Angie Myer

About me

Angie Myer has twenty years experience as a teacher and administrator in public schools and higher education. She is currently serving as a Content Accreditation Specialist and Curriculum Consultant for the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). In this position she works with massage and aesthetics schools in the accreditation process, providing guidance, reviewing self study reports, and preparing analyses for the Commission. Prior to holding this position, Angie worked as Director of Operations at the International School of Professional Bodywork and Dean of Education at Mueller College of Holistic Studies where she was integral in their COMTA accreditation.

Angie holds a Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction and specializes in competency-based curriculum design. She is also a certified Holistic Health Practitioner and has worked as a massage therapist in private practice, clinical, and resort spa settings. Prior to her work in the holistic health industry, Angie was Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the Community College of Denver after teaching elementary school.

Activity

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Clinic

phillip, Can you please provide additional information on your clinic. All of our schools have one (it's part of the standards), but it's how the school's set them up that differs. Does it include objectives just in practicing massage, or are students also related to business/communications objectives? Please provide more detail in your forum post. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Degree Programs

Charisse , Welcome to the forum! Good point, Charisse. Especially in this economy, a degree--any degree--is helping people get jobs (even in unrelated fields), so it ends up being a better investment in their future. Do you find that this benefit is a selling point for your students? Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Research Literacy

Andrew, Thank you for sharing that idea. I think pathology is a great way to incorporate this standard very naturally and hopefully reinforces to the students the need to consider evidence-based practices. Do you introduce them to the Massage Therapy Foundation resources? Check them out at http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/ as they now have a wonderful educator's resource toolbar to enhance what you're doing. Continued best wishes to you, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Completion, Placement, Licensure

Hi Debra, Again, I want to reiterate what I've said to other participants: I love to see institutions embracing the tracking of CPL data to serve as a catalyst to help students complete and become employed. (After all, that is the intent; not to merely create more work for you.) :) What you are describing is a strong, coherent program that doesn't wait until it's "too late" to bandage problem students and graduates. Well done and keep up the good work. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Student Recruitment

Andrew, As you have probably noticed from other posts, yours is a common challenge. Most schools have learned to have a love-hate relationship with federal fundings. It offers so many more oopportunities for students who wouldn't otherwise attend, but it creates an entirely different mindset and demographic, which can be challenging to the entire schools (from admissions to instructors). I would love to have more people chime in on how they are able to walk this fine line. As far as the feds changing the regulations so that students are independent at 18, I obviously can't speak with any authority… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Generating Effective Feedback

Hi Andrew, Thank you for sharing. It is always a great idea to have a school's Program Advisory Committee membership include an outside perspective. Too often we see very narrow viewpoints represented, so it's great that you're getting in-depth current employer's feedback. I would also encourage you (if you don't already) to start inviting new employers that perhaps are not as familiar with your program to see what that adds to your reviews. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Completion, Placement, Licensure

Hi Shana, Welcome to the forum! I love what you've shared, and that your school is connecting the CPL rates to the rest of the students' experiences at school. Too often I think institutions see tracking as something that happens as an after-thought, and/or only start thinking of placement and licensure after graduation. The analysis you're describing is exactly what the USDE and COMTA are hoping to see by tracking these rates. Thanks for sharing! Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Student Recruitment

Hi Stephanie, Welcome to the forum, Stephanie! That's great that you are being pro-active in helping your students. You didn't provide much information about how you provide employment resources. Is it for a particular class? Do you have a Placement Coordinator or Career Services Department? Can you provide more information; in particular, how you incorporate this information as part of student recruitment? Thank you, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Degree Programs

Hi Paris, A very succinct portrait to help students understand the benefits. In today's economy, in particular, it seems that the degree designation is more and more important. Like you said, it is more portable and prepares them for a more varied and successful career, both in and out of massage. In addition, considering all the skills necessary to run a successful massage practice--marketing, networking/communicating, accounting, etc--it's hard to argue that any of the general education courses are not relevant to massage. Thanks for sharing, Paris. Let me know if any of the material in the course requires clarifying. Best,… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Research Literacy

Hi Susan, It sounds like your school is already ahead of the curve in teaching research skills to massage students, and that's great! As Cindy mentioned, incorporating case studies into clinic to me is the ultimate highest level of learning/applying research literacy skills and I wish more people did it. (This is not currently a COMTA Competency for research, but there is discussion for it in the industry.) If you can't take on having your students perform their own case studies, you can always start by having them read case studies that apply to the conditions they are encountering in… >>>

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