New Jersey Site Team Approves Life University

Decision Rebukes CCE Accreditation Policies



December 5, 2002



In a stunning victory for Life University, and a stinging rebuke to 
CCE's 

accreditation policies, the New Jersey State Board of Chiropractic 
Examiners



provisionally approved Life's chiropractic program.  In a unanimous 
vote,

the 

Board accepted the recommendations of its Site Team, which 
performed an 

exhaustive on site review of the entire campus.  Led by Anthony 
DeMarco, 

D.C., a former president of the NJ Board with extensive experience

evaluating 

chiropractic programs, the team also included Lawrence O'Connor, 
D.C.,

Robert 

Apuzzio, D.C., and Kevin Earle, Executive Director of the Board.



After spending two full days comprehensively reviewing all 
aspects of the 

chiropractic program and talking with administrators, instructors 
and 

students, the team was satisfied that Life University's 
chiropractic program



qualified for approval.  The report indicates that Life had 
implemented, or 

was in the process of implementing, all criteria necessary for 
approval.

The 

highly detailed report addresses all aspects of the institution 
including

its 

Organization, Faculty, Interviews with Department Chairs, Plant, 
Library, 

Medical Museum, Auxiliary Equipment, Clinical Facilities, 
Resources, 

Administration, Records, Requirements for Admission, 
Publications and 

Curriculum.



Although the report included recommendations for improvement, as 
well as the



recommendation that the team return in one year to ensure that all 

recommendations have been implemented, the Site Team 
commended the

University 

for the significant and substantial improvements in its program, 
curriculum,



and governance since June 2002.  In presenting their findings to 
the full 

Board, team members stated that they were enthusiastically 
received by

Life's 

administration, and were afforded full cooperation and total 
access to all 

areas of the campus as well as access to all documents.



In commenting on CCE's refusal to reconsider Life's accreditation 
for two 

years, Dr. DeMarco stated, "Not having been at the CCE inspection in 
April,

I 

can only speak to what we saw when went down there, and what 
we saw when we 

went down there was certainly an adequate institution that more 
than meets 

the particular standards of this state.  We believe they are 
educating and 

graduating good chiropractors that are safe for the consumers of 
New

Jersey." 

 Dr. DeMarco further added, "I do believe, as far as CCE goes, not 
looking

at 

them (Life) now after changes have been made is probably doing a 
disservice 

to the college."  Joseph Lauro, D.C., one of the State Board Members 
also 

questioned the purpose of CCE's appeal process if changes made 
during that 

time period would not be considered in their final decision.



While this decision to allow Life graduates to qualify for NJ 
licensure is 

certain to lift the spirits of many Life students, it is also likely to 
put 

further pressure on the CCE.  The CCE has thus far steadfastly 
refused to 

reconsider its decision that the institution must wait two years 
before it 

can regain its accreditation.  As a result, there is a large and 
growing 

segment of the profession that views CCE's refusal to reevaluate 
Life's 

chiropractic program as a political ploy primarily designed to 
contain and 

eliminate traditional chiropractic programs.  This perception is 
strongly 

supported by CCE's decision earlier this year to restructure its 
corporation



and reduce the number of votes that both Palmer and Cleveland 
Colleges 

receive on CCE's Council.  It is anticipated that NJ's decision will 
now 

prompt other states to question CCE's motives and possibly send 
their own 

Site Teams to Life for evaluation.  Additional information 
concerning 

questioning of CCE's policies can be found at www.dece.org