New chief: Life needs two years to 
recover

MARIETTA ã Life University will have to wait until at least January 
2005 before it can be re-a 
11/23/02

By David Burch
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
 
MARIETTA ã Life University will have to wait until at least January 
2005 before it can be re-accredited by the Council for Chiropractic 
Education.
Newly appointed university President Ben DeSpain made the 
revelation Friday morning at an assembly of several hundred Life 
students. He said the CCE¼s Council on Accreditation made its 
decision Tuesday ã the same day DeSpain was announced as the 
new president at Life.
Life Interim President Dr. Michael Schmidt had said last month that 
he hoped the school could regain accreditation by December 2003. 
Originally scheduled as an event for students to welcome the new 
president, the assembly became a sober assessment of the future 
of Life University. But DeSpain made clear that he has every 
intention of keeping the university open and accommodating those 
students who want to stay.
„We want to save the university,¾ he said. „That is our intention. 
That is our goal. ... I truly believe that this university, you and I 
have a rendezvous with greatness that has yet to be attained.¾
DeSpain said he spoke with CCE executive vice-president Paul 
Walker last week, before his appointment as president, and knew 
the status of accreditation at Life when accepting the position.
„I don¼t think many people were very surprised,¾ he said.
The school projects a January 2005 date for regaining accreditation 
because the CCE requires a two-year window of compliance before 
a school can apply for reaccreditation. Life University spokesman 
Will Hurst said Friday that this window started in June when the 
school lost its accreditation, meaning the school could first re-apply 
in June 2004. The application process could then be decided by 
January 2005.
The CCE refused to comment Friday. 
While championing the university and its future prospects, DeSpain 
also spoke bluntly to the students in a way neither Life founder Dr. 
Sid Williams nor interim-president Schmidt have done in the past. 
DeSpain urged those students who are within a year or two of 
graduating to weigh their options, decide what is best for 
themselves and their families, and if that means leaving the 
university to go elsewhere, so be it.
„Their best interests need to be addressed, and if that means 
moving out and making a living, then that¼s an option they are going 
to have to make,¾ DeSpain said.
But for those chiropractic students still in the first year or two of 
study, he said the school will remain open and ready to 
accommodate their needs until accreditation is restored.
Life¼s Doctor of Chiropractic program currently has an enrollment of 
700 student ã down from about 2,600 in the spring ã most of 
whom DeSpain said are in the earlier years of their education. The 
chiropractic school has 60 first quarter students who enrolled this 
fall, DeSpain said.
He said the university has enough money to remain in operation for 
another two years, even without the tuition of a single chiropractic 
student. The funds would come from money already in reserves, the 
sale of five university-owned properties now on the market and the 
possible lease of vacated space on campus.
The university also plans to lay off another 50 employees in 
December, DeSpain said, about the same number of layoffs 
announced in August. But unlike the previous round of firings, next 
month¼s layoffs will also include some academic faculty members, he 
said.
The university still hopes to speed up the re-accreditation process, 
and DeSpain said representatives from the school plan to meet with 
the CCE in January about changing the rule that requires them to 
wait two years. If Life is successful in having the rule changed, the 
accreditation process could begin as soon as May of next year.
DeSpain said the university also considers future litigation or an 
injunction against the CCE to be an option, but he said going to 
court would not be his first priority.
Students found little solace in DeSpain¼s words Friday, even those 
who continue to stand behind the university.
„I thought I was scared before, but now I¼m terrified,¾ said a 
student who only wanted to be identified as Kelly. „I have to stay. I 
can¼t take out any more student loans. But I¼m also happy to stay.¾
Many students at Life continue to say they support the university 
and plan to stay for the time being.
„I¼m sticking it out,¾ said Brian Jones, a 13th-quarter doctor of 
chiropractic student. „I only have one more quarter to go, so I¼m 
staying.¾
Jones could receive a diploma after the next quarter, but it would be 
from an unaccredited program. In Georgia as in most states, 
chiropractors cannot practice without a diploma from an accredited 
program.
According to Hurst, students like Jones could wait to receive his 
diploma when the program regains its credentials ã without having 
to retake any courses. 
Schmidt said Friday that the university would issue diplomas to 
students but said the university would seriously advise students 
against the option. 
DeSpain currently serves as the dean of the College of Education 
and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin. 
The university includes about 5,800 students and it located in 
northwestern Tennessee.
He will officially take the position of president in January.
dburch@mdjonline.com