Life University
Former names
Life Chiropractic College (1976–1989)
Life College (1989–1996)
TypePrivate university
Established1974 (1974)
PresidentRobert Scott
Academic staff
183
Students2,692
Undergraduates718
Postgraduates1,974
Location
Marietta, Georgia
,
United States

33°55′57″N 84°30′52″W / 33.9325°N 84.5145°W / 33.9325; -84.5145
ColorsGreen, light green & yellow
     
NicknameRunning Eagles
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – SSAC
Websitelife.edu

Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia, USA. It was established in 1974 by a chiropractor, Sid E. Williams.[1]

History

Life University summer 2011 graduation

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). 22 students attended the first classes in January 1975.[2]

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.[2] In 2017, Rob Scott took over as president of the university and Riekeman became chancellor.[3]

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor, master's and doctoral degrees.[4] The doctoral degree program is also accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.[5] Two programs in dietetics are accredited by the American Dietetic Association.[6]

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.[7] 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[8][9] ever since.

Athletics

The 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.[10] 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

The Running Eagles reached the national quarterfinals in 2011 in its first season. Life reached the national semi-finals in the 2011–12 season and finished the season ranked #2 in the US.[11] In 2018 and 2019, Life U beat the California Golden Bears to become back-to-back national champions.[12]

Life University has been successful in rugby sevens. It won the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.[13] Life U won the spring 2012 Las Vegas Invitational, earning a place at the June 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship,[14] where Life U 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.[15] Life U won the fall 2012 South Independent 7s tournament.[16] 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 U went 5–1 and finished second in the tournament, losing in the Cup Championship match to rival Arkansas State. In 2013, Life U went 5–1 at the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships to finish fifth.[17]

Men's senior rugby

Since 1986, Life U has played at a senior level, including in the Rugby Super League from 1997 to 2002. Life U rejoined the RSL in 2009.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Shaw, Michelle E. (28 December 2012). "Life University Founder Dies". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. B1. Retrieved 23 September 2021 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. ↑ "Life University announces Guy Riekeman, DC as chancellor and Rob Scott, DC, as president". Chiropractic Economics. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Life University". Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 2021.
  5. ↑ "CCE accreditation of Life University". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "CADE accreditation of Life University DPD".
    - "CADE accreditation of Life University DI Program".
  7. ↑ "Quackwatch – Life University Loses CCE Accreditation". Quackwatch. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "LIFE University is in Accreditation Trouble Again - Chiropractic Program Placed on WARNING Sanction". The Chronicle of Chiropractic. The Chronicle of Chiropractic. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "COUNCIL ON CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATION […] ACCREDITATION ACTIONS - ANNOUNCEMENT - August 6, 2021" (PDF). vertebralsubluxationresearch.com. Council on Chiropractic Education. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23"
  11. ↑ "Final 2012 D1-A College Rankings". Rugby Mag. 20 May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  12. ↑ College Rugby
  13. ↑ "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)
  14. ↑ "Utes finish second in Las Vegas 7's". Deseret News. 12 February 2012.
  15. ↑ "USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship".
  16. ↑ "Life Wins Berth in College 7s Championships". Rugby Mag. 29 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "Men's 7s Final Brackets, Standings, Scores". Rugby Mag. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  18. ↑
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