Beginning October 11, interns at the Depew Health Center will be providing chiropractic services to students at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). This affiliation is the culmination of a two-year undertaking originally born as a result of a presentation on chiropractic made to the doctors and staff of the UB Student Health Center. Dr. Frank Carnevale, the Director of the Center, is excited about the new program and expects it will quickly become a success. The UB Student Health Center satellite clinic will expose NYCC student interns to an additional patient population that will enhance their clinical education. Hours of operation will be Mondays from 1:00 to 7:00 PM and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and appointments will be booked through the UB Student Health Center. Integrating chiropractic services with the UB Student Health Center’s medical and social services will be yet another example of NYCC’s multidisciplinary efforts aimed at benefiting patients. A byproduct of this affiliation will be the education of medical counterparts and U.B. students who come in for care. The University of Buffalo is the largest and most comprehensive university in the SUNY system. The large UB student body – more than 27,000! – will mean a busy schedule for student interns at the satellite clinic.

(Issued by Palmer Marketing Department on Friday, July 30, 2004. At its July 2004 semi-annual meeting, the Commission on Accreditation (COA) of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the chiropractic colleges' specialized accrediting body, met with representatives of the Palmer College of Chiropractic (PCC) Doctor of Chiropractic degree program in a progress review meeting to discuss PCC's requests for substantive change to include Palmer Florida as a branch campus of PCC and the implementation of the Mastery Curriculum at the Florida campus. Following that meeting, the COA met in executive session and reached a consensus decision to extend accreditation to include the Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida (PCCF) site. As of this notice, PCCF will be included in (but not limited to) the regular accreditation cycle for PCC. As such, the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program of Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education (8049 North 85th Way, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258-4321. Tel: 480-443-8877). In discussing the accreditation, Douglas E. Hoyle, Ph.D., who oversees all accreditation, planning and institutional effectiveness activities, said, "The administration at Palmer has worked diligently for close to the past three years to have this event happen, which is a once in a lifetime event in the history of this college. We are very proud of the effort that has gone into this project, the patience of the students at PCCF while we obtained it, and the belief the faculty had in us while we pursued accreditation." In addition to the actions of the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education, Palmer Florida is licensed in the state of Florida by the Florida Commission on Independent Education (License number 2648), and is recognized as an accredited branch campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic by the Higher Learning Commission of Palmer's regional accrediting agency, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504 Tel: 800-621-7440).

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., June 7, 2004 – Logan College of Chiropractic President Dr. George Goodman, D.C. has announced the official opening of a new $4 million state-of-the-art learning and research center that will provide a valuable educational tool to students and healthcare professionals in the St. Louis area. The new Logan Learning Resources Center will be dedicated at ceremonies beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday, June 10, on the school’s campus at 1851 Schoettler Road, in Chesterfield. Area dignitaries and other public officials are expected to attend. “We are extremely proud of our new center because it represents Logan’s commitment to providing its students with a state-of-the-art library and research facility, and exemplifies the generosity and vision of those who help to make it possible,” Dr. Goodman said. The center and library will provide a wide range of books, video, audio, and computer facilities for Logan’s 1,100 students, and also will be available for use by other St. Louis-area college and high school students, teachers, and chiropractors. “St. Louis is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s leading healthcare and research destinations, and we hope this facility will be viewed as a valuable addition to the area’s health and educational facilities,” Dr. Goodman added. The new center houses a library, computer lab that has 75 workstations with Internet access, and a state-of-the-art distance learning facility with a variety of multimedia capabilities. It also contains a collection of approximately 12,000 books, 260 trade and professional journals with 32,000 issues, 1,100 video recordings, and more than 400 audio learning tapes. Because Logan specializes in health and chiropractic education, the center has an extensive collection of human skulls, skeletons, and other bones, along with artificial anatomical models, available for anatomy and human science studies. Bob Snyders, the center’s director, said the facility has a significant concentration of books and other learning tools that focus on anatomy, biology, life sciences, and other health-related topics. “We hope college, university, and high school students throughout the St. Louis area, that might be considering a career in healthcare, research, or related fields of study, will take advantage of the specialized materials available at the new Logan Learning Resources Center,” Snyders said. Group and individual study facilities are available, including separate rooms furnished with computers and media equipment, he added. Logan College is a member of the Missouri Bibliographic Information User System (MOBIUS), a network of more than 50 college and university libraries throughout Missouri that enables students around the state to have Internet access to the online card catalogs of the other member libraries. Snyders said that students, faculty, and staff from any MOBIUS library may borrow books from any of the other MOBIUS libraries. This can be done online or in person. Books requested online are delivered via a statewide courier service, and generally arrive within three business days. Logan is a nonprofit institution of higher education founded in 1935 in St. Louis. The school is the largest chiropractic college in Missouri and the second largest chiropractic college or university in the nation. The college offers Bachelor of Science degrees in human biology and life sciences, as well as the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Logan also provides healthcare for patients in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area through eight local health centers in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. Chiropractic is the third largest profession of healthcare delivery in the world (behind only medicine and dentistry), and more than 26 million Americans seek treatment from doctors of chiropractic each year. State-of-the-Art Facility Is Available to Area Students, Healthcare Professionals

Who says rugby is a sport just for men? The Palmer College of Chiropractic Women's Rugby Football Club played its very first game in the Quad Cities on Saturday, March 27, on Credit Island–and won handily. The women defeated the Dubuque Women's Rugby Football Club 35 to 17. The fledgling club is the first women's rugby team in the Quad Cities and is lead by president Tracy Francis, a 4th tri student from upstate New York, and co-coached by 5th tri student Don Pfau. Francis helped recruit players and organize the team, which began practicing last fall. The 20 teammates meet three times a week to practice, condition and learn the rules and strategies of rugby. Men's rugby club president Jon Glead also has assisted the team by teaching the women fundamentals. "The referee and coach of the Dubuque team commented on the extraordinary level of our players' skills, especially for a start-up team," Francis said, "which is a tribute to Don's coaching skills. Rugby is big on the East Coast, where I learned to play as an undergraduate student, but it's growing in popularity in Iowa.” "We'll be increasing awareness of rugby in the Quad Cities,” added Francis, “but we hope to spread knowledge of chiropractic, too, and how it can help athletes perform at their best."

MARIETTA - The Georgia Board of Regents has rejected a proposal to allow the fund-raising foundation of Marietta's Southern Polytechnic State University to purchase the neighboring Life University campus. Following a recommendation from University System Chancellor Thomas Meredith, the Board of Regents on Wednesday decided not to approve the deal, citing "the current economic climate facing the state, the University System of Georgia and all (university system) institutions." The Life-SPSU land deal called for the private SPSU Foundation to purchase Life's 89-acre campus to expand its growing operations and, in exchange, pay off Life's $30.7 million in debt. Life, which has been struggling since losing its accreditation and seeing enrollment plummet, would then lease back about 50 percent of the campus to continue operations. SPSU foundation President Mark Graham said he was let down by Wednesday's decision by the regents. "We're just highly disappointed because it looked like a good opportunity for both sides, and it looks like a lost opportunity, too," he said. An appraisal of the Life campus, commissioned by the SPSU Foundation, placed its value at about $55 million, about $24 million less than what the foundation planned to spend. "We are very disappointed in the outcome," said foundation treasurer Gordon Mortin, who engineered plans for the land deal. "It seemed like an extraordinary opportunity. - It's not likely in our lifetime, or the lifetime of our grandchildren, that the opportunity will come again to acquire an adjacent campus for about 55 percent of the appraised value." Wednesday's decision came three days before a May 1 deadline for the regents to take action on the proposal and followed comments made last week by newly hired Life University President Dr. Guy Riekeman indicating he wanted Life to keep its campus. On April 20, the Georgia Board of Regent's Committee on Real Estate and Facilities delayed a scheduled vote on the land deal, saying they needed more time to review the financial details of the proposal. In a statement released after the decision, university system officials acknowledged the "considerable financial support" SPSU managed to gather for the project, but stated, "The Board of Regents was not assured of the long-term fiscal soundness of the project." As part of plans to purchase the Life campus, the SPSU Foundation agreed spend $2.7 million a year to pay off Life's debt. The foundation had agreed to pay about $1.3 million of that amount each year, through a combination of the lease with Life and fees collected from student housing. That left a shortfall of about $1.4 million, with The University System of Georgia expected to provide a large portion of the extra money. Because of the state budget crunch, the Board of Regents last month instructed SPSU President Dr. Lisa Rossbacher to find other sources of funding. She got $500,000 from Cobb County government during the next two years and $100,000 from the city of Marietta for the same period - a total of $600,000, plus other undisclosed sources of money. "We are gratified by the broad support of SPSU from the community, including the city of Marietta, Cobb County, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Marietta Kiwanis," Dr. Rossbacher said in a statement released following Wednesday's decision. "We also have received tremendous support and assistance from our faculty, staff and students over the past months as we have worked on this proposal." While SPSU officials expressed disappointment in the decision, Riekeman celebrated the Board of Regents' decision. "The Board of Trustees and the Life college community are extremely pleased as the circumstances that led to this proposal are dramatically different today with a new administration, increased enrollment and alumni giving exceeding all expectations," he said. "I have met with SPSU's president, Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, and have expressed my desire to work together. I believe that we can all accomplish our goals. Life can maintain its pristine campus while rebuilding enrollment and aid SPSU's need for expansion. This partnership will contribute to Marietta's image and financial future." Last week, Riekeman -hired in March from Palmer Chiropractic College in Iowa in part because of his fund-raising ability - said Life has raised about $3 million from chiropractors who want to help the school. He also said he expects enrollment to grow from about 1,200 students today to between 1,400 and 1,500 students a year from now and about 3,000 within two or three years. At one point, Life University was considered the largest chiropractic college in the world, with an enrollment of about 3,600. But it was stripped of accreditation in July 2002 by the Arizona-based Council on Chiropractic Education, which questioned the operation of the school by its founder and former president Dr. Sid Williams. If SPSU were to take ownership of the land, Riekeman said last week, Life would have had to eventually find a new home to accommodate the expected increase in enrollment. [email protected] This information is reprinted with permission of the Marietta Daily Journal. Copyright 2004. For additional news stories, visit Marietta Daily Journal by clicking on the link below:

Florida Governor Jeb Bush today signed into law Senate Bill 2002, legislation creating a variety of new health care initiatives including the authorization and funding to establish the nation's first public chiropractic college at Florida State University. The bill was approved previously by both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives in the opening days of Florida's annual 60-day legislative session. Senate Majority Leader Dennis L. Jones, D.C. (R-Treasure Island) and House HealthCare Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Farkas, D.C. (R-St. Petersburg) were both on hand for the signing ceremony this morning. Jones and Farkas, both chiropractic physicians and former presidents of the Florida Chiropractic Association, were instrumental in helping steer the issue through its legislative course over the past five years. They were flanked at the signing by the bill's prime sponsors, Sen. Durell Peaden, (R-Crestview), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and Bruce Kyle(R-Ft. Myers), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as Senate President Jim King (R-Jacksonville.) "This is certainly a momentous day for the chiropractic profession and for the citizens of our state," said Jones. "Today we are beginning a proud, new chapter in our history as we embark on an exciting new era of scientific-based education and research at one of the nation's pre-eminent research institutions." "Dream as we might, I'm not sure any of us realize how big this is going to be," added Farkas. "At a time when public demand for chiropractic care is growing, we will be training our newest generation of practitioners in a place rich with the kind of resources you can only find at a major public institution." Creation of the college has a been a twenty-year project of the Florida Chiropractic Association and a life-long dream of the association's long time CEO, now its CEO Emeritus, Ed Williams, D.C. "We always believed chiropractic students should have the same options those in other professions have always enjoyed. Finally, they now have the choice of a public education," Williams said. FCA leaders have been actively pursuing the creation of the college ever since they joined hands in the late 1990's with the Lincoln Chiropractic Education and Research Foundation (LCERF) to fund a super-endowed research chair at FSU. With seed money from LCERF, the FCA ran a two-year campaign successfully raising the million-dollar endowment, ultimately matched with another $750,000 by the state, to found the Lincoln Eminent Scholar Chair in Chiropractic and Biomechanics at the university. The university is currently in negotiations with its chosen eminent scholar, and will soon begin planning the new research facility. It is expected the research program will rely heavily on the new college and its faculty. Having established the chair, the FCA and its lobby team worked closely with legislative leadership, weathering both good and bad budget years, but never losing sight of the new college objective. "There were a few bumps along the way but we never gave up hope. Today we have a long list of legislators, staff, chiropractic leaders, educators and others to thank for helping to achieve this success," said FCA CEO Debbie Brown. "This has been one in credible group effort -- and it will be one incredible celebration heard around the world." Reprinted with permission from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER). For further information on FCER, please click on the link below:

New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) has launched a study designed to quantify the effects of Graston Technique on patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Led by NYCC faculty member and researcher, Dale J. Buchberger, D.C., D.A.C.B.S.P., the study uses a three-phase approach to screen, treat and assess patients. It is expected to last for one year with results available in the Fall of 2004. This study by NYCC is one of several currently being done on the Graston Technique as researchers around the country continue to identify and study uses of the innovative soft tissue treatment for patients suffering acute and chronic connective soft tissue problems. The first phase of the study includes screening patients with suspected carpel tunnel using clinical tests to measure strength and functionality, electrodiagnostic tests to measure muscle and nerve stimulation and ultrasound to measure compression of the nerves. The study will include 20 patients who have carpal tunnel in one wrist. Patients with confirmed carpal tunnel are then randomly placed into two groups for the six-week treatment phase. All patients will be treated by Dr. Buchberger using the same treatment protocols that include soft tissue manipulation administered twice during each of the first four weeks and once during the last two weeks. The difference in treatment protocols is that patients in one group will be treated using the Graston Technique Instruments, and patients in the other group will be treated using manual manipulation. No splinting or medications will be used in either group, and all patients will receive the same icing following treatment. After six weeks of treatment, patients will be re-tested using the same clinical, electrodiagnostic and ultrasound tests to measure acute improvements. Testing will be repeated again after three months to determine what changes, if any, have occurred to the corrections. This study is an important step in better understanding the anatomy, physiology and functionality of what makes patients feel better when being treated for carpal tunnel, said Jean Burke, Ph.D. and department head of research at NYCC. By using extensive testing protocols, we hope to quantify what brings about change most effectively, and ultimately to help more patients avoid surgery. About Graston Technique The Graston Technique is an advanced form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization developed more than 10 years ago by two athletes who suffered injuries that left them with limited ranges of motion. This patented technique incorporates the use of stainless-steel instruments contoured to adapt to various parts of the anatomy. Using the instruments, the clinician is better able to detect fibrotic tissue and can treat at greater depth and specificity. Reprinted with permission from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER). For further information on FCER, please click on the link below:

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) has granted accreditation status for Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida as a branch campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport. NCA is one of six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. It accredits K-12 schools plus post-secondary educational institutions, including junior colleges, colleges, and universities in its region, which spans 19 states and about 1,200 colleges and universities. Palmer College of Chiropractic has had NCA accreditation since 1984. According to Donald Kern, D.C., interim president of Palmer College of Chiropractic, the NCA accreditation process began three years ago, even before students arrived at the Port Orange campus in October 2002. "A school with no previous NCA accreditation getting accredited for the first time is a significant accomplishment," he said. "It sends a strong message to current and prospective students. Palmer Florida also has received an annual license to operate in Florida from the Florida Commission for Independent Education. "With this second jewel for Palmer Florida, along with the state licensure, we now are setting our sights toward completing the crown with CCE (Council on Chiropractic Education) accreditation," Dr. Kern said. Dr. Kern anticipates hosting a CCE on-site visitation team shortly to determine if Palmer Florida is eligible for CCE accreditation as a branch campus. To learn more visit Palmer Chiropractic University System by clicking on the link below:

A former Palmer College of Chiropractic president will lead a Georgia chiropractic school that was a Palmer competitor and is now rebuilding after experiencing accreditation problems. Guy Riekeman ignited a furor when he resigned his post as president and chancellor of Palmer’s university system Feb. 5 in protest of decisions made by the institution’s board of trustees. He will take office immediately at Life University in Marietta, Ga., where Ben DeSpain resigned as president Tuesday. In a statement, Riekeman thanked the Life board of trustees for “this opportunity to lead a university that I have developed such affection for. As a result of your leadership, the university is now ready to face new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us. “I know that I have much to learn over the coming months, but I also know that I can depend on the advice and counsel of all members of the Life community, from our faculty, staff and students here on campus to the trustees, alumni and the chiropractic family around the world.” Charles Ribley, the chairman of the Life University board, said Riekeman “epitomizes Life’s fundamental commitments to chiropractic scholarship, teaching and service to others. “His character and outstanding human qualities have made Dr. Riekeman a valued colleague among chiropractic educators and an inspiration to students.” Riekeman had been president at Palmer for five years and chancellor of the university system of campuses in Davenport, California and Florida for eight months when he resigned. The board and Riekeman acknowledged that he resigned because of resolutions passed by the board, namely a requirement for board approval of hiring and salary increases and the employment of Larry Patten as a consultant to gather information for the board. Patten resigned after a 1997 vote of no confidence in the school’s administration by organizations connected with Palmer. The Palmer board also ordered an audit, which Riekeman supported. Officials said the audit may take several months to complete. Students publicly protested twice, the first time over a noon hour at the campus along Brady Street in Davenport. At the second, students marched to the office of board chairman Vickie Palmer, who is the great-granddaughter of chiropractic’s founder. Also, 759 students signed a vote of no confidence in the board. An alumni vote of no confidence gathered more than 600 signatures. Several alumni have said they either have pulled or will pull their financial support for the school and will no longer refer future students to the campus. The faculty senate, however, issued a letter of support for the board of trustees. “In this time of transition,” it said, “it is important to remember that the accomplishments of Palmer College or the entire Palmer Chiropractic University System do not rest on the shoulders of any one individual.” Palmer College, in a statement issued Thursday, said: “Life University is a fellow institution in chiropractic education, and Dr. Riekeman is a graduate of Palmer, a former employee and now a colleague. We wish him and Life University the very best and anticipate that we will be able to work together to assure the positive advancement of chiropractic as a primary health-care provider.” Life University, once the largest chiropractic school in the country with 4,000 students, lost its accreditation in June 2002, which meant its students could no longer take licensing exams. Several Life students came to finish their schooling at Palmer as enrollment plummeted at the Georgia campus. The battle resulted in several lawsuits and an injunction from a federal judge that put the accreditation temporarily on hold, according to newspaper accounts. A settlement between Life and the Council on Chiropractic education, the organization that accredits all chiropractic schools, reinstated accreditation in June 2003. Life’s president and founder, Sid Williams, is a Palmer graduate. He retired shortly after the institution lost its accreditation. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution story about his retirement said the move raised “an age-old question for the future: How will an institution so closely tied with the dynamic and visible personality of its founder survive his departure?” Riekeman, according to the statement announcing his appointment, is “renowned not only for being a powerful motivational speaker, but for his creation of several professional development seminar programs.” This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004. Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or [email protected].

Eighty-five percent of the Palmer College of Chiropractic alumni who responded to a Web-based poll supported a vote of no confidence in the institution’s board of trustees. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004. Of the 665 alumni who filled out a questionnaire at www.dc2be.com, 569 cast their ballot in favor of the vote. Twenty-three voted to support the board of trustees. Non-alumni and chiropractic students also responded the poll, which was prompted by the resignation of Palmer president and chancellor Guy Riekeman on Feb. 5. A total of 1,257 people responded. The response shows there is concern beyond Riekeman’s resignation, said Mary Flannery, the alumnus who organized the effort. Specifically, several of those who responded cited problems with the structure of the board. “A lot of the alums are saddened and unhappy about Riekeman leaving,” she said. “But the loss of Riekeman is a symptom of a much larger problem.” Palmer officials asked that alumni continue to support the school in order to maintain the school’s “107-year tradition of excellence.” “We recognize that alumni and students still have questions about Dr. Riekeman’s resignation,” a statement from the school said, noting that Palmer is conducting an audit which “may provide additional information relevant to this matter. We would again ask that all alumni continue to support Palmer both financially and by referring students.” Riekeman resigned his position as president of Palmer College and as chancellor of the Palmer University System about three weeks ago. He had been president for five years, chancellor for eight months. The board and Riekeman acknowledged that he resigned because of resolutions passed by the board, namely the requirement for board approval of hiring and salary increases and the employment of Larry Patten as a consultant to gather information for the board. Patten resigned after the 1997 vote of no confidence. The number who cast their vote of no confidence is about the same as those who cast ballots of no confidence in the school’s administration during 1997, Flannery said she was told. The 1997 vote was organized by Palmer’s alumni association. Palmer officials said the 665 who responded “represent a small percentage of Palmer’s more than 20,000 alumni worldwide.” The board and Riekeman also say he supported an audit requested by the board. They agree there was a communication problem between them. Almost 700 people said they would stop referring students to Palmer, while 45 said they would continue to do so. More than 350 said they were donors to the college and would discontinue their support, while 32 said they would continue their financial investment. Todd Spieles, a 1970 graduate who attended Palmer with Riekeman, said Palmer is the epicenter of chiropractic and “we just had a big earthquake.” “There is a firestorm brewing amongst the alumni,” he said. Two hundred of the students who responded called for a restructuring of the board to include a student representative. Seventy-seven students said they are considering transfer to another school, and five said they would transfer. Thirteen students voted in support of the board, with 16 saying there was no negative impact on their education. All of the respondents who supported the board “reviled the negative press surrounding this crisis and felt it was better to either trust the board or wait for more information to become public before judging,” the poll summary says. It continues: “Many expressed a personal distaste for Dr. Riekeman and his vision. The other comments in support of the board applaud the perceived return of less philosophy and more musculoskeletal science to the curriculum.” Those who supported the vote of no confidence, the summary says, “expressed extreme anger and incomprehension toward the board and toward (Palmer board chairman) Vickie Palmer. “A frequent comment lamented the financial damage and loss of Palmer pride likely to remain if no satisfactory statement or rectification of the situation is evident,” it continues. “Finally, many comments praised Dr. Riekeman and what was characterized as the unique leadership qualities he brought to the school.” Flannery hopes that, in the end, the vote will open communication between all parties interested in the future of the college. “One of my primary goals is to have the board, the alumni association and some people who are not in the alumni association sit down and have an open dialogue,” she said. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004. Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or [email protected].

MARIETTA - Life University in Marietta, once the largest chiropractic college in the world, has taken another step in what schools officials hope may be a chance to save the school from its financial and accreditation woes. The Life University Board of Directors approved a written agreement Monday spelling out the details of the exchange of Life's land to the neighboring Southern Polytechnic State University Foundation in return for relieving Life of its $30.7 million in debt. The plan was originally announced in November 2003. "The board voted and agreed yesterday to approve the agreement that they've been working on," Life spokesman Will Hurst said. "It's a reaffirmation. It changes nothing." Now the Georgia Board of Regents must approve the contract. They are scheduled to meet again in March, said Dr. Chuck Ribley, Life board of trustees chairman. The agreement calls for the transfer ownership of the school's 89-acre campus to the fund-raising foundation of neighboring SPSU. Life would still be able to operate as a university and lease back some of its current classroom facilities. Life University officials made the announcement that the board was continuing to move forward with the SPSU Foundation deal at an all-school assembly called Tuesday. During the assembly, university President Dr. Ben DeSpain told students that over the past year the school has been pondering about "three dozen plans to secure and guarantee the financial future of Life University." He said working out the Life's issues is very complex, more so than he anticipated. He said the reality of the situation is that he shares the frustration with students and faculty that have stayed at the school, but that Life is making progress. "There are two, maybe three, strong possibilities to keep this beautiful university intact," he said. During the assembly, he raised the possibility of exiting the agreement with the SPSU foundation. He said that there is a clause in the agreement that would allow either side to back out before July, if necessary. If Life were to back out, they would be responsible for covering the SPSU Foundation's costs of entering the agreement, such as legal costs. After the assembly, he elaborated on his statements and said that the University is still examining other options that are coming forward. "It is not that we want to be unfriendly neighbors, but we want to do what is best for us," he said about the ability to get out of the agreement. "We want to try to look out for what we have a fiduciary responsibility to do." Life, which once had the largest chiropractic program in the world, was stripped of its accreditation by the Council on Chiropractic Education in June 2002. A court has since restored Life's accreditation temporarily, but the school must reapply for permanent accreditation in January 2005. It is still on probation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Because of its accreditation woes, Life lost a significant number of chiropractic students, which made up the majority of the student body. Enrollment in the chiropractic program has dropped by about 2,000 students in the past two years, from more than 3,000 to about 1,300. DeSpain said officials from Life also called Tuesday's assembly to clear up recent campus rumors. "There was a rumor we were going to get a deal signed on the 28th," he said. "People have fertile minds so we wanted to put some specifics out there (today)." One of the most recent rumors was a buyout by the Keiser Collegiate System, a private college management company, based out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. DeSpain said there are no written proposals drafted for that option and that it has stalled in the last few weeks because negotiators from both parties have fallen ill. Faculty who attended the meeting said they were glad to hear that there have been options in a venture that at times looked bleak without all the information. "It was somewhat helpful," said Mo Braum, clinic faculty. "I got some sense that we are working together, but the details of what we are working on is a little obscure." He said rumors about potential financial deals at the school have been rampant. "Everybody has a different one," he said." You hear lots of them." Chuck Ribley encouraged students to stay positive. "Will Life University be here next year? The answer is yes," he said. "Don't listen to the rumors out there that the sky is falling. Nothing is falling we are rising." DeSpain said the university would be going out into the community soon to do a tour of civic clubs, laying out what is going on with the future of Life. University officials reaffirmed their pledge to raise the $3 million required to balance the University's annual budget and the student recruitment campaign they are conducting across the country. Student reaction seemed positive for the most part at the assembly. Most of the audience provided DeSpain a standing ovation when school officials presented DeSpain a token of their appreciation for leadership during the university's rough times. This information is reprinted with permission of the Marietta Daily Journal. Copyright 2004.

The husband and wife leading a $35 million capital campaign at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport have resigned their positions and withdrawn their $220,000 pledge, saying they are “confused and disgusted” by school governing board actions that led to the resignation of president and chancellor Guy Riekeman earlier this month. . Students continued their protests Tuesday, marching down Brady Street to the office of Vickie Palmer, the board chairman and great-granddaughter of chiropractic’s founder. A vote of no confidence sent to Palmer on Friday with 759 signatures will be forwarded to one of the school’s accrediting agencies today, a student leader said. . A Web site designed to gather the thoughts of Palmer alumni on Riekeman’s resignation, as well as to tally alumni votes of no confidence in the governing board, is up and running at www.dc2be.com. . Meanwhile, a handful of students are speaking out in favor of Riekeman’s resignation and the faculty senate is drafting a letter in support of the board. . Faculty senate president Mark Doerrfeld likened the split between Palmer and Riekeman to the divorce of two people who appeared on the outside to have a perfect marriage but really did not. As of Tuesday afternoon, 55 faculty members said they supported the letter and Doerrfeld expected more positive responses to come. The school has 91 faculty members, he said. . Angela Thomas, a Palmer student, joined Doerrfeld in her support of the board. . “The fact remains that Riekeman resigned. He quit. If he is unhappy with that, it’s his problem,” she said. “The students need to refocus on their studies, upcoming finals and becoming qualified, competent doctors of chiropractic.” . Finals at Palmer begin Friday. Graduation is set for Feb. 27. . Riekeman resigned his position as president of Palmer College and as chancellor of the Palmer University System on Feb. 5. He had been president for five years, chancellor for eight months. . The board and Riekeman have acknowledged that he resigned because of resolutions passed by the board, namely a requirement that the board approve hiring and salary increases, and the employment of Larry Patten as a consultant to gather information for the board. Patten resigned in 1997 after a vote of no confidence in the administration. The board said his hiring is on a temporary basis “to ensure that the board has accurate and timely information to make informed and appropriate decisions related to university affairs.” . The board and Riekeman also say he supported an audit requested by the board. They agree that there was a communication problem between them. . Thomas and Mary Ann Morgan chaired the capital campaign that was set to raise $35 million for a learning resource center, operating costs and scholarships. The Morgans hope for Riekeman’s return, but Thomas Morgan said he believes the board is set in its decision. “Past history is that they do what they want,” he added. . In a letter to the board in which he rescinded his own pledge, Morgan wrote: “I simply cannot get up in front of the alumni now and ask for money with a good heart or clear conscience. What I am left with is a sadness for what you have done. On the only positive note I can think of, I can always look back to the past five years and have the knowledge of what power and enthusiasm can be generated from Palmer, when a true leader in the profession is our president.” . Morgan joins several alumni who support Riekeman, said Mary Flannery, a Palmer graduate who is organizing the no confidence vote online at www.dc2be.com. The “polls” will close on Monday. . “The bigger issue is about how the board is not accountable,” she said. “One small group is creating all of the answers.” . Flannery joined more than 100 students who marched down Brady Street, holding signs in support of Riekeman on Tuesday morning. Vickie Palmer was not in her office when students were there, she said, adding that she was meeting off-campus with representatives of the college. . Marc Ott, who is scheduled to graduate in February 2005, said students take offense at Vickie Palmer comparing the loss of Riekeman with a teacher leaving her third-grade class. . “We’re not in third grade. Many of us have children in third grade,” he said. “We didn’t spend $150,000 to go to third grade.” . The vote of no confidence will be delivered to the North Central Association, one of the school’s accrediting organizations, today, he said. And while they want Riekeman back as president and chancellor, students also want to be informed about what is going on at the school, he added. . “This is bigger than a person’s job,” he said. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004.

DAVENPORT, IOWA -- The Board of Trustees of the Palmer Chiropractic University System today released additional information to clarify their recent actions and reinforce their commitment to the institution they serve. The board outlined the resolutions passed at its January meeting to reassert the board's oversight role of Palmer Chiropractic University System, including: 1. Election of two board members to fill vacant officer positions. Elected were Dr. Trevor Ireland, D.C., as vice chair, and Mr. William Wilke, as secretary. 2. A revised board committee structure to provide the focus on critical topics. The committees now include Executive Committee, External Relations, Curriculum and Clinic, Finance and Operations, Strategic Organizational Development, and Trustee Development. 3. Employment of Mr. Larry Patten, on a temporary basis, to ensure that the board has complete, accurate and timely information to make informed and appropriate decisions related to University affairs. 4. Board approval of all hiring and salary increases across the University System until it is clear that policies and procedures are being followed. 5. A special audit of University System operations conducted by McGladrey & Pullen. "Former Chancellor Dr. Guy Riekeman opposed all of these resolutions except the audit and provided the board with the ultimatum that, if the Resolutions were not removed, he would resign," said board chair Vickie Palmer. "Yet, the first two resolutions -- election of officers and restructuring committees -- are board responsibilities concurrent with good governance, not the domain of an administrator. And the third and fourth resolutions were enacted to ensure administration of the University System was following University policy and administrative guidelines. The board is also concerned about the decline in enrollment." While a number of people have expressed concerns, the board says it is pleased by the support expressed by faculty, staff, alumni and many students. "Seeing these resolutions, it is clear that they are in the best interest of Palmer Chiropractic," said Michael Crawford, the Chancellor who preceded Dr. Riekeman. "I could have lived with the resolutions. Obviously, if that would have happened during my tenure, it would have signaled that I needed to take the initiative to communicate more effectively with the board and make sure that I was carrying out the requirements of my administrative position." The board also countered charges by Dr. Riekeman that he did not have direct access to the board chair and other members. "The board functioned for too long in an information vacuum," said board member Dr. Frank Bemis, D.C. "Hiring Larry Patten on a temporary basis to collect information has been an important step in regaining the board's oversight role of the University System. Mr. Patten facilitated the flow of information between the board and the Chancellor so that it could make more effective decisions. It is also important to note that the alumni, based on what we know today of the University's operations, were mistaken in our assessment of Mr. Patten's past performance as Palmer's Chief Operating Officer. I am confident that Mr. Patten's temporary fact-gathering assistance will speed the transition to better things within the Palmer Chiropractic University System." The board also clarified the terms of Dr. Riekeman's resignation. "He issued an ultimatum," said Dr. Bemis. "And the board could not subvert its oversight role, especially the stewardship of students' tuition dollars. The board had no choice but to accept Dr. Riekeman's resignation, and there will be no negotiation with the former Chancellor. We are moving forward with the business of delivering education based on the Palmer Chiropractic Tenets and Principles." Finally, the board announced that vice president of finance and operations William Jarr and vice president of planning Kevin McCarthy have been released. McGladrey and Pullen continues to conduct an audit of the University System, including Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa. "The Chancellor was not following University policies and was not communicating with the board," said Palmer. "This audit is ongoing and we may release material results as warranted." ABOUT PALMER CHIROPRACTIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM The 109-year history of chiropractic education began at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. Started by the profession's founder, Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer, Palmer is chiropractic's college. The science, art and philosophy of chiropractic evolved from D.D., and the institution has sent more than 40,000 alumni out to practice throughout the world. Palmer Chiropractic University System was created in February 1991, bringing Palmer College of Chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic West, established in 1980, in San Jose, Calif., together under the same Board of Trustees. Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida at Port Orange, Fla. was added in 2002. Total current enrollment is approximately 2,400 at all three campuses; total full and part-time employment is 553.

The groundswell of support for the Palmer president and chancellor who resigned his job is turning into lost financial support for the chiropractic college and outrage toward the board and its leader, the great-granddaughter of chiropractic’s founder. . Meanwhile, the board is conducting an audit of the institution and requiring approval of all hiring and salary increases. It also hired a former chief operating officer — who left after a no-confidence vote in 1997 — as a consultant. . Palmer students sent a no-confidence vote with 759 signatures to Vickie Palmer and the board Friday, with the promise of more action this week if former president and chancellor Guy Riekeman is not reinstated. Alumni are organizing a similar vote. Some have said they have or may take their money out of the school. Others said they will refer future students elsewhere. . And officials from the International Chiropractors Association, founded 78 years ago by B.J. Palmer, the son of the school’s founder, said they are “deeply concerned over the uncertainty at Palmer College and doctors and students in unprecedented numbers are looking for answers in what appears to be a very unfortunate situation.” . The board is not negotiating with Riekeman to bring him back, board chairman Vickie Palmer said in an interview Saturday with the QUAD-CITY TIMES. Palmer understands students and alumni are upset, she said, but added that she hopes the information released by the board Saturday will help “with clarification.” . The man with her during the interview was Larry Patten, who resigned from the school seven years ago — the last time Palmer students and alumni took a vote of no-confidence. . “Conflict clarifies,” B.J. Palmer once said. . Palmer College of Chiropractic is indeed in the midst of a conflict. . The resignation . Riekeman resigned his position as president of Palmer College and as chancellor of the Palmer University System on Feb. 5. He had been president for five years, chancellor for eight months. . The board and Riekeman acknowledged that he resigned because of resolutions passed by the board, namely the requirement for board approval of hiring and salary increases and the employment of Patten. The board said his hiring is on a temporary basis “to ensure that the board has accurate and timely information to make informed and appropriate decisions related to university affairs.” . The board and Riekeman also say he supported the audit. They agree there was a communication problem between them. . William Wilke, secretary of the board and a retired bank chairman from Bettendorf, said the board of trustees ordered the audit because it had concerns about “fiscal prudence.” . Specifically, Wilke said cost overruns at a building project on the Florida campus, the expense of legal services from outside of the area, contracts for consulting services, salary increases, lax accounting controls and the commission of a sculpture will be examined. . The sculpture depicted three generations of chiropractors, the idea of Fred Barge, a well-respected chiropractor who passed away in July, Riekeman said. The artist decided to use the likeness of the Riekeman family — a younger Guy Riekeman, his father (a Palmer graduate) and his daughter (who is attending Palmer) — as a model for the sculpture that was expected to cost $50,000 to $60,000 to create and expected to raise at least $180,000 with engravings from families with generations of chiropractors, Riekeman said. . The board stopped the project, Riekeman said. . He declined to dispute the board’s issues point by point, but said Saturday “all financial issues were approved along the way. Nothing we spent was outside of the approved budget.” . The university system has a budget of about $40 million, according to its 2002 tax forms. Since the 1997-98 school year, the amount of federal funding to the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research increased from $525,800 to more than $3.4 million this school year, according to statistics from the institution. . The number of members in the President’s Club — the group of people who gave $1,000 or more to the school in a year — rose from 278 members in October 1998 to 590 members in October 2003. A $35 million capital campaign also is underway. The largest previous campaign was for a tenth of that in the 1980s. About $20 million has been pledged or received of that $35 million goal. . Riekeman also is credited with the success of the institution’s annual Lyceum celebration, a continuing education event that replaced homecoming. The event made $190,000 last year. When asked about the continuation of Lyceum, Vickie Palmer said the board is allowing interim presidents to decide how to continue with such programming. . Fall enrollment in 1998 as Riekeman was taking over was 1,695 at the Davenport campus. At its California campus, 711 students took classes, totalling 2,406 in the system. . Enrollment this past fall was 1,750 students in Davenport, 447 in California and 203 in Florida, for a total of 2,400. School officials said they expect 120 fewer students at Davenport in the next trimester. . Patten’s return . Larry Patten resigned from Palmer in 1997 after no-confidence votes. The International Alumni Association was the first to issue its vote, saying it had concerns about declining enrollment, low faculty morale, increased student unrest, mismanaged funds and an atmosphere of “fear and intimidation” that permeated the campus. . Then-chancellor Michael Crawford had a long history with Patten. They worked together at St. Louis Community College in Missouri. Patten also led Vickie Palmer’s for-profit business, Signal Hill. . Patten is again working with Palmer — as a consultant to the Palmer University System board and at the newly created Vickie A. Palmer Foundation, Palmer and Patten said, adding that the two entities are completely separate. . Frank Bemis was the president of the International Alumni Association at the time of the no-confidence vote in 1997. He is now a member of the board. . “The board functioned for too long in an information vacuum,” he said in a statement released by the board. “Hiring Larry Patten on a temporary basis to collect information has been an important step in regaining the board’s oversight role of the university system. Mr. Patten facilitated the flow of information between the board and the chancellor so that it could make more effective decisions.” . Bemis said he has re-evaluated his opinion about Patten. . “It is also important to note that the alumni, based on what we know today of the university’s operations, were mistaken in our assessment of Mr. Patten’s past performance as Palmer’s chief operating officer. I am confident that Mr. Patten’s temporary fact-gathering assistance will speed the transition to better things within the Palmer Chiropractic University System.” . And Crawford added in the statement: “Seeing these resolutions, it is clear that they are in the best interest of Palmer College,” he said of the resolutions that prompted Riekeman’s resignation. “I could have lived with the resolutions. Obviously, if that would have happened during my tenure, it would have signaled that I needed to take the initiative to communicate more effectively with the board and make sure that I was carrying out the requirements of my administrative position.” . Patten said he simply hopes to help the institution. . “I care very deeply about Palmer. If I can be of help, I want to be helpful,” he said. . Alumni no confidence — again . Alumni are organizing a vote of no-confidence in the board of trustees, a challenge to gather because chiropractors are spread across the world, said Mary Flannery of Durant, Iowa, who is organizing the effort. . A Web site will gather opinions on whether chiropractors support the board or Riekeman, she said. The site will be up early this week. . She supports Riekeman’s return, but said this battle is just not about his return. . “This is about direction and lack of accountability,” she said. . The alumni are questioning the board, which is elected by a group of nine people known as certificate holders, including Vickie Palmer. . Janet Cuhel of Cedar Rapids graduated from Palmer in 1993 and is the president of the Iowa alumni. She called Riekeman’s resignation a “very, very unfortunate course of events” for Palmer and the chiropractic profession. . “The board statement has been that everything will stay the same,” she said. “The people that they have put in the position of leadership — their vision is completely different. So all of the phenominal pieces that Dr. Riekeman put in place will not be followed.” . Cuhel practices with 1966 graduate Gene Cretsinger, who said Riekeman “brought vision, integrity and a hope for freedom to practice chiropractic as a wellness and human potential model.” . A member of the President’s Club, Cretsinger has pulled his financial support from the school. . “I want Palmer to have the best leadership that is available in the chiropractic profession,” he said. “That leadership is best expressed through Dr. Riekeman in his abilities to articulate that message and draw people. If Dr. Riekeman is not there, I am going to support wherever he goes with that vision.” . Other alumni contacted by the Times expressed similar opinions, including some who said they cast a no-confidence ballot in 1997 and they are prepared to do it again. The alumni association’s past president’s council has also called upon the association’s executive committee to issue a statement in support of the reinstatement of Riekeman. . Alumni association president Kirk Lee, who previously voiced his support for the board, could not be reached for further comment. . Eric Russell, president of the Texas alumni association, said Riekeman brought a feeling of excitement to chiropractic. The profession refers to it as “spizzerinctum,” Russell said. . Student no confidence . The student no-confidence vote, sent to the board Friday after they did not receive a response to their request for dialogue between the board and Riekeman, contained 759 signatures. It calls for the immediate reinstatement of Riekeman. The document states that the $35 million capital campaign for a learning resource center “is in jeopardy.” It predicts the campaign will fail. . “Student pride in Palmer College will and has dropped; activities and growth will stall and fade,” the document continues. “Student recruitment will fall just as other chiropractic colleges has, a severe financial loss to Palmer Chiropractic University System can be expected.” . The students say the board has made an “abrupt and foolish decision without anybody qualified to even begin to fulfill the standards, knowledge and presentation of Dr. Guy Riekeman’s job.” . Failure to reinstate, the students promise, will “result in further action taken by the students” if their request is not complied with by Wednesday. . A table on the Palmer campus, adorned with posters shouting support for Riekeman, was a gathering place for signatures. Students are wearing purple ribbons in support of him. An e-mail account, [email protected], is receiving student comments. . Students plan to march down Brady Street to Vickie Palmer’s office Tuesday to show their support for Riekeman, according to the Palmer Beacon, the student newspaper. The week of turmoil is documented on the newspaper’s Web site at www.palmerbeacon.com. . They wonder when and if they will meet with Vickie Palmer. . Palmer said Saturday she hopes to meet with faculty and student leaders, but has not set up a time to do so. . The future . Vickie Palmer will be reading the correspondence sent to the board about Riekeman’s resignation this week, she said. An office at the school has been collecting the information. The alumni Web site to collect votes of support for the board or for Riekeman will be up in a couple of days, Flannery said. And students are making plans to continue their protests. . Riekeman believes there are bigger issues to be resolved than whether he is the leader. He hopes, but does not anticipate, that he will return to work at the institution. . “I never thought short of a miracle that they would give me my job back,” he said. . Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or [email protected]. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004.

The research capabilities of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) in Davenport, Iowa, have been bolstered by the addition of three experienced researchers. Maria Hondras, D.C., M.P.H., Dana Lawrence, D.C., F.I.C.C., and Edward Owens Jr., M.S., D.C., joined the PCCR research faculty between November 2003 and January 2004. The PCCR is the world’s largest chiropractic research facility and headquarters of the National Institutes of Health’s Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research. The addition of these three respected research scientists to the Palmer research team comes on the heels of a recent $2.7 million grant from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health. The grant allows Palmer to establish the Center for the Study of Mechanisms and Effects of Chiropractic Adjustments, a three-year, collaborative project with National University of Health Sciences, Kansas State University, the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the University of Iowa. “Adding experienced scholars like Drs. Owens, Lawrence and Hondras significantly increases our ability to expand Palmer’s research program, especially in the areas of clinical research and technology assessment. We expect each of these faculty members to use the resources of the center to pursue funding opportunities, conduct studies and publish new data regarding chiropractic theory and practice,” said William Meeker, D.C., M.P.H., vice president for research for the Palmer Chiropractic University System. Maria Hondras, D.C., M.P.H., earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Ill., in 1989, and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1993. Prior to joining the research faculty at the PCCR as associate professor, Dr. Hondras was a health and safety specialist for the UPS North Illinois District, served as a consultant to the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research, and was a scholar-in-residence at Western States Chiropractic College. From 1986 to 1998, she served on the research, postgraduate and clinical faculty at the National College of Chiropractic and has maintained a limited home-office practice since 1989. Dr. Hondras has more than 10 years experience with the design, management and oversight of clinical trials in chiropractic and has conducted trial management workshops in North America, Europe and Australia. Since 1995, she has served on the Advisory Board of the Cochrane Collaboration Complementary Medicine Field. She has published numerous research studies in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Spine and Pain. Dana Lawrence, D.C., F.I.C.C., has more than 24 years teaching and administrative experience in chiropractic education with an emphasis on teaching spinal and extravertebral chiropractic technique and orthopedics. With expertise as a biomedical editor, writer and textbook consultant, he has served as the editor of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics since 1987, and also is editor of Journal of Chiropractic Medicine and Journal of Chiropractic Humanities. Dr. Lawrence has published numerous textbooks, including “Fundamentals of Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management,” and “Chiropractic Technique: Principles and Practice” (with Tom Bergmann and David Peterson). Dr. Lawrence received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Ill., in 1979. Prior to joining the PCCR research faculty in January 2004 as an associate professor, he was Dean of the Lincoln College of Postprofessional, Graduate and Continuing Education at National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, and concurrently served as Director of the Department of Publication and Editorial Review and a professor in the Chiropractic Technique Department. Edward F. Owens Jr., M.S., D.C., received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College in 1986, and a Master of Science in engineering science and mechanics from Georgia Tech in 1980. Prior to joining the PCCR research faculty as an associate professor, Dr. Owens was director of research for Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. He served as editor of the Chiropractic Research Journal from 1995 to 1998 and was a member of the research faculty of Life College from 1983 to 1990 and from 1994 to 1998. He also maintained a private practice in Decatur, Georgia, from 1987 to 1998. His areas of expertise are biomechanics and clinical research, with a particular interest in muscle tone changes that accompany vertebral subluxation. He has made many presentations and published numerous articles on these subjects in peer-reviewed journals.

Guy Riekeman resigned as president of Palmer College of Chiropractic and chancellor of the Palmer system last week because of conflicts with the board of trustees but would return if those disagreements are resolved. Speaking Monday night to students at a standing-room-only session at First Baptist Church near the Davenport campus, he said the way he was allowed to communicate with the board contributed to his resignation. He also said he has a “serious concern” about the board “crossing the line from governance into management.” He had been presented with board resolutions that would have “stripped administration of all its authority,” said Riekeman, President of Palmer College since 1998 and chancellor since July of the system that includes the school in Davenport and campuses in California and Florida. “It became for me an impossible working environment,” he said during the hour-long session where he received two standing ovations. The school’s enrollment is solid, and its financial situation is good, Riekeman said. But communication with the board has been “difficult” since shortly after he was named chancellor. He could not communicate with individual board members directly and ultimately, communication was through Vickie Palmer’s office only, he said. Palmer is chairman of the board and great-granddaughter of founder D.D. Palmer. Palmer said Monday that it is the job of the chancellor to keep in touch with the board, and that the chairman is the point person for the board. Palmer said the board has several functions, including policy and financial, as well as appointing leadership. “We understand our role very well,” she said. And as for Riekeman’s return, she said: “The board accepted his resignation and I believe that the board stands true to that.” Earlier in the day, students protested over the noon hour at the campus along Brady Street in Davenport. About 150 students carrying signs showed their support for Riekeman while standing in the cold. The signs read: “Keep the good Guy.” “Fledgling chiros unite for Riekeman.” “Palmer’s future needs Riekeman.” One sign, “United we stand for Riekeman” required six people to hold. Bolden Harris, president of the student council, said Riekeman was moving the college and the chiropractic profession in the right direction. “He’s a man of integrity. He’s got a great vision for this school and the profession,” he said of Riekeman as the crowd cheered in the background and a car drove by honking its horn. Interim president Don Kern, while watching the protest from a fourth-floor window, encouraged students to base their opinions on fact, not emotion. He acknowledged that Riekeman had been a “very popular” president but hopes students will concentrate on the work they are there to do. “It saddens me to see them being so distracted from their studies,” he said. Students also passed around two petitions on Monday. One asked the board and Riekeman to talk about his return to leadership. The second was for a no-confidence vote in Vickie Palmer and the board. Riekeman said he is not asking, nor will not ask, students to protest or leave the school, just to follow their own conscience. “I’ve always been known for integrity and responsibility. I don’t want to incite people to do things,” he said. He is asking those contributing to the school’s $35 million capital campaign to continue to do so. Riekeman has received other job offers, but he and his wife, Annie, will not consider anything for at least a month, he said. He hopes to return to Palmer. “I want to go back to work,” he said. “There is no better place to get a chiropractic education.” Ann McGlynn can be contacted at. (563) 383-2336 or [email protected]. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004.

The president of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, who also served as the chancellor for the entire Palmer system, resigned this week after just eight months as chancellor and five years as president. Guy Riekeman’s resignation is effective immediately, according to a statement released Friday afternoon. At the same time, the board of trustees announced plans to “realign the university’s administrative team and refocus on critical topics.” Vickie Palmer, chairperson of the system’s board of trustees and great-granddaughter of the school’s founder, said Riekeman requested the board keep the reason behind his resignation confidential. She said the system will be “keeping the same focus in educating the best chiropractic students.” Don Kern, who served as Palmer’s president from 1987 to 1994, will take over again as the leader of the central Davenport campus on an interim basis. Kern promised a smooth transition. “We’re moving ahead with all of the initiatives started under Riekeman,” he said, mentioning in particular the development of the new Florida campus and the continuation of the $35 million capital campaign for a learning resource center in Davenport. Kern received a phone call from the board Thursday, asking him to step into the president’s role again, he said. He also declined to answer why Riekeman resigned. Riekeman could not be reached for comment Friday by the Quad-City Times. Riekeman became the school’s eighth president in the fall of 1998 after the death of then-president Virgil Strang shortly before his retirement. A motivational speaker and creator of several professional development seminar programs, Riekeman is a 1972 graduate of Palmer. He had been an X-ray instructor, dean of philosophy and vice president of Sherman Chiropractic College in Spartanburg, S.C. One year before his presidential appointment, he was named executive director of the Palmer Institute for Professional Advancement. At the time, he said he anticipated chiropractic would become less of an “alternative” form of health care. “There is no question in my mind that in the short term, chiropractic will be a major player and in the long term, it will be a leader in the new definition of health care today,” he said. Riekeman was named chancellor of the Palmer system in summer 2003. He was to oversee Palmer and its two colleges in California and Florida, as well as the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer Institute of Professional Advancement and Palmer Foundation of Chiropractic History. Palmer is 109 years old and is credited as the beginning of chiropractic education, started by the profession’s founder, Daniel David Palmer. It has 40,000 alumni, 550 employees and 2,400 students. Kirk Lee, president of Palmer’s alumni association, said the association supports the college and the board of trustees in its decision. “The president will come and go, but the alumni will always be there,” said Lee, who practices in Albion, Mich. Brent Warner, who will graduate from Palmer in three weeks, said he respects Riekeman for his accomplishments at Palmer, especially his recruitment efforts. A difference of opinion about chiropractic theory led to Riekeman’s resignation, Warner added. Warner’s serves on the school’s student council and says he received several e-mails and phone calls Friday afternoon about Riekeman’s departure as word spread. “It’s a split. There’s a lot of students who aren’t unhappy with this decision,” Warner said. “There’s a lot of students who came to this college because of Guy Riekeman. There are some who really love the guy, some who really don’t.” Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or [email protected]. This information is reprinted with permission of the Quad-City Times. Copyright 2004.

In what many consider a ground breaking move in healthcare education, D’Youville College has announced it will be offering a Doctor of Chiropractic program beginning in 2004. D’Youville will be the first standard accredited multi-disciplinary college in New York State to “mainstream” chiropractic education by offering the Doctor of Chiropractic degree and only the second college in the country to do so. (The University of Bridgeport in Connecticut started their program in 1990.) Canada, a major source of students for D’Youville, has only one school of chiropractic.. The State Education Department approved the program in June and D’Youville is now actively recruiting freshmen students. Previously, students interested in the chiropractic profession had to attend one of 16 single purpose institutions nationwide primarily dedicated to chiropractic education. Now, with D’Youville entering the field, a student will take liberal arts and science courses required for an undergraduate degree with students from other health-related disciplines and then embark on professional level evidence-based chiropractic studies. Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. It focuses on the relationship between body structure, primarily of the spine, and function as coordinated by the nervous system and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. The name is taken from the Greek words “cheiros” (hand) and “praktos” (done by) and combined to create “chiropractor” or “done by hand.” “This new program will be the cornerstone of our Integrative Holistic Health Department at D’Youville,” says Sister Denise A. Roche, president. “In addition to our current certificate program in hospice and palliative care, we envision that the department will eventually add future offerings in the areas of acupuncture, integrative healing, and transpersonal psychology.” D’Youville will offer the chiropractic program on two levels: one that will provide the student with the opportunity to complete the Bachelor of Science in Biology degree and the Doctor of Chiropractic in seven years and one for transfer and/or ‘second career students’ who, if they have an undergraduate degree and meet academic requirements, can earn their Doctor of Chiropractic in four years. Students entering the program at the freshmen level will pay undergraduate tuition throughout the seven-year program, according to D’Youville officials. The program will be centered on the fourth floor of the college’s Academic Center where a state-of-the art chiropractic clinic will be built for the clinical training portion of the program. “D’Youville began studying the feasibility of offering academic programs related to complementary and alternative therapies three years ago. The selection of chiropractic as the first program was based on a number of factors, including the fact that chiropractic is both alternative and mainstream as well and the profession has gained popular acceptance” according to Dr. Paul T. Hageman, chair of the Department of Integrative Holistic Health Studies and lead faculty member for development of the program. Also, the fact that the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy recommends the integration of complementary and alternative medicine into the mainstream healthcare system encouraged D’Youville’s development of the program. Two-thirds of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) offer at least one form of alternative care with the most common being chiropractic (65%) and acupuncture (31%), according to a study conducted by National Market Measures, for Landmark Healthcare Inc., a company specializing in the development and delivery of management programs for musculoskeletal disorders and rehabilitation services. “The steadily increasing acceptance and use of chiropractic by the public, third-party payers, and the Federal Government indicate that chiropractic is no longer the marginal profession it was once considered to be,” Hageman said. “As part of our feasibility study, we surveyed 1991 licensed chiropractors randomly selected from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Ontario. Our survey concluded that the demand for chiropractic care at the national, state or provincial levels will continue to increase during the next decade, there are sufficient individuals interested in becoming chiropractors, and the majority of chiropractors support the integration of chiropractic programs into university and college settings,” he said. “Students will focus on human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology, diagnostic imaging, chiropractic diagnosis and analysis, adjustive techniques and will complete a strong graduate-core research requirement,” Hageman said.. “In addition, they will be integrated into classes in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dietetics and other health related courses The intent of this integrative and collaborative approach is to facilitate communication among professionals and to bring about an enhancement of patient care.” The college expects approximately 30 students to sign up for the new program in the next academic year. D’Youville’s long history of health care education, beginning in 1942 with the area’s first four-year nursing degree program, was followed by the addition of occupational and physical therapy, a physician assistant program and a dietetics program in the 1980s. Graduate programs in nursing, health care administration, and a number of health related certificate programs were also added. Chiropractic is recognized today as one of the largest healthcare professions in the United States and chiropractors are currently licensed in all states. In 1970 there were approximately 13,000 licensed chiropractors with the number increasing to 81,000 in 2000, according to the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards. BACKGROUND The modern history of chiropractic began with Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a teacher/healer and the person considered the founder of the practice. He was born in Port Perry, Ontario in 1845 and 20 years later moved to Iowa opening his first practice in Burlington. His son, Bartlett J. Palmer, was an early pioneer in radio and owned several radio stations. A firm believer in advertising and mentored in the art by his friend Elbert Hubbard, who established his Roycroft printing plant and furniture factory in East Aurora, Palmer is credited with the growth of the chiropractic profession. “B.J.” helped his father build Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa into one of the largest chiropractic colleges in the U.S. He is credited with establishing the school’s prominence and with helping to have chiropractic accepted by both the public and legislators. Palmer died in 1961. Early history shows “manipulation” described in an ancient text dating back to 2650 B.C. by travelers to Asia in which tissue manipulation was a part of therapy. In 1500 B.C., the Greeks were recording their successes in lower back treatments. In 1983, the American Public Health Association (APHA), after years of research, initiated a policy statement that recognizes spinal manipulation as a safe and effective treatment for certain neuromusculoskeletal disorders, including the treatment of lower back pain. - 30 – Contact: Dr. Paul T. Hageman, chair of the Integrative Department of Holistic Health, D’Youville College. 881-7793 office, 532-5094 home.

At its meeting on December 8, 2003, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) denied reaffirmation of accreditation, continued accreditation, and continued the probation for another year. For failure to comply with Criteria Section 1.4 (Condition of Eligibility Thirteen—Finances) and Section 6.3.1 (Financial Resources). SACS's will provide written confirmation, probably by the end of next month. According to a story in Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the school officials see it as a small victory in a tumultuous few years. Life University, is located in Marietta, Georgia

Life’s lost its accreditation in June 2002 and has since suffered a huge decease in enrollment. Life got their accreditation back, but due to bad public relations their image was hurt and enrollment has remained low. With so few students, the university can no longer pay back its debts, totaling $30.7 million. The SPSU foundation plans to take on Life’s debt, buying the campus for a fraction of it’s appraised worth. The foundation plans to take on Life’s $30.7 million debt, which comes out to be a $2.7 million annual payment. This is a great deal since the campus was appraised for $52 million. The foundation intends to pay the debt with bonds, which they will subsequently pay off with monies from rent to be paid by Life University, SPSU, and possibly the Georgia Public Library Service. Life will rent back 50% to 60% of the campus (four or five buildings). SPSU will also pay the rent for the portions of campus they use. Since SPSU’s budget is already tight, Dr. Rossbacher is trying to get the Board of Regents (BoR) to take over SPSU’s rental costs. On November 18, the BoR approved the foundations proposal to begin planning for the purchase of the land. Early next semester, when planning is finished, Dr. Rossbacher will give the formal proposal requesting that the BoR take on SPSU’s rental costs. Unfortunately, even if the BoR does approve the proposal, they cannot legally guarantee that the money will be available every year. Dr. Rossbacher commented that the BoR does not make rash investments so if they approve the money, she asserted that they will most likely make the money available every year. Along with the acquisition of the campus, the foundation will also buy the apartments located on Life’s campus. The foundation plans to finance these apartments in the same way as the University Courtyard on SPSU’s campus – the foundation will sell bonds to pay for the apartments up front and use rent for the apartments to pay off the bonds. Unlike the University Courtyard, Life’s apartments are going to be used for married couples that attend SPSU, Life, and possibly Kennesaw State University. The apartments will add 128 units with some apartments having 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. The merging of the SPSU and Life’s campuses will add a lot of space to SPSU. SPSU is 226 acres now and the addition of the Life campus will add another 89 acres, plus a few more with the apartments. There would be an additional 12 buildings with a total of 433,000 square feet of space. One of the buildings SPSU will be getting is the “Tree House,” which was built before the 1900’s and was the house of the old caretaker of Marietta’s water supply. This building has a big commercial kitchen, a dining room, and many meeting rooms. Dr. Rossbacher hopes that it can be used as a fundraising tool and for campus events since the student center has become very popular and SPSU organizations and faculty sometimes cannot get space for events. The 1415 building on the far end of Life campus would be used for classrooms if the Georgia Public Library Service doesn’t rent it. Most of the other space on campus is good for seminars rather than classrooms, except for in the gymnasium. The gym has classroom space along with basketball courts and athletic facilities. Another addition is going to be a well-manicured soccer stadium and two rugby fields. The foundation, in addition to the purchase of Life’s campus, plans to give SPSU $5 million to renovate both campuses. Two plans for this money are to convert the old gym on SPSU’s campus into studio space and tear down the I-building. The two campuses will also be connected with a road. The road that runs in front of the utilities buildings, which almost connects the campuses, most likely will be extended to unite SPSU and Life. Another place for suitable for a road has not been identified. Walkways, foot bridges, and maybe bike paths will be put in. Further, the fence that now separates the campuses will be taken down. Right now, Life is under Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review. On December 6-9, Life is sending a delegate to represent them at the annual meeting of the SACS board in Nashville, TN, where the board will reveal its decision on Life’s accreditation. Dr. Rossbacher is confident that even if Life is unable to rent the property from the foundation, SPSU will figure out a way to keep the campus. Rossbacher stated that there are other parties that are interested in renting parts of the campus and added that the foundation has been looking at Life campus for a long time, which she emphasized makes her confident that they would look at all situations seriously in hopes of acquiring the property. Life University will be added to SPSU by July 2004 if everything goes as planned. The BoR must approve the proposal for final planning and financing of the acquisition. This means that by fall semester next year, Life will likely be part of the campus. Life’s lost its accreditation in June 2002 and has since suffered a huge decease in enrollment. Life got their accreditation back, but due to bad public relations their image was hurt and enrollment has remained low. With so few students, the university can no longer pay back its debts, totaling $30.7 million. The SPSU foundation plans to take on Life’s debt, buying the campus for a fraction of it’s appraised worth. The foundation plans to take on Life’s $30.7 million debt, which comes out to be a $2.7 million annual payment. This is a great deal since the campus was appraised for $52 million. The foundation intends to pay the debt with bonds, which they will subsequently pay off with monies from rent to be paid by Life University, SPSU, and possibly the Georgia Public Library Service. Life will rent back 50% to 60% of the campus (four or five buildings). SPSU will also pay the rent for the portions of campus they use. Since SPSU’s budget is already tight, Dr. Rossbacher is trying to get the Board of Regents (BoR) to take over SPSU’s rental costs. On November 18, the BoR approved the foundations proposal to begin planning for the purchase of the land. Early next semester, when planning is finished, Dr. Rossbacher will give the formal proposal requesting that the BoR take on SPSU’s rental costs. Unfortunately, even if the BoR does approve the proposal, they cannot legally guarantee that the money will be available every year. Dr. Rossbacher commented that the BoR does not make rash investments so if they approve the money, she asserted that they will most likely make the money available every year. Along with the acquisition of the campus, the foundation will also buy the apartments located on Life’s campus. The foundation plans to finance these apartments in the same way as the University Courtyard on SPSU’s campus – the foundation will sell bonds to pay for the apartments up front and use rent for the apartments to pay off the bonds. Unlike the University Courtyard, Life’s apartments are going to be used for married couples that attend SPSU, Life, and possibly Kennesaw State University. The apartments will add 128 units with some apartments having 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. The merging of the SPSU and Life’s campuses will add a lot of space to SPSU. SPSU is 226 acres now and the addition of the Life campus will add another 89 acres, plus a few more with the apartments. There would be an additional 12 buildings with a total of 433,000 square feet of space. One of the buildings SPSU will be getting is the “Tree House,” which was built before the 1900’s and was the house of the old caretaker of Marietta’s water supply. This building has a big commercial kitchen, a dining room, and many meeting rooms. Dr. Rossbacher hopes that it can be used as a fundraising tool and for campus events since the student center has become very popular and SPSU organizations and faculty sometimes cannot get space for events. The 1415 building on the far end of Life campus would be used for classrooms if the Georgia Public Library Service doesn’t rent it. Most of the other space on campus is good for seminars rather than classrooms, except for in the gymnasium. The gym has classroom space along with basketball courts and athletic facilities. Another addition is going to be a well-manicured soccer stadium and two rugby fields. The foundation, in addition to the purchase of Life’s campus, plans to give SPSU $5 million to renovate both campuses. Two plans for this money are to convert the old gym on SPSU’s campus into studio space and tear down the I-building. The two campuses will also be connected with a road. The road that runs in front of the utilities buildings, which almost connects the campuses, most likely will be extended to unite SPSU and Life. Another place for suitable for a road has not been identified. Walkways, foot bridges, and maybe bike paths will be put in. Further, the fence that now separates the campuses will be taken down. Right now, Life is under Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review. On December 6-9, Life is sending a delegate to represent them at the annual meeting of the SACS board in Nashville, TN, where the board will reveal its decision on Life’s accreditation. Dr. Rossbacher is confident that even if Life is unable to rent the property from the foundation, SPSU will figure out a way to keep the campus. Rossbacher stated that there are other parties that are interested in renting parts of the campus and added that the foundation has been looking at Life campus for a long time, which she emphasized makes her confident that they would look at all situations seriously in hopes of acquiring the property. Life University will be added to SPSU by July 2004 if everything goes as planned. The BoR must approve the proposal for final planning and financing of the acquisition. This means that by fall semester next year, Life will likely be part of the campus.