Contacts for information on financial assistance and institutional issues:
If you are trying to contact one of us, and we are unavailable, either send an email or leave a message with the front desk (in person or by telephone).
Availability of Employee for Information Dissemination Purposes – The Education Director, Susan Farhat, shall be available on a full-time basis to assist enrolled or prospective students in obtaining the information specified in Section 668.42, 668.43, 668.45, and 668.46. She shall be available, upon reasonable notice, to any enrolled or prospective student throughout the normal administrative working hours of SSMT. She is also available to help students in most other ways!
SSMT enthusiastically encourages all students to register and to vote. You will be given an opportunity to complete a voter registration form at your enrollment interview, and any student can always ask any administrator to help you complete the form online on the computers in the student library – or you can ask for a paper form at either the admissions office or the front desk.
You can also complete a voter registration form right now! Sarasota and Manatee Counties both offer online voter registration. Simply click these links to register to vote! If you have never registered to vote in Florida before, then, when you complete the form, you will need to print it out, sign it, and mail it to the Supervisor of Elections. You can also bring it to SSMT and we will stamp it for you and mail it if you like.
The US Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787, and September 17 is now commemorated as Constitution Day. SSMT will distribute educational information about the US Constitution on September 17, except in years when this falls on a weekend, in which case the distribution will be held within a week of the actual date.
Students or parents of students who enter into an agreement regarding a Title IV federal student loan should be aware that the loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by authorized agencies, lenders, and institutions.
The school awards credit for previous academic work. The amount of such credit is determined on a case-by-case basis. An official transcript outlining prior training should be submitted with the SSMT application. Students transferring credit may be required to pass written or practical exams administered by SSMT in the courses being transferred.
Transferability of credit from SSMT is at discretion of receiving institution. It is the students responsibility to confirm whether or not credits will be accepted by another institution of the students choice.
Services and facilities are available to students with disabilities, who attend all classes with students without disabilities. SSMT will provide any reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities, and prides itself on having graduated many such students. Examples of such accommodation include (but are not limited to) tutoring free of charge to students with documented learning or intellectual disabilities and additional teaching staff made available in practical classes with a blind student. If you have a disability that needs accommodation, please inform the admissions guide or education director.
The school’s accreditation certificate and state license hang on the wall in the reception area. The school will make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student upon request, a copy of the documents describing the SSMT’s accreditation and its Florida licensing. Ask the Admissions Guide if you are interested in seeing the documents. The contact information of those agencies appears in the grievance section above. Click here to see the school’s accrediting and licensing bodies.
SSMT respects copyright laws, and expects students to do the same. All material distributed in class or projected on a screen is used by permission. Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, may subject the student to civil and criminal liabilities. The legal penalties for copyright infringement are the following:
The law specifies how the school must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from school. The Title IV programs SSMT students receive that are covered by this law are: Pell Grants, Direct Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG).
If you withdraw or are dismissed during a payment period the amount of Title IV program assistance that you have earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If you received (or SSMT or your parent received on your behalf) less assistance than the amount that you earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess funds must be returned by SSMT and/or you.
The amount of assistance that you have earned is determined on a pro-rated basis. For example, if you complete 30% of your payment period, you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you have completed more than 60% of the payment period, you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.
If you (or the school) did not receive all of the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If your post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, SSMT must get your permission before those funds can be disbursed. You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt. SSMT may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition, books, and fees, (as described in the enrollment agreement). SSMT needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other school charges, such as massage table upgrades or extra clinic shirts. You give your permission for this when you enroll, as it is usually everybody’s best interest to allow SSMT to keep the funds to reduce your debt at SSMT.
There may be some Title IV funds that you were scheduled to receive that cannot be disbursed to you once you withdraw because of other eligibility requirements. For example, if you are a first- time borrower of Federal Student Aid and you have not completed the first 30 days of your program before you withdraw, you will not receive any Direct Loan funds that you would have received had you remained enrolled past the 30th day.
If you receive (or SSMT or your parent receives on your behalf) excess Title IV program funds that must be returned, SSMT must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of:
SSMT must return this amount even if it didn’t keep this amount of your Title IV program funds.
If SSMT is not required to return all of the excess funds, you must return the remaining amount. Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for a PLUS Loan) repay in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the Department of Education (through a servicer) over a period of time.
Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the grant funds you received or were scheduled to receive. You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount of the overpayment is $50 or less. You must make arrangements with SSMT or the Department of Education to return the unearned grant funds.
The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from the SSMT refund policy. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges – or SSMT may owe you a refund. SSMT may also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return. SSMT’s refund policy is described in detail at the time of enrollment, and can be found in the enrollment agreement and on page 15 of this handbook. To officially withdraw from school, you would need to notify the SSMT Education Department. Once the school has calculated tuition, book and table credits, the return of Title IV funds, and the balance of charges owed by you to the school or by the school to you, you will be contacted to complete an in-person withdrawal interview, and to sign a withdrawal statement and tuition reconciliation form.
If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can contact the school’s Financial Aid Administrator, Stephanie King. You may also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433- 3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available about federal student aid at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
1. All tuition is refunded in the following instances:
2. If a student withdraws or is dismissed prior to entering the second payment period, the tuition for the second payment period will be refunded entirely. Students enter the second payment period when they have completed 365 clock-hours and met SAP. Completed hours include excused absences, but do not include unexcused absences.
3. Refunds for withdrawal or dismissal during a payment period will be as follows:
4. The end-date for refund computation purposes is set as the earliest of the following:
5. For refund computation purposes, the pro-ration is based on the number of class and clinic hours scheduled through the end-date.
6. Tuition refunds will be made within 30 days of the end-date.
SSMT requires all students to submit a signed Medical History Form affirming that the student’s health will allow them to safely attend school without harm to themselves or classmates. SSMT views vaccinations as a personal choice and does not require students to be vaccinated. Florida law does not require vaccinations for post-secondary students.
For purposes of this policy, the following definitions are adopted:
In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Director, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning may be issued through several forms of communication, such as: the main phone number voice mail 941-957-0577, phone calls and/or text messages and/or email and/or GroupMe or Facebook postings to students and staff. Students should take responsibility for regularly checking their class’ GroupMe, their voice mail, text messages, e-mail and the SSMT web site in order to receive campus-wide announcements. Students must provide a ‘best way to reach them’ upon enrollment, to be noted in the school’s database for administrative use. The student may at enrollment, or any time, request that this contact information not be released as directory information.
Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose an immediate threat to the community and individuals, the Director may also post a notice at the top of this web page – with a visible link on the home page to this page.
Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Director, by contacting the school at 941-957-0577 and/or the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 911.
SSMT is committed to minimizing the harmful effects of emergency situations by:
Towards these ends it adopts this plan. The procedures in this plan will be tested at least once each year.
SSMT is located in a suburban professional center on the gulf coast of Florida, serves students from 18 into their 60’s, and clinic clients who are older than that. It operates during day and evening hours.
It is a small commuter school with no campus housing. Many of the types of emergencies that might affect large institutions with thousands of residential students do not apply to SSMT.
Among the largest risks on the coast of Florida are hurricanes and tropical storms. Other risks include flooding, fire, and crime. A review of SSMT’s Clery data indicate very little crime on or off campus; the last instance of crime of any sort was a robbery in 2009. The only other emergencies that SSMT has experienced in it’s 35 years of existence have been tropical storms, and the emergency plan has served it well each time this occurred.
The above characteristics inform this plan.
In 2012 the school installed a security system and camera to safeguard the school from crime during hours when the school is unoccupied.
The school has an emergency notification and timely warning system (see above) for emergencies such as tropical weather or danger of violent crime.
In the event of an emergency, the school has an emergency committee that will confirm that there is a significant emergency, determine who to notify, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system. The Emergency Committee will consist of the Director of the School, the Education Director, and the Finance Director. They will notify the Police and/or Fire Department as needed. In the absence of the any of the members of the committee on campus, any members present on campus have the authority to determine whether there is time to contact those not present, or initiate the notification system, and or a lockdown.
When faced with a fire, medical emergency, explosion, hazardous materials spill or act of violence anyone on the premises aware of the emergency should do the following:
In the unlikely event that no school personnel are present, call 911 and give the operator:
Do not hang up until the 911 operator obtains all the necessary information.
When SSMT closes because of a tropical storm, rain or flooding, or hurricane threat, the following activities must be completed by each department before releasing faculty and staff:
SSMT has adopted threat assessment procedures developed by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service in a collaborative effort to help school and college campuses reduce violence and create safe climates.
Report suspicious behavior by students, employees or visitors to the Director at 941-957-0577.
It is not always possible to predict behavior that will lead to violence. However, educators and sometimes students can recognize certain early warning signs. In some situations, and for some students, different combinations of events, behaviors and emotions may lead to aggressive rage or violent behavior toward themselves or others. A good rule of thumb is to assume that these warning signs, especially when they are presented in combination, indicate a need for further analysis (threat assessment) to determine an appropriate intervention.
The National School Safety Center identified the following behaviors that could indicate a student’s potential for harming him/herself or others, based on a recent study.
When a person(s) exhibits hostile actions, e.g. hostile confrontation, person with a weapon, active shooter or similar type of threat, immediately call 911 and notify the Director or other administrator. Do not try to engage or separate combatants. Await the arrival of security and/or local police.
This Information Security Plan (Plan) describes Sarasota School of Massage Therapy’s safeguards to protect information and data (Protected Information) in compliance with the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, also known as the Gramm Leach Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 6801. These safeguards are provided to:
Protect the security and confidentiality of Protected Information;
Protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and
Protect against unauthorized access to or use of Protected Information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.
This Information Plan also provides for mechanisms to:
Identify and assess the risks that may threaten Protected Information maintained by Sarasota School of Massage Therapy;
Designate employee responsible for coordinating the program;
Design and implement a safeguards program;
Adjust the plan to reflect changes in technology, the sensitivity of Protected Information, and internal or external threats to information security; and
Sarasota School of Massage Therapy recognizes that it has both internal and external risks. These risks include, but are not limited to:
Unauthorized access of Protected Information by someone other than the owner of the covered data and information
Compromised system security as a result of system access by an unauthorized person
Interception of data during transmission
Loss of data integrity
Physical loss of data in a disaster
Errors introduced into the system
Corruption of data or systems
Unauthorized access of covered data and information by employees
Unauthorized requests for covered data and information
Unauthorized access through hardcopy files or reports
Unauthorized transfer of covered data and information through third parties
The director will be responsible for coordinating the program.
During employee orientation, each new employee in departments that handle protected information will receive proper training on the importance of confidentiality of protected information. Each new employee will also be trained in the proper use of computer information and passwords. Further, departments with more than one employee, responsible for maintaining protected information, will provide ongoing updates to its staff. These training efforts should help minimize risk and safeguard covered data and information security.
All files and physical documents with protected information will be stored in locked fireproof file cabinets. These cabinets are located in offices with limited access; only authorized personnel have keys to these offices. The offices will always be closed and locked when unoccupied. Authorized personnel are responsible for ensuring that no unauthorized personnel gain access to these files or the information in them. Paper documents that contain protected information are shredded at time of disposal.
Information systems include network and software design, as well as information processing, storage, transmission, retrieval, and disposal. SSMT has a password protected, encrypted network. It currently does not make wireless access available to students; if it does, the student wireless access will be hosted on a separate network – one that contains no protected information. SSMT will take reasonable and appropriate steps consistent with current technological developments to make sure that all protected information is secure and to safeguard the integrity of records in storage and transmission.
The school will maintain effective systems to prevent, detect, and respond to attacks, intrusions and other system failures. Such systems will include staying current with security patches made available by software vendors; maintaining appropriate filtering or firewall technologies; alerting those with access to covered data of threats to security; imaging documents and shredding paper copies. Data will be backed up every ten minutes to a secure offsite server, and every hour to an encrypted local external hard drive. as well as other reasonable measures to protect the integrity and safety of information systems.
This plan will be subject to periodic review and adjustment, especially when due to the constantly changing technology and evolving risks. The Director will review the standards set forth in this policy and recommend updates and revisions as necessary. It may be necessary to adjust the plan to reflect changes in technology, the sensitivity of student/customer data and internal or external threats to information security.
These budgetary estimates include both institutional costs such as tuition, fees, and books, and non-institutional costs such as room, board, transportation, loan fees, and child care. Your non-institutional costs may differ from these estimates, based on things like the rent you pay, the length and means of your commute, and whether or not you pay for child care.
| Independent | Dependent | |
| Room & Board | $12,990 | $6,000 |
| Tuition & Fees | $16,075 | $16,075 |
| Loan Fees | $82 | $47 |
| Books | $400 | $400 |
| Transportation/Child Care and Other Costs | $480 | $158 |
| Total | $30,027 | $22,680 |
| Independent | Dependent | |
| Room & Board | $20,784 | $9,600 |
| Tuition & Fees | $16,075 | $16,075 |
| Loan Fees | $82 | $47 |
| Books | $400 | $400 |
| Transportation/Child Care and Other Costs | $768 | $252 |
| Total | $38,109 | $26,374 |
SSMT respects the privacy of students and their families and complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Click here to read the act.
The safety and well being of our students, staff, faculty, and guests are very important to the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (SSMT) community. SSMT wishes to provide students, faculty and visitors with information on safety, security procedures, policies and resources available and to ask that they cooperate in crime prevention. This policy letter is provided to students as part of the Welcome Packet handed out during orientation. Employees will receive a copy each year.
SSMT does not employ security personnel. Each employee and student at SSMT is encouraged to be vigilant and report all criminal or dangerous situations immediately to appropriate authorities. Members of the school community should immediately report a crime or any emergency by calling 911 or by coming to the front desk, administrative office or to any faculty member. When notified, the SSMT employee will immediately assess the situation and report the activity to the appropriate law enforcement agency, if not already reported. In addition, if the situation threatens the SSMT community, the employee will immediately alert the community by announcement in the classes and on the campus. The alert will include any actions required (evacuation, lock-down, etc.) E-mail notification will be used to follow-up this notification. SSMT will conduct periodic tests of the emergency response and evacuation procedures. These tests will include scheduled drills, exercises, follow-through activities and assessment resulting in an evaluation of our evacuation procedures.
Finally, the SSMT Security Administrator, Stephanie King, must be informed so that appropriate actions can be tracked by SSMT and reported to the SSMT community. SSMT maintains a Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting, published by the US Dept of Education. This handbook is available for perusal at the school. See Stephanie King, the SSMT Security Administrator, for the handbook.
| Criminal Offense | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| b. Negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| c. Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| d. Fondling | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| e. Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| f. Statutory rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| g. Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| h. Aggravated assault | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| i. Burglary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| j. Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Criminal Offense | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| b. Negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| c. Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| d. Fondling | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| e. Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| f. Statutory rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| g. Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| h. Aggravated assault | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| i. Burglary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| j. Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SSMT is committed to providing an environment free of the abuse of alcohol and the illegal use of alcohol and other drugs. SSMT has adopted and implemented programs that seek to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by SSMT community members.
Standard of Conduct: The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol is prohibited on property owned and controlled by SSMT. No employee or student is to report to work or class while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
Sanctions: Violation of the policies and laws described in this statement by an employee or student is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion. Such disciplinary actions also may include reprimand or suspension.
Additionally, a violation may be reason for evaluation and treatment of a drug and/or alcohol-use disorder or referral for prosecution consistent with local, state, and federal criminal law. Disciplinary action by SSMT does not preclude the possibility of criminal charges against a student or employee. The filing of criminal charges similarly does not preclude action by SSMT. Other Legal Sanctions: State law prohibits the possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under age 21. No person may sell, give, serve or permit to be served alcoholic beverages to a person under 21, and it is unlawful for a person under 21 to misrepresent his age in order to obtain alcohol. Violation of either of these offenses is also punishable by a definite term of imprisonment of up to 60 days and a fine of $500. Misrepresentation of age may also lead to curtailment of driving privileges.
Under state law, it is a crime for any person to possess or distribute controlled substances/drugs as described in Section 893.03, Florida Statutes, except as authorized by law. Punishment for such crimes ranges from first-degree misdemeanors (up to one-year imprisonment and up to a $1,000 fine) to first degree felonies (up to 30 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine).
Individuals who have been convicted of a felony involving the sale of or trafficking in, or conspiracy to sell or traffic in, a controlled substance under certain circumstances may be disqualified from applying for state employment. Penalties under federal law for drug trafficking generally are greater than penalties under state law. Convictions on drug-related charges also may result in disqualification for federal financial aid. Punishments may include a fine of up to $8 million and life imprisonment.
Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses of alcohol significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. The use of small amounts of alcohol by a pregnant woman can damage the fetus. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increases the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairment in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Heavy use may result in chronic depression and suicide and also may be associated with the abuse of other drugs. Very high doses can cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects described. Even occasional heavy drinking may be associated with the harmful effects described above. Binge drinking, which occurs over an extended period of time, involves repeated use of alcohol to the point of intoxication. A person may give up usual activities and responsibilities during this time in order to use alcohol, and serious impairment in all areas of functioning may occur.
Long-term heavy alcohol use can cause digestive disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, circulatory system disorders, and impairment of the central nervous system—all of which may lead to early death. Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence, and at least 15 to 20 percent of heavy users eventually will become problem drinkers or alcoholics if they continue drinking. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions, which can be life threatening.
The use of illegal drugs and the misuse of prescription and other drugs also pose a serious threat to health. The use of marijuana (cannabis) may cause impairment of short-term memory, comprehension, and ability to perform tasks requiring concentration. Marijuana use also may cause lung damage, paranoia, and possible psychosis. The use of narcotics, depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens may cause nervous system disorders and possible death as the result of an overdose. Illicit inhalants can cause liver damage.
24 hour help for all members of the SSMT community is available through Alcoholics Anonymous at 941-951-6810 and Narcotics Anonymous at 941-257-5055.
Additional places where one can get treatment are listed in the Sarasota/Manatee telephone directory under “Alcoholism Information and Treatment Centers” and “Drug Abuse and Addiction-Information and Treatment.” A list of help centers may also be found at this web-site: http://www.cswf.org/Florida/Sarasota/
SSMT maintains that all forms of sexual assault are unacceptable. SSMT endorses a reporting policy that strongly encourages victims to report all crimes to local police at once. Reporting of a crime ensures that appropriate action can be taken. Crimes can be reported in person, or by calling the police department. If you are sexually assaulted, you should take the following actions:
Should a sex-related offense occur at SSMT, administration will work with the student to report the crime to authorities and will direct the student to receive proper medical attention and to protect evidence (see above).
Any student found to be guilty of any sexual offense will be immediately expelled from the school.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement is required by law to put all registered sexual predators and offenders who qualify under the Florida Public Safety Information Act (PSIA) on the Internet. Internet flyers will contain a photo, a physical description, and an address for each subject. This information can be printed from the web page. The Internet address is www.fdle.state.fl.us. Click on Sexual Predators and Offenders.
SSMT students come from a wide range of backgrounds. The most recent demographics of SSMT enrolled full time students at SSMT is as follows:
| Female | 83% | Male | 17% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 – 24 Years Old | 17% | 25 – 33 Years Old | 35% |
| 33 – 43 Years Old | 32% | 44 – 62 Years Old | 16% |
| White | 70% | Hispanic | 15% |
| Black / African American | 11% | Asian | 2% |
| Pell Grant Recipients | 72% | ||
SSMT signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the institution has used 100 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. SSMT received $167,856 from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is $167,856 as of January 4, 2022. There were approximately 162 students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. There were 119 students who received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. SSMT used a combination of the student’s EFC, income level, and COA to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. This information was initially published on June 23, 2020 and was updated on January 4, 2022.
SSMT prides itself on accurately representing all aspects of it’s program. Federal regulations defines severe penalties for misrepresentation. The five links on this page describe those regulations.
Click here for the annual notice to enrolled students of the availability of information required to be disclosed that lists and briefly describes the disclosures and how to obtain the information.
