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!
Voter Registration Form Availability
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.
Register to Vote in Sarasota County Register to Vote in Manatee County
Constitution Day
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.
Loan Disclosure
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.
Transfer Credit
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.
Students with Disabilities
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.
Accreditation and Licensing
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.
Respect for Copyright Law
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:
- Infringer pays the actual dollar amount of damages and profits.
- The law provides a range from $200 to $150,000 for each work infringed.
- Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs.
- The Court can issue an injunction to stop the infringing acts.
- The Court can impound the illegal works.
- The infringer can go to jail.
Withdrawal Procedures
- A student who wishes to voluntarily withdraw from the program must have an exit interview with a school administrator.
- Withdrawal must be made in person or by certified mail.
- Withdrawal by certified mail must be followed, within 30 days, by an in person exit interview.
- Students absent without notification on the first day of class or absent without notification for any five consecutive days, will be considered withdrawn from the program.
- Tuition refunds will be made within 30 days following withdrawal or dismissal.
Return of Title IV Funds
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:
- Your institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or
- The entire amount of excess funds
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.
Refund Policies
- Application Fee: The application fee is non-refundable unless the class is cancelled.
- Textbooks: No textbook will be accepted for refund that is returned more than three months after you have received it, or has been written or marked in (other than your name). Book refunds will not exceed more than 50% of the original purchase price and will be made within 30 days after the return of the books.
- Massage Tables: An extremely high quality massage table will be provided at no additional charge and the student will have a choice of models and options. Upgrades are available that may incur an additional charge. The table remains the property of the school until graduation, and must be returned within 30 days of withdrawal or dismissal. 50% of the cost of any upgrades and accessories will be credited to the student's account upon the return of a table due to withdrawal or dismissal.
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Tuition: Tuition is billed in payment periods that consist of exactly 50% of the scheduled hours in the program. The total program tuition is billed in two equal installments, one for each payment period. Tuition for both payment periods is billed at the time of enrollment. Tuition refund policies are as follows:
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All tuition is refunded in the following instances:
- If the student withdraws or cancels the enrollment agreement within three days of signing this agreement
- If the student cancels the agreement prior to the start of the program or withdraws by the third scheduled day of class
- If prior to the start of class the school determines that the applicant should not be enrolled
- If the class is cancelled
- 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.
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Refunds for withdrawal or dismissal during a payment period will be as follows:
- If a student completes less than 60% of a payment period, an exact pro-rated portion of the tuition for that payment period will be refunded; e.g. if a student completes 30% of a payment period, 70% of the tuition for that payment period will be refunded
- If a student completes 60% of a payment period or more, there will be no refund for that payment period.
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The end-date for refund computation purposes is set as the earliest of the following:
- The date written notice is received by the school
- The last date of class attendance
- For refund computation purposes, the pro-ration is based on the number of class and clinic hours scheduled through the end-date.
- Tuition refunds will be made within 30 days of the end-date.
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All tuition is refunded in the following instances:
Vaccination Policy
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.
Consensual Relationships Policy
I. Introduction
- A. Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (SSMT) is dedicated to excellence in teaching and public service. All relationships between faculty, staff, students, and the public should be guided by the principles of professionalism, integrity, mutual trust, and respect. Any relationship that calls these principles into question jeopardizes the ability of SSMT to effectively carry out its mission and maintain public trust.
- B. Consensual relationships between people who differ in actual or perceived power create a potential for:
- A conflict of interest that undermines the mutual trust between faculty and students, supervisors and subordinates, or any individual in a position of direct authority over another.
- Actual or perceived abuse of power.
- Allegations that the relationship resulted from coercion, exploitation and/or harassment.
- Allegations of sexual harassment once the consensual relationship ceases (refer to SSMT Sexual Assault Policy).
- Allegations of favoritism and/or unfair treatment.
- C. SSMT has a special responsibility toward students as members of the SSMT community; the academic success of students is central to the school's educational mission. The unequal institutional power inherent between students and particular members of the SSMT community must be protected from influences or activities that can interfere with the learning experience. Such influences or activities are not consistent with the ideals of a learning community that fosters collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and inclusiveness among students, faculty and staff engaged in the education process.
II. Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the following definitions are adopted:
- A. Staff includes, but is not limited to: all faculty, teaching assistants, clinic supervisors, administration, front desk staff, and support staff. It includes employees, temporary employees, any other employee classifications that may be created by SSMT, as well as independent contractors who work with SSMT in any of the capacities listed in the first sentence of this definition, or as licensed massage therapists in the school's professional clinic.
- B. Student includes, but is not limited to, any individual who is enrolled in an entry level or continuing education massage therapy program leading to the award of academic or course credit from SSMT. It also includes any individual auditing any course or class held at - or hosted by - SSMT. It also includes any individual enrolled in a continuing education class held at or hosted by SSMT. Enrollment in any of these programs, courses or classes may be for day or night attendance, weekday or weekend attendance, regardless of the number of hours or days attending classes.
- C. Consensual relationship is defined as a relationship in which two persons are engaged by mutual consent in an amorous, dating, or physically intimate relationship.
- D. Direct authority is defined as the direct instruction, supervision, evaluation, direction, oversight, or advisement of another, or the substantial influence over the educational or employment status of another, or the ability to exercise authority over another.
- E. The phrase "people invited to SSMT" includes, but is not limited to, individuals visiting the school to explore the possibility of attending, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, event attendees, and recipients of SSMT services, including, but not limited to, clients in the student and professional clinics.
- F. Pre-existing relationships
- with students are relationships with students that existed prior to the individual exploring attendance at SSMT.
- with people invited to SSMT are relationships that existed prior to the initial invitation.
- with staff are relationships that existed prior to the staff member working at SSMT or prior to the establishment of a direct-line supervisory relationship between the staff members and prior to either staff member being in a position of direct authority over the other staff member.
III. Statement of Policy
- A. Prohibitions on Consensual Relationships for Staff
- Staff members may not engage in consensual relationships with students unless the relationship is pre-existing. If a pre-existing consensual relationship exists, the requirements of section III. A. 5 below apply.
- Staff members may not engage in consensual relationships with people invited to SSMT, unless the relationship is pre-existing. If a pre-existing consensual relationship exists, the requirements of section III. A. 5 below apply.
- Staff members may not engage in a consensual relationship with other staff where direct authority between the individuals may exist. If a pre-existing relationship between staff members exists, where direct authority between the individuals may exist, the requirements of section III. A. 6 below apply.
- SSMT staff members who are licensed professionals in their area of employment are prohibited from engaging in professional behavior as an SSMT staff member that is in violation of any specific licensure standards addressing consensual relationships.
- Pre-existing consensual relationships that may exist between a staff member and a student or an individual invited to SSMT require disclosure, management of potential conflicts of interest, and the protection of professional and educational environments as described in this policy.
Staff members involved in a pre-existing consensual relationship with a student or individual invited to SSMT as described in Sections III. A. 1 or 2 above must disclose the relationship as soon as they are aware that an individual with whom that staff member is involved in a consensual relationship has contacted SSMT to explore enrollment in a program, course, or class at or sponsored by SSMT, or has been invited to SSMT for any reason. - Staff involved in a pre-existing consensual relationship with other staff, where direct authority between the individuals may exist, have an obligation to disclose the existence of that relationship as soon as they are aware that one of the staff members involved in the consensual relationship has been placed in a position of direct authority over the other.
- B. Prohibitions on Consensual Relationships for Students
- SSMT prohibits students from engaging in a consensual relationship with people invited to SSMT, unless the relationship is pre-existing. If a pre-existing consensual relationship exists, the requirements of section III. B. 2 and III B. 3 below apply.
- Pre-existing consensual relationships that may exist between a student and a person invited to SSMT require disclosure, management of potential conflicts of interest, and the protection of professional and educational environments as described in this policy.
- Students involved in a pre-existing consensual relationship with an individual invited to SSMT must disclose the relationship as soon as they are aware that an individual with whom that student is involved in a consensual relationship has been invited to SSMT for any reason.
- SSMT strongly discourages, but does not prohibit, students from engaging in consensual relationships with other current students, particularly those in the same class. Students have multi-dimensional relationships with each other without adding an intimate dimension. Students are colleagues, they are each other's massage therapist, and each other's massage client. A therapist is prohibited by law and by professional codes of ethics from engaging in consensual relations with clients. As students learn to work with each other's bodies in a safe and professional manner, they model the direct authority relationships of professional therapists. That safety and professionalism could be compromised by the development of a consensual intimate relationship.
- If a consensual relationship between two students - whether pre-existing or initiated after enrollment - creates conflict or classroom disruption, either or both students may be required to transfer to a different class. This may result in a delay in graduation.
- C. Violations of the Consensual Relationship Policy
- An SSMT staff member who violates this policy is subject to disciplinary action that may include termination.
- An SSMT student who violates this policy (B. 1-3) is subject to disciplinary action that may include dismissal.
- Violations of this policy may include:
- A. Entering into a consensual relationship when a direct authority relationship currently exists.
- B. Not disclosing the existence of a consensual relationship when disclosure is required by this policy.
- C. Not adhering to a plan to manage and/or resolve a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest created by a pre-existing consensual relationship.
IV. Management of Real or Potential Conflicts of Interest
- 1. SSMT has the obligation to manage the potential conflicts of interest created by consensual relationships where direct authority between individuals exists to ensure the integrity of the work and educational environments in SSMT. Steps that may be taken to manage such conflicts of interest are listed in section III. D. 5 below.
- 2. Individuals involved in pre-existing consensual relationships have an obligation to ensure that the plan developed by SSMT to manage any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest created by a pre-existing consensual relationship is carried out in such a way as to effectively manage or resolve the conflict or potential conflict of interest.
- 3. Should individuals who are involved in a consensual relationship, where no direct authority exists, subsequently be placed in a direct authority relationship, the existence of the consensual relationship must be disclosed to the individuals’ immediate supervisor (i.e., Director, appropriate department) or, if necessary, the next higher level supervisor not involved in the relationship.
- 4. The immediate supervisor to whom a consensual relationship is disclosed should confer with the director and assistant to the director. Together the supervisor, director, and assistant to the director determine the appropriate resolution for the reported relationship, or the director may choose to create an ad-hoc advisory group to assist with the determination.
- 5. Methods to manage and/or resolve the perceived or actual conflict of interest created by an pre-existing consensual relationship may include, but are not limited to:
- A. Removing the employee in a position of authority from any evaluative decision concerning the other individual.
- B. Assignment of an additional, objective individual or individuals to ensure the integrity of the direct authority actions of the individuals involved in a consensual relationship.
- C. Removing an advisor from their involvement as advisor or committee member with an advisee.
- D. Relocation of an employee to another, parallel supervisory area.
Emergency Notification and Timely Warnings
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.
Emergency Management Plan
SSMT is committed to minimizing the harmful effects of emergency situations by:
- Preventing them when possible
- Mitigating them when they occur
- Preparing for them
- Responding to them
- Recovering effectively from them
Browse Our Full Emergency Management Plan
Information Security Plan
SSMT maintains an Information Security Plan that 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
See the Entire Information Security Plan
Cost of Attendance
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.
| 5 Day - 7.5 Months | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Dependent | ||
| Room & Board | $12,990 | $6,000 | |
| Tuition & Frees | $15,325 | $15,325 | |
| Loan Fees | $82 | $47 | |
| Books | $400 | $400 | |
| Transportation/Child Care and Other Costs | $480 | $158 | |
| Total | $29,277 | $21,930 | |
| 3 Night - 12 Months | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Dependent | |||
| Room & Board | $20,784 | $9,600 | ||
| Tuition & Frees | $15,325 | $15,325 | ||
| Loan Fees | $82 | $47 | ||
| Books | $400 | $400 | ||
| Transportation/Child Care and Other Costs | $768 | $252 | ||
| Total | $37,359 | $25,624 | ||
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
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.
Sarasota School of Massage Therapy Campus Security Policy
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.
Campus Statistics of Criminal Offense at Sarasota School of Massage Therapy
| Total Occurrences On Campus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Offense | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Total Occurrences on Public Property | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Offense | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 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 |
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Policy
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.
Health Risks Associated with the Use of Illicit Drugs and the Abuse of Alcohol
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/
Sexual Assault Prevention Policy
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:
- Go to a safe place
- Call the police or 911
- Contact a trusted friend or family member
- Do not bathe or douche. If possible, do not urinate
- Do not eat, drink, smoke or brush your teeth if oral contact was made
- Keep clothes worn during the offense. If you remove them, place them in a paper bag (evidence deteriorates in plastic)
- Get immediate medical attention
- Do not destroy or move any physical evidence that may be in the vicinity of the crime
- Tell someone and/or write down the details of the assault as soon as possible
- Seek counseling services to help you overcome trauma from the event. Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) 24 hour hotline: 941-365-1976
- Counseling is also available at SSMT with Susan Farhat or Joe Lubow
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.
Registered Sex Offender Database
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.
Student Body Diversity
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% | ||
CARES Act Information
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.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting
Misrepresentation
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.