Latest News 

A Sense of the Truth

By Guy Riekeman, DC, President, Life University

            Since our primary area of interest is chiropractic and not films and theater, it may be hard to understand why the recent passing of Marlon Brando was so deeply significant to that community. Brando truly revolutionized acting. If you watch two films of the 40’s back-to-back, one without Brando and then his performance, you can begin to appreciate how unique he was. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Brando’s friend, Sean Penn, in trying to describe Brando’s genius, said, “He [Brando] had a revolutionary sense of the truth.”

            Note that Penn didn’t say Brando “owned” the truth, or understood every facet of the truth, or that he had found the “ultimate” truth; simply that he had “a revolutionary sense of the truth.” Chiropractors see this every day in their practice with patients who can’t explain, in detail, chiropractic, but have had a positive experience with chiropractic and have a powerful sense of its truth. I’ve also seen the public commitment of politicians like Senator Tom Harkin, who fights for a better, more natural way to regain and maintain the nation’s health because he has a sense of the truth of alternative and chiropractic care.

            Let’s admit it: We are rarely privy to all the facts of a given issue and yet we form our opinion of who or what is right based on a broad spectrum of experiences. These range from our history with a person or organization to the level of support that trusted leaders are lending to a given event, to the vision being displayed by the team of people who are at the nexus of the day-to-day work to make something happen.

            We begin to feel a momentum building because the person, vision, or organization is being talked about in professional circles at almost every event and gathering, and in publications. Quite often this curiosity of momentum is as profound from antagonistic sources as it is from the protagonist camp. All of this, along with many, subtler experiences, give us our “sense of the truth.” We know it as something real and feel it in our hearts and minds.

            Perhaps I’m too close to Life University and to my work, but it strikes me that the phenomenon of Life’s renaissance is being fueled by a “revolutionary sense of the truth.” I use the word “renaissance” rather than “rebuilding” because rebuilding implies a re-creation, which we are not attempting. We are working instead to build something new, dynamic, visionary, and meaningful to the profession. Those who evaluate Life’s right to exist based on what it was in the past, miss the opportunities that we at Life believe exist in our current circumstances. Would it be too harsh to say that Life’s implosion had to occur for it to have the opportunities that confront us as a community today?

            As you develop your sense of Life University, consider the following facts:

            Life University has been a critical player in the Chiropractic profession since 1974. It became the largest Chiropractic College in the world. It continues to be located on 90 acres of prime tree-lined avenues in Marietta, Georgia and its facilities, classrooms, and student amenities, including a sports complex, are state-of-the-profession. The college nearly folded approximately two years ago when it lost its accreditation with CCE. In the ensuing two years, the College saw its enrollment drop to less than 500 chiropractic students and subsequently cut its faculty and staff accordingly.

            Through all this, something else also occurred: The will to survive and to redefine the institution emerged through the commitment of those who stayed on with a vision of what a new Life University could become. What the institution lacked was recognized administrative leadership, academic structure, and the ability to attract financial support.

            Something else came into play as well: serendipity. As fate would have it, I was between commitments and on March 4th was named the new President of Life University. This serendipity did not end here as our short 16-week story continues to unfold.

HERE WERE THE FACTS OF

March 5, 2004

            The first task was to assess finances. I solicited the help of a trusted colleague, Bill Jarr, who had left Palmer University with me. Mr. Jarr’s financial assessment was that the college was perhaps 30 days away from a financial nightmare. Life had survived the previous two years by selling off extensive property holdings and had finally sold the campus to a local college to cover the $30 million bond debt just a week prior to my acceptance of the position as President. This sale would have allowed Life to lease back limited classroom space in the 5 - 10 years to come, but Life would never control the campus again.

            Accreditation was of equal concern. The college had two years of court ordered accreditation with CCE, but this two-year period was set to expire in the fall of 2004 and a self-study leading to an August 2004 accreditation visit was due in June. Life was on probation with its regional accrediting agency and a self-study and site team visit was required in the fall by that agency as well. Student enrollment in the D.C. program stood at 725, but needed to be approximately 1000 for financial well being. The projected $3.5 million budget deficit was a major obstacle to re-accreditation. While the college had received an unprecedented 4000 inquiries from prospective students in the previous six months, the Admissions office, working with a skeleton crew, was not able to adequately address these inquiries. It was time to roll up both sleeves and get to work with the dedicated people and alumni who comprise Life University.

HERE’S WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE March 4th

            The entire Life Family got focused on three issues:

                        1. Enrollment

                        2. Finances

                        3. Accreditation

            Enrollment — The Life Alumni and supporters, spearheaded by Dr. Joe Lupo, began sponsoring student recruitment nights around the country. At the College, we hired a consultant and began to reorganize the Admissions Department by implementing new procedures, staff training, and view books. To date we are about 85% reorganized, and inquiries from prospective students are being responded to with information, communication, and service. With our level of inquiry base, this stepped-up service is expected to result in 800-1200 new students over the next two years.

            Finances — We conducted a comprehensive search and hired Mr. Bill Jarr as the Vice President of Operations and Finance who set the school on firm financial policy. But we also need to raise $3.5 million dollars. Dr. Bill Harris was the first to step up and pledge $1,250,000. Others, like Markson Management, followed with a cash gift of $250,000+. Chiropractors in Michigan (Lupo, Cousineau, O’Dell, Wannamaker and Klapp) wrote personal checks for $100,000 each. Doctors from throughout the profession are lending unprecedented support.

            Accreditation — An academic affairs search committee hired Dr. Brian McAulay as Provost who brought together the entire campus to complete the self-study. The faculty and administration are now preparing the campus for our CCE visit in late August 2004 and our SACS visit in October 2004. By December 7, 2004, Life’s years of accreditation questions will be answered and, of course, we hope for and expect positive results.

HERE’S WHERE WE STAND TODAY

            Enrollment is on the upswing. We had conservatively budgeted for 75 new chiropractic students for the Summer 2004 quarter and 100 new students for the Fall 2004 quarter. We are now planning for a Fall quarter class of 150+ new students and, when accreditation is clear, we expect to quickly increase to a total enrollment of 1000+ students.

            Finances and fundraising are proceeding positively. We have collected $1.5 million in cash and $3.0 million in pledges to date. By September 30, 2004, with continued support from the field, we expect to raise the $3.5 million in cash.

            In a remarkable series of events, the Campus, which had been sold, is back in full ownership of Life and the $30 million bond is being refinanced, which will tentatively provide us with over two years of relief from payments while we rebuild enrollment.

            We have also assembled new leadership. Dr. Brian McAulay (former VP for Academic Affairs at Palmer University) and Dr. Tim Gross (former Dean of Clinics at Palmer University) have joined Life University as Provost and Dean of Clinics respectively. Mr. Bill Jarr has assumed the position of VP of Finance and Operations. The Board of Trustees is working with a consultant from Harvard University on Governance and is adding Board members with strengths in academics and finance. Additionally, our undergraduate programs in Nutrition, Business, and Science are focusing on new activities and our Masters in Sport Health Science degree program is expanding. We have new plans for clinics, pediatric and spinal/neurological research, and innovative curriculum development is underway.

            Life University has many challenges ahead. If you have a sense of the importance of our future, we need and will cherish your support. That support needs to be both financial and student referral.

            Walt Whitman said, “We influence people by our presence.” We need you to show up. If you feel in your heart and mind “a revolutionary sense of the truth” of both Life’s mission and your importance in that mission, then call us, now, at 770-426-2601 and ask how you can contribute.

Sponsored By: