Chiropractic students lash out at 
university 
 
10/22/02
By Phillip Giltman
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA ã Faithful Life University students who clung on to the 
very end expressed bitter resentment and disdain Monday 
afternoon for the university¼s failure to maintain its chiropractic 
accreditation.
„The whole administration is a dishonorable bunch of cowards, and 
all these students¼ lives have been disarranged,¾ said an irritated 
second-quarter student from Canada who declined to release his 
name. „The administration initially told me that everything was fine, 
and then I found out about the accreditation problem five minutes 
after arriving here. I spent $3,000 to come down here from Canada, 
and now I¼m broke with nowhere to go. I¼m up a creek without a 
paddle, and it¼s not fair,¾ the student said.
The Council on Chiropractic Education denied an appeal Sunday to 
the revocation of Life¼s chiropractic accreditation.
Students now face the option of either transferring to another 
accredited school or sticking around to see if Life can regain its 
accreditation ã a process which could take as long as two-and-a-
half years.
„I have to sell my house now,¾ said sixth-quarter student Ken 
Jeong, who plans on staying at Life until the end of the quarter. „I¼m 
just taking classes that I know are transferrable. All of this is just 
really sad.¾
Several students scattered around campus admitted that they are 
planning to transfer now that the university has officially lost its 
chiropractic accreditation.
„I¼m transferring to New York Chiropractic College,¾ said a third- 
quarter student who declined to be named. „Everybody had hope 
until now, but this is the last straw.¾
Life¼s interim president Dr. Michael Schmidt walked around campus 
Monday morning fielding questions from concerned students, 
reassuring them that Life will remain open during the accreditation 
crisis.
„Clearly, we are disappointed, but we cannot dwell on what has 
passed,¾ Schmidt said in a prepared statement. „We must now 
concentrate all our efforts on rescuing CCE accreditation and 
meeting students¼ needs.¾
The CCE announced on its Web site that the transfer of credits 
earned during the current term is possible.
Chiropractic accreditation is required for graduates to obtain a 
license to practice in about 35 states, said Donna Liewer, executive 
director of the Colorado-based Federation of Chiropractic Licensing 
Boards. However, other states may accept Life graduates since the 
university remains accredited through the Southern Association of 
Colleges and Schools, but there is still a lot of gray area.
„The final interpretation and application is legally vested in the 
chiropractic regulatory boards,¾ Ms. Liewer said. „Each board needs 
to study its specific accreditation language to make a final 
determination on applicants for licensures. We are in unchartered 
waters.¾
Georgia law requires that all applicants for chiropractic licensure be 
a graduate of a chiropractic institution accredited by the CCE.
SACS gave Life a warning sanction last December but decided to 
extend their accreditation for one year. A panel will make a decision 
in December whether to renew their accreditation again.
Incorporated in 1971, the CCE has been recognized by the United 
States Secretary of Education since 1974 as the specialized 
accrediting agency for the Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Program.
CCE members did not comment further on their decision to repeal 
Life¼s chiropractic accreditation.
Beth Lerner, whose husband, Mike, is a first quarter student in Life¼s 
chiropractic program, said he will continue going to class and wait 
for the school to get reaccredited.
„We feel confident that by the time he is ready to graduate, they 
will have regained their accreditation,¾ she said. „The administration 
has told him that the classes he is taking now will be accredited by 
the time he graduates.¾
pgiltman@mdjonline.com