The Southern California College of Chiropractic (SCCC) board of trustees has announced that effective Jan. 1995 the college will become the Quantum University School of Chiropractic. The name change must be approved by various government bureaucracies in California.
SCCC was originally the University of Pasadena (founded in 1973) and enrolled its first chiropractic students the following year. In 1977 the college became Pasadena College of Chiropractic. In 1988, the college relocated to Pico Rivera and changed its name to Southern California College of Chiropractic.
Three schools, chiropractic, homeopathy, and quantum healing (oriental medicine and ayurveda) are proposed, in addition to a school of public health and a vocational center for "quantum studies."
The Quantum University School of Chiropractic (Quantum) says its objectives are that of SCCC, with a focus on "training students in the location, evaluation, and correction of vertebral subluxation." The term "straight," notes a Quantum press release, will not be used in any of the school's "official and unofficial statements and documents." Quantum is seeking accreditation with the Council on Chiropractic Education.
Heading up Quantum is newly appointed Chancellor Edwin Floyd, MS, DC. Dr. Floyd will also serve as acting president during the schools transitional phase. Dr. Floyd is a 1977 graduate of the University of Pasadena and the first black to head a chiropractic college. He has an MS in biology, and has studied homeopathy at the International Foundation for Homeopathy in Seattle, Washington, the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy in Berkeley, California, and at the Bengal Allen Medical Institute in Calcutta, India.
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Floyd, we inquired about the particulars of Quantum:
"DC": Can you give us an overview of the new direction and changes in what was formerly Southern California College of Chiropractic?
Dr. Floyd: We're moving in the direction of vitalistic healing. It's not really a new direction, but a redirection. The school was a straight school, and I'm not really sure what that actually means, but vitalistic healing is an old concept. We believe the body is animated by a intelligent energy. We're going to be encompassing those healing arts with that fundamental premise.
"DC": Is the new school involved with a state or national organization, or some other group?
Dr. Floyd: Only the various associations attached to the schools. We have to go through a CCE accreditation and whatever associations are attached to this profession that we'll be dealing with. We have no one particular association that we will associate with.
"DC": Can you review for us the colleges within the university?
Dr. Floyd: We'll have a school of homeopathy; a school of quantum healing, which will entail the oriental medical school; an ayurvedic medical school; a school of public health, and a vocational center of quantum studies; that will be in addition to the already existing school of chiropractic.
"DC": Will all these schools be accredible?
Dr. Floyd: We'll go through the various accrediting agencies that are available.
"DC": Looking at the school of chiropractic, SCCC was an institution that was accredited by the Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Assn. (SCASA). That accreditation has run out. What are your plan for the accreditation of the chiropractic college?
Dr. Floyd: We plan to go full ahead into CCE accreditation.
"DC": It's our understanding that the students have a grace period that extends through June of this year.
Dr. Floyd: That's correct.
"DC": What will be the plan to deal with students who graduate after that grace period, and before CCE accreditation can be attained?
Dr. Floyd: It would be our hope that the state board of California would continue to allow our students to sit for the boards provided that we continue to pursue CCE accreditation.
"DC": Some of the issue that have come up in the past with SCCC have been a debt reported as high as $600,000, for which the board is liable. How will you deal with that issue?
Dr. Floyd: We're going to be opening up other avenues to that were really not well executed at SCCC: the alumni assn., the book store, the clinic, the postgraduate school. There are a number of new courses that I believe the chiropractors will like to take. So we plan on offering a broad array of postgraduate and continuing education courses that will be generating income and allow us to address some of our financial issues.
"DC": During the various transitions of the college, there have been complete changeovers in the school's board of directors. Is that likely to take place now?
Dr. Floyd: There won't be a complete changeover, just a natural transformation of new board members periodically. There are some (parties) interested in becoming new board members, so I would anticipate we will have some new members.
"DC": What would you say to those who are skeptical about how firm the financial ground is under the institution?
Dr. Floyd: I don't think it's a secret about our financial problems. I believe we'll manage and get through. With the accrediting process and the expenses of having to do that, it will be very tough. With the fundraising ideas we have and opening up the new revenue generating centers, I think we'll be fairly secure.
"DC": With trying to gain CCE accreditation, you'll be faced with a number of obstacles, not the least of which will be your students' ability to meet the preprofessional requirements. How do you plan to overcome that obstacle?
Dr. Floyd: I will guarantee that the students who enter the college while I'm here will meet CCE standards.
"DC": With you at the helm, how will you relate to the rest of the profession?
Dr. Floyd: I think they'll be very excited about what we're doing. Instead of them focusing on where we have been, I'd like for everyone to take an open-minded look at where we're going. I want this university to be a unifying university, maybe putting an end to this mixer/straight controversy that's been going on since this profession existed. I think all of us should be able to exist with one another. I think it would give the profession credibility to come together, to meet, disagree or whatever, but still part as friends. That's the spirit I want to foster with this university.
"DC": Some of the students have contacted other institutions, suggesting that there may be quite an exodus to other chiropractic colleges in California? Do you see that happening?
Dr. Floyd: We will no doubt have some transfers, with all the financial aid, accreditation problems, and all the challenges that a university faces. Students will have to take their profession career in their hands and decide what is best for them. I have no way of measuring the numbers at this point.
"DC": Of the various schools within the university, which ones do you see coming on-line immediately and accepting students?
Dr. Floyd: The homeopathic school we anticipate will open in June of this year. The oriental medical school will open in the fall. The school of public health we're looking to open in the spring of 1996. The vocational center may open as early as spring of 1995. the fourth school we don't plan to open until the fall of 1996.
"DC": When you look at SCCC's past, Pasadena College, and before that the University of Pasadena, would you say to the profession where the institution has been versus where it's going?
Dr. Floyd: I'm a graduate of the University of Pasadena and I believe I understood the focus of the university then. We must return to that by pursing chiropractic and other areas of study from a bona fide scientific and organized approach. Through the years the college has gotten caught up in the bickering back and forth of the chiropractic philosophy. What we're trying to do now is to establish the focus of the university: the mission of creating schools and allowing the schools to evolve on their own. I think it will be good for the profession to have each school free standing.
I look forward to a very bright future. I know we have some tough times immediately ahead, but we will overcome them and make a welcome contribution to the growing field of alternative quantum healing and to the profession of chiropractic.
"DC": Very good. We wish you luck.
