"No Provision" for Accreditation for Life through "Merger" or "Partnership"

The Council on Chiropractic Education has issued a release in response to a wave of articles published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Marietta Daily Journal. Dated June 27, 2002, the release states, "CCE has not received a notice of appeal from Life University College of Chiropractic (LUCC)." In addition, the CCE release clarifies the options open to Life:

According to CCE policy, the COA (Commission on Accreditation) could consider a "teach-out" arrangement for current LUCC students only after, and upon the expressed condition that, LUCC were formally to cease operation and close the program. Such a condition would require a decision and public announcement of program closure by the LUCC governing board and subsequent formal action by the board actually to cease operations and close the program. Such action would require and constitute relinquishment of accredited status and termination of any relationship and rights with CCE, including any appeal process.

The CCE Standards and policies make no provision whatsoever for accreditation of a program unit through any action such as a "merger" or "partnership." CCE policy addresses the possibility of CCE accreditation of an additional instructional location for an already accredited program if that program successfully completes the CCE process for approval of a substantive change to add a new instructional location to its program. All parties must be aware that any student transferring into a CCE-accredited program and any accredited program accepting such transfer students, including students transferring from a closed program whose educational site has become part of another accredited program by means of the COA substantive change process, are subject to specific requirements for transfer students as noted in the CCE Standards. These requirements state the percentage of study to be completed by the transfer student at the program granting the doctor of chiropractic degree.

It is neither feasible nor possible for CCE to consider such an inclusive substantive change proposal involving the program at LUCC while the aforementioned appeal option remains open to LUCC, or during the course of any such appeal process. Action to initiate such an appeal process would be considered expressed intent by its governing board that LUCC intends to attempt continued operation as a separately accredited program.

As of this date, no CCE-accredited program has submitted any proposal for a substantive change for inclusion in its program accreditation any part of the program or location at LUCC. Beyond this announcement, all other available information on the matter is displayed at the CCE website: http://www.cce-usa.org/.

This release specifies the following possible courses of action for Life other than an appeal:

1. Life can close its program, and an accredited chiropractic college can teach the Life students according to the accredited program through their remaining terms (known as a "teach out").¹


2. Life can close its program, and an accredited chiropractic college can begin a teach out of Life's students. At the same time, the accredited college can seek accreditation through the CCE's substantive change provisions for an additional location of the accredited college on the former Life campus, offering a chiropractic program specifically for incoming students.²


3. Life can close its program, and another accredited chiropractic college can seek accreditation for a new program at that site. Once the new program is accredited under the CCE's substantive change provision, Life students can transfer into the newly accredited program. (This is similar to the process Life students would go through to transfer to any accredited chiropractic college.) Students should be aware that under this scenario, they must complete a certain percentage of their credits with the new program to graduate.

Life is not the first chiropractic college to consider a "teach out" when faced with a loss of accreditation. Pennsylvania College of Chiropractic decided to institute a teach out for its upper term students in 1994.³ In weighing its options, the Life Board of Trustees is reportedly discussing possible actions with Cleveland College of Chiropractic and Life Chiropractic College West.

Life has accepted the resignation of the current chair of the Life Board of Trustees, Rebecca Ray,DC. In 1983, Dr. Ray was the first Georgia female elected to the ICA Board of Representatives. She was president of the Georgia Council of Chiropractic from 1987 to 1988.

Charles Ribley,DC, has replaced Dr. Ray as the new Board chair. A 1960 Palmer alumnus with a number of relatives in the chiropractic profession, Dr. Ribley is a native of Trenton, Michigan, has served with his state's chiropractic board, and as an LUCC trustee for several years. He is a principal figure in reviewing the college's current options.

References

1. This would come under CCE Policy COA-2 "Teach Out Agreements in the Case of Closure or Cessation of Operation."


2. The is covered in CCE Policy: COA-1 "Substantive Change in an Accredited Program or Institution"


3. Board seeks to save Penn. College of Chiropractic. Dynamic Chiropractic July 29, 1994.