Therapy schools in Ohio are regulated by the State of Ohio Medical Board.  As an applicant you must also complete the application form to The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy, and have your high school transcript also to submit to the school. Call the school when you have all of this completed and make an appointment for an entrance interview.

Refund Policy
When a student is accepted into our program, we expect that student to have the commitment to follow the training to completion.  The student’s financial obligation is by term.  An enrollment agreement or application may be canceled with five calendar days after the date of signing provided the school is notified of the cancellation in writing.  The school will promptly refund in full all tuition and fees paid pursuant to the enrollment agreement.  Such refund shall be made no later than thirty days after cancellation.

State Tuition Refund Policy for courses on a clock hour basis;

-              A student who starts class and withdraws before the academic term is fifteen per cent completed will be obligated for twenty-five per cent of the tuition and refundable fees plus the registration fee.

-              A student who starts class and withdraws after the academic term is fifteen per cent complete but before the academic term is forty per cent completed will be obligated for fifty per cent of the tuition and refundable fees plus the registration fee.

-              A student who starts class and officially withdraws after the academic term is twenty-five per cent complete but before the academic term is forty per cent completed will be obligated for seventy-five per cent of the tuition and refundable fees plus the registration fee

-              A student who starts class and withdraws after the academic term is forty per cent completed will not be entitled to a refund of the tuition and fees.

-              Students receiving VA Educational Benefit will receive the prorate refund required by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

-              In the case of documented student illness or accident, death in the family, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student, the student shall be entitled to special consideration and the school may settle the account for an amount which is less than that called by the school’s established policy.

Classroom Policies
Eating is confined to the kitchen area only; there is to be no eating on lab massage tables.  Cellular phones and tablets are not allowed to disrupt classes. There is to be no use of any App during our online lectures or in person labs. Smoking {of any kind} by our students is not permitted within the building at any time.  Quizzes and examinations are to be taken according to the schedule in the syllabus; make-up tests are not automatically granted, and, if granted, may be expected to be more rigorous than the original tests.


Policy against Discrimination
The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine is committed to providing equal educational opportunity to every student.  It is our policy to treat all applicants fairly and in accordance with their individual qualifications, ability, experience and other criteria in compliance with all laws.  Our school does not discriminate in admissions, training, discipline, dismissal or other academic related decisions based on persons race, nationality, origin, color, sex, religion, disability, age or other classifications as defined by law. 
Students who make such complaints or reports of discrimination will not be subject to any retaliatory action by The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine.


Student Grievance Procedure
(State Rules 3332-1-18) Any student who has a grievance with the school or an Instructor should first discuss the problem with the instructor or school director. If a Resolution is not reached the student should make a written complaint and submit It to the school director asking for a written response. When a satisfactory Resolution of the problem is not obtained the student may contact the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, 30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481, Columbus,
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Ohio, 43215, (614) 466-2752, toll free 877-275-4219.

Placement Assistance
The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine offers no guarantees of job placement after graduation. Any job offers or business opportunities for graduates that are brought to the attention of the School will be posted to permit their pursuit by interested individuals.  

Attendance Policy
Class attendance is required by the Medical Board of the State of Ohio, and students sing in and out on the daily attendance sheets.  No missed hours may be excused.  If legitimate extenuating circumstances prevent a student from attending during regular class time, any material and hours that are missed must still be made up before graduation. 
If legitimate extenuating circumstances are expected to persist, a student may also request a leave of absence, which, if granted, allows that student to restart the term at the start of the immediately following semester, without the necessity of resubmitting an application.

Evaluation and Exams
Evaluation of student progress is made by multiple choice and fill in examinations, including quizzes, midterms and finals, by performance on practical examinations of massage techniques, including an evaluation by a licensed massage therapist, and by written projects.  No extra credit assignments are given.  Most graded assignments are returned to the student on the following week.

Standards, Unsatisfactory Progress and Probation
To successfully complete a semester of work, a student must achieve a 75% average in basic sciences and a 75% average in massage (massage theory and massage practical) during that term.  If the student fails to achieve a 75% average in either, that student must retake ALL material for that particular semester that is—that is, he or she must retake all classes for that term.
If a student is having academic or other challenges, he/she is encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor or administrative rep to discuss.  Students who do not achieve a passing average during a semester are places on academic probation and have a repeat that semester until they do, whereupon the probation is lifted.  After several semesters on probation, if a student is still unable to perform academically, he/she may be counseled about the advisability of leaving the program.

Graduation Requirements
The student must have passing grades and credit in all course work in this field.  A minimum of 75% grade and attendance in Massage Theory and Clinical Practice, an overall GPA of 2.10 or higher, overall attendance of 85%, all make up work and CPR certificate on file, all clinic requirements completed by the end of the last term and all payments made to the college.

The Gibbons School has a 100% student passing rate on the MBLEx. 

Student Appearance
Students must dress in a professional manner, and express professionalism in their appearance and grooming, including hair and nails.  Students must maintain personal body hygiene and cleanliness at all times.  During clinical work on members of the public, proper professional clothing must be worn.  

Re-Entrance Policy
If for any reason a student wishes to be readmitted to The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine, she or he must reapply. This involves completion of another application form and submitting it with the non-refundable application fee. The student must make an appointment for an entrance interview. If the student’s high school transcripts have already been sent to The Gibbons School of Massage Therapy & Integrated Medicine, these parts of the application process need not be repeated.


Credit for Previous Education or Training
A student that has successfully completed portions of a massage therapy program at another institution may be able to transfer some or all of those hours, dependent upon the content and the student’s performance on a placement examination, at the discretion of the school’s director.

Facility
The school facility, located at 25901 Emery Rd, Suite 103, Warrensville Hts, Ohio and has a lecture room, massage room classroom, office, book store, and student break room. Equipment for the school includes traditional classroom furniture, audio/visual equipment, 6 massage tables, therapy rooms, charts and various other teaching materials.

Transcripts
Students can request in writing that their official transcript be sent to employers and educational institutions. The cost of each such transcript is $5.