October 2003

Palmer dedicates Florida campus

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — More than 700 guests celebrated with an honor guard, speeches, picnic and fireworks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Florida campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic October 4. The Port Orange college is the only chiropractic college in Florida.

The college opened its doors in temporary facilities in October 2002 with 46 students and 16 employees. Today the college has 203 students and 45 employees, including 17 faculty members. College leaders project that Palmer Florida will have 650 students by fiscal year 2009-2010.

Chancellor Guy Riekeman, DC, cut the ribbon, along with dignitaries from the college and the community. In his remarks Riekeman said, “Seeing Palmer Florida mature from an idea to a thriving campus speaks to the power of the leadership of the Palmer Chiropractic University System. Build on the Palmer legacy and reflecting Palmer’s vision of a future where chiropractic is available to all of humanity, this beautiful setting, this diverse and talented group of teachers and students and this popular healthcare model are all coming together at the right time.”

The first building completed on the Florida campus is 52,115 square feet and houses a library, 16 small group rooms, five lecture halls, 22 faculty suites an anatomy lab and two technique labs. More buildings are being planned, with one slated to be completed by next summer.

Palmer Florida offers a doctor of chiropractic program that takes 13 academic quarters to complete and runs year-round. The college has implemented a mastery curriculum that is based on active learning styles, integrating the basic science and clinical components of chiropractic education to complement each other.

The Florida Commission for Independent Education approved Palmer Florida’s request for an annual license at its September 12 meeting. This is the third and final level of licensure and allows the college to grant degrees. The college is seeking accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges as a branch campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport.

A group from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) attempted to interrupt the ceremonies by chanting into bullhorns. Riekeman told the audience, “Thank you for contributing to this campus. All of you have contributed, unlike PETA, who has contributed nothing …” Riekeman’s comments were received with an explosion of applause from the crowd.

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