MARIETTA - The chiropractic school of Life University, the largest producer of chiropractors in the nation, has lost accreditation, which could prevent future graduates from practicing.
Accreditation will continue pending an appeal, but the Council on Chiropractic Education is the only accrediting agency and has the final say. The council announced the revocation Monday.
``This is very serious,'' said Mark Cotney of Thomaston, who is chairman of the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners. ``It's unfortunate for the students at Life, but the line has been drawn in the sand as to what the chiropractor is supposed to be able to do.''
Life University has about 2,600 students in its chiropractic program and about 700 students who attend the school for other degrees. It is known to many television viewers throughout metro Atlanta by its founder, Dr. Sid Williams, who appears on commercials for the school.
Paul Walker, executive director of the Council on Chiropractic Education, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., would not cite the specific deficiencies.
The problems include diagnostic instruction - how students are taught to determine if a patient can be treated through chiropractic care or should be referred to a medical doctor - and faculty oversight of students in the university's clinics.
In a short statement, a Life administrator assured students Monday that their financial aid, student loans and academic status are not affected by the council's action.
``Life University will take any and all legal actions necessary to protect its accredited status, students, faculty and staff,'' said Mamie Ware, vice president for academic affairs.
Only graduates of accredited chiropractic programs can take the national board exams, which are required to obtain a license to practice, according to the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards.
The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners issued a statement supporting the council's decision.
``Chiropractors must be trained to understand the role their unique skills offer their patients, and must also understand the limitations of those skills,'' Cotney wrote.
Life University is recognized as a champion of the philosophy that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself once spinal interferences are corrected.
Williams, a former Georgia Tech football star, opened the school in 1974 with 22 students in rented space near Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
Enrollment has declined since a peak of 4,000 in 1995, but Life's chiropractic program continues to enroll almost twice as many students as its best-known competitor, Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
Life students were surprised and confused.
``We're being kept a little in the dark,'' said Paul Quinn. ``We need to know how serious this is.''
Dawn Hazzard, who moved to Atlanta from New Jersey with her family of five to attend the university, said students were not being provided enough information to make an informed decision.
``I have a house to sell. Do I have tens of thousands of dollars in loans that I can't pay back? Is the school responsible for helping with that?'' she asked.
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April 25th, 2025
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