December 2005

Life University accreditation re-established

Life University, which lost its accreditation in 2002, has now regained full accreditation of its chiropractic program by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).

“Word of CCE-accredited status of our chiropractic program is evidence that Life’s future is again in its own hands,” said Life President Guy F. Riekeman, DC, “and frankly that future looks very bright.”

Accredited status by federal court order had been in place for Life College of Chiropractic since 2002. The CCE’s decision to accredit the chiropractic program, one of several graduate and undergraduate programs at Life University, came after a meeting of the CCE’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) on Nov. 12 in Phoenix, Ariz.

The announcement highlights the turnaround of the Marietta-based institution, which is emerging from its financial and accreditation difficulties, and in Riekeman’s words, “is now on a track to become a different institution from what it once was.”

A year ago Life University had its regional accreditation reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) after raising nearly $5 million to improve financial stability. Enrollment has increased to nearly 1,000 in the chiropractic program and 1,400 students overall, from the low point two years ago of about 400 in the chiropractic program and 600 overall.

“Several factors have contributed to our progress,” Riekeman said, “including extraordinary commitment from chiropractors nationally and internationally as well as financial and business support from the greater Atlanta community. I think our community leaders recognize that the Board of Trustees has a new vision of what Life University will become, and a published strategic plan is in place to take us there.”

Riekeman said that among other administrative changes, non-chiropractic educators and others have been added to the Life Board of Trustees, including an expert on governance from Harvard, an educator from the University of Wisconsin system, and a growth consultant for Fortune 500 companies.

Riekeman said the Board’s vision for the school includes building all curricular programs on a foundation of core educational values geared toward producing practical skills and knowledge for success in health care careers. The Board also is in the process of planning a possible $30-million capital campaign to implement additional programs, as well as upgrade and expand Life’s campus facilities.

“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,” Riekeman said.

Source: Life University, www.life.edu

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