On Nov. 12, 2005, the Council on Chiropractic Education's Commission on Accreditation (COA) announced it had granted accreditation to the doctor of chiropractic program at Life University. The announcement, delivered at a COA meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., provided a fitting conclusion to what many consider the most tumultuous four-year period in the university's history.
"Word of CCE-accredited status of our chiropractic program is evidence that Life's future is again in its own hands," remarked Dr. Guy Riekeman, the university's president since March 2004, "and frankly, that future looks very bright." He added that through his administration's efforts, the school has overcome numerous financial and educational obstacles, and now is on track to "become a different institution from what it once was."
The announcement by the CCE comes 11 months after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) released Life from a sustained period of academic probation and reaffirmed its regional accreditation. Had SACS chosen to revoke Life's accreditation, rather than placing it on probation, the school's students would not have qualified for federally subsidized student loans, and the university almost certainly would have been forced to shutter its doors. Instead, faculty, alumni and supporters of the college raised more than $5 million to help bring Life out of debt and make the university more financially stable. (For a more detailed look at the ongoings at Life over the previous four years, see "Life's Ups and Downs" at the end of this article.)
"Several factors have contributed to our progress, including extraordinary commitment from chiropractors nationally and internationally, as well as financial and business support from the greater Atlanta community," noted Dr. Riekeman. He also cited a number of administrative changes, including a near-complete reorganization of the university's board of trustees, which has imbued the school with "a new vision" of what Life University will become.
"We certainly have come a long way in less than two years, but Life isn't interested in getting back to where it was. We want to take it to a whole new place of excellence, integrity and accomplishment."
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Michael Devitt, senior associate editor
When I graduated from chiropractic college in 1981 and started practice, I heard it all, and very little was positive. “You are a quack; you do not know what a subluxation is; you couldn’t get into a real health care program, so you chose the one that is slightly above a mail-order degree; you have no proof that chiropractic works; Are you really licensed?”, and so much more.
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