In a May 5, 1994 letter to the college alumni, it was Sherman President Dr. Thom Gelardi's unpleasant task to report that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Appeal Committee upheld its December 13, 1993 decision to drop Sherman's regional accreditation for failure to meet financial responsibility criteria.
"I don't know what motivated SACS to remove Sherman from membership following its great financial achievement of 1993," Dr. Gelardi said in the letter, but added: "I know we must deal with the present situation as fast as possible."
Dr. Gelardi has stated that Sherman's attorneys "... are preparing to seek an injunction against SACS to keep it from removing accreditation while we bring Sherman's case before the court."
A May 12th article in the Spartanburg Hearld announced that SACS's Commission on Higher Education will give Sherman until June 17, 1994 (end of the school year) to regain its accreditation. Until then, the school is on probationary status.
In his letter to the alumni, Dr. Gelardi notes Sherman's seven years (1984-89) of financial stability, and the three years (1991-93) in the red, totalling nearly a million dollars. However he pointed to revenues exceeding expenses by $200,000 at Sherman in 1993.
Dr. Gelardi told the Spartanburg Hearld that the SACS dropped Sherman's accreditation at the end of 1993 based on 1992 financial figures. He stated that Sherman's finances for 1993 were not available at the time of the audit. He further stated that Sherman has met all SACS criteria for accreditation except the financial component.
Dr. Gelardi's tone in the alumni letter was optimistic in regard to the upcoming fight in the courts. He gave the alumni a pep talk, and waxed philosophically: "Once again, when Sherman thought it was about to break out and go for the gold, trouble visits us. I know we can win this one if we focus on the vision." But he also detailed the worse case scenario: Sherman losing its license to grant the DC degree.
Ivan Guinn of the Commission on Higher Education noted that "... accreditation is technically not a requirement for having a South Carolina license." However without it, Sherman could not get insurance coverage, and students would no longer be eligible for Title IV federal aid. The reality is that without accreditation, the school cannot survive.
To add to Sherman's woes, is the immediate concern of the SACS appeal, conservatively estimated by Dr. Gelardi as costing $100,000. Dr. Gelardi's has called upon the alumni: "Please remember Sherman's great need when planning your giving." It's a plaintive call, and certainly a sad and difficult time for Sherman. As Dr. Gelardi so aptly puts it: "It is more than buildings, jobs and degrees."
If Sherman doesn't win its appeal for SACS accreditation, the school's hopes hang on gaining CCE accreditation or being bought out by another chiropractic college.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
