Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia, United States. It was established in 1974 by a chiropractor, Sid E. Williams.[1]
 | |
Former names | Life Chiropractic College (1976–1989) Life College (1989–1996) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1974 |
| President | Robert Scott |
Academic staff | 183 |
| Students | 2,692 |
| Undergraduates | 718 |
| Postgraduates | 1,974 |
| Location | , United States 33°55′57″N 84°30′52″W / 33.9325°N 84.5145°W |
| Colors | Green, light green & yellow |
| Nickname | Running Eagles |
Sporting affiliations | NAIA – SSAC |
| Website | life.edu |
 | |
A 2024 report found that students in Life's doctor of chiropractic program had the 12th-highest debt-to-income ratio among all graduate programs in the US, at 490%.[2][3]
History
edit
The university was founded in 1974 by Williams as "Life Chiropractic College"[1] on the site of a placer gold mine, next to Southern Technical Institute (later Southern Polytechnic State University and now Kennesaw State University – Marietta Campus). Twenty-two students attended the first classes in January 1975.[4]
In 1989, the name was shortened to "Life College", as it had recently opened an undergraduate program and was no longer purely chiropractic. This undergraduate program allowed Life to establish an intercollegiate athletic program. By 1990, it had grown to become the largest college of chiropractic in the world.[1] In 1996, Life College became Life University.
In March 2004, Guy Riekeman, the former chancellor of the Palmer Chiropractic University System, was appointed as the president of Life University.[4] In 2017, Rob Scott took over as president of the university and Riekeman became chancellor.[5]
In 2024, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported on the high debt burden of students who pursued degrees in alternative medicine. For Life, the median loan was $245,218 and the median earnings were $50,040, resulting in a debt to earnings ratio of 490%. This was the 12th-highest ratio among graduate programs in the U.S., with the ratio of Life Chiropractic College West being ranked tenth at 512%.[2][3] In lists of Health Education Assistance Loan defaults analyzed by Quackwatch at four time points between 1999 and 2012, Life had the highest number of defaulted loans among health professionals at every point. The percent of defaults from Life students among all health professionals ranged between 8 and 12 percent.[6][7]
Anti-vaccine sentiment
editLife University is known for discouraging vaccinations, contrary to the recommendations of mainstream medical experts. An alumnus said, "The philosophy of the school leads people to be anti-vaxxers and not get vaccinated." Anti-vaccine activists Andrew Wakefield and Del Bigtree presented at Life's "flagship seminar" in 2017. Wakefield is the doctor who was struck off the medical register for his involvement in the Lancet MMR autism fraud. [8][9]
In 2023, university president Rob Scott invited anti-vaccine leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the closing speaker at Life's "Life Vision Extravaganza", a convention with room for 2,000 people.[10]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Life sponsored an anti-vaccination conference and provided continuing education credits for attending. The school also refused to distribute COVID vaccines. Guy Riekeman falsely claimed that COVID vaccination "causes genetic mutation" and that COVID may not exist.[8]
Accreditation
editThe university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor, master's and doctoral degrees.[11] The doctoral degree program is also accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.[12] Two programs in dietetics are accredited by the American Dietetic Association.[13]
On June 7, 2002, the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), which is the national organization that accredits chiropractic schools in the US, revoked the accreditation status of Life University.[14] A federal judge retroactively restored the accreditation in February 2003 and placed the chiropractic program on a probationary status. This was due to CCE's investigators apparently concluding that Life students were not being taught how to detect and deal with problems that require medical attention. CCE's investigative report noted that "all patient charts reviewed revealed primary diagnoses of subluxation." The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners issued a statement supporting CCE's decision. Life appealed, but in October 2002, CCE ruled against it. Although it eventually got its accreditation restored, it has struggled with keeping its accreditation[15][16] ever since.
Athletics
editThe Life athletic teams are called the Running Eagles. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until after the 2003–04 school year) starting the 2022–23 academic year.[17] The Running Eagles previously competed in Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 2014–15 to 2021–22; as an NAIA independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2008–09 to 2011–12 (and during the 2013–14 academic year), and in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) during 2012–13.
Life competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, rugby, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. Co-educational sports include cheerleading.
Intercollegiate rugby program
editThe Running Eagles reached the national quarterfinals in 2011 in its first season. Life reached the national semifinals in the 2011–12 season and finished the season ranked #2 in the US.[18] In 2018 and 2019, Life beat the California Golden Bears to become back-to-back national champions.[19]
Life University has been successful in rugby sevens. It won the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.[20] Life won the spring 2012 Las Vegas Invitational, earning a place at the June 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship,[21] where Life was undefeated in pool play and reached the semi-finals. The CRC tournament, played at PPL Park in Philadelphia, is the highest profile college rugby tournament in the US and is broadcast live every year on NBC.[22] Life won the fall 2012 South Independent 7s tournament.[23] This victory earned Life an automatic place and a chance to defend its title at the fall 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships, where Life went 5–1 and finished second in the tournament, losing in the Cup Championship match to rival Arkansas State. In 2013, Life went 5–1 at the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships to finish fifth.[24]
Men's senior rugby
editSince 1986, Life has played at a senior level, including in the Rugby Super League from 1997 to 2002. Life rejoined the RSL in 2009.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b c Shaw, Michelle E. (28 December 2012). "Life University Founder Dies". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. B1. Retrieved 23 September 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Camhi, Tiffany (30 August 2024). "Oregon alternative medicine students face a long road to loan forgiveness". OPB. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b U.S. Department of Education. "Most Recent Data by Field of Study". U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b Scott, Thomas Allan (2003). Cobb County, Georgia and the Origins of the Suburban South: A Twentieth Century History. Marietta, Georgia: Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society. pp. 565–566. ISBN 0-9743646-0-6.
- ^ "Life University announces Guy Riekeman, DC as chancellor and Rob Scott, DC, as president". Chiropractic Economics. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Mirtz, Timothy (23 April 2003). "The Student Loan Mess: Why Chiropractic Is in Trouble". Quackwatch. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Chiropractic Student Loan Default Rates (1999 to 2012)". Quackwatch. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b Edwards, Johnny (20 May 2021). "Some Ga. chiropractors are stoking fears of COVID vaccines". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Life University's Spring Life Vision Atlanta Seminar". cobbchambermembernews.wordpress.com. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Around town: A Big Chicken birthday; an antisemitism update; an RFK Jr. visit". Marietta Daily Journal. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Life University". Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 2021.
- ^ "CCE accreditation of Life University". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
- ^ "CADE accreditation of Life University DPD".
- "CADE accreditation of Life University DI Program". - ^ "Quackwatch – Life University Loses CCE Accreditation". Quackwatch. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "LIFE University is in Accreditation Trouble Again - Chiropractic Program Placed on WARNING Sanction". The Chronicle of Chiropractic. The Chronicle of Chiropractic. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "COUNCIL ON CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATION […] ACCREDITATION ACTIONS - ANNOUNCEMENT - August 6, 2021" (PDF). vertebralsubluxationresearch.com. Council on Chiropractic Education. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23". Life University Athletics. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Final 2012 D1-A College Rankings". Rugby Mag. 20 May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ College Rugby
- ^ "College 7s National Championship – Life Takes Overtime Thriller". Paki's Corner. 22 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Utes finish second in Las Vegas 7's". Deseret News. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ^ "USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship". usasevenscrc.com.
- ^ "Life Wins Berth in College 7s Championships". Rugby Mag. 29 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "Men's 7s Final Brackets, Standings, Scores". Rugby Mag. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ [1][dead link]
