LIFE's President States a Need to Clarify that Issues Are Related to How Students Are Categorized and Counted in Relation to Degree Completion

In a letter sent to Life University students, staff and faculty on September 4, 2019, Life's President Robert Scott DC, Ph.D stated that previous reporting by the Chronicle implies that the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) identified and added additional issues in regards to LIFE'S Doctor of Chiropractic Program Probation Status related to Policy 56 completion rates.

CLICK HERE to review that article

CLICK HERE to Review the August 5, 2019 CCE Announcement

As can be seen, it is clear from the CCE's Announcement that the issues were identified through LIFE's Program Characteristics Report (PCR).

According to the CCE's August 5, 2019 ACCREDITATION ACTIONS Announcement, reported on and linked to in the Chronicle's article, the Council stated verbatim:

"The Council also reviewed the new information provided in the Program Characteristics Report regarding the critical review of associated student information system policies and procedures which identified 'systems issues, data governance issues and data integrity issues.' Therefore, during the upcoming focused site visit, the team will also review/verify these areas in concert with the information requested regarding program completion rates (CCE Policy 56)."

The review and verification of the "systems, data governance and data integrity issues" that were identified were then added to the tasks to be completed during the upcoming site team visit to LIFE in the coming month.

Since the "systems, data governance and data integrity issues" were not previously identified in LIFE's reporting and since the CCE stated that the visiting site team would "also review/verify these areas" it is clear they were additional issues that will be addressed.

Scott further insisted that the "systems, data governance and data integrity issues" are only related to how students are categorized and counted in relation to degree completion.

LIFE faculty, staff, students and alumni have expressed concern about the nuances of the reporting from LIFE regarding its accreditation status and according to a letter distributed by the Student Council the Student Council had even contacted the CCE to discuss these issues and seek clarification following a meeting with LIFE's Administration.

Previous reporting by LIFE of its student completion (graduation rates) on its website as required by CCE Policy 56 had been changed to reflect slightly better rates for the same time periods ranging from just 1.5 to 3 percentage points. According to current faculty, LIFE has apparently blamed the discrepancies on those responsible for reporting those data. These are some of the issues that will need to be reviewed and verified by the CCE's upcoming Site Team Visit.

CLICK HERE: LIFE Graduation Rate Data January 2019

CLICK HERE: LIFE Graduation Rate Data August 2019

According to CCE's Policy 56:

In keeping with the CCE Accreditation Standards requirements concerning student outcomes, the following are established as thresholds. Performance below these thresholds, as derived from data obtained by the Council, will indicate the need for further review and action as determined by the Council. Completion of the D.C. Degree Program: The two-year average completion rate, calculated at 150% of the time normally designated for completion of the DC degree, must be at least 70%. That means 21 quarters for a 14 quarter program.

LIFE's most recent reporting for Spring Quarter 2019 shows a 55.3% Completion Rate. According to faculty, LIFE's Dean - Leslie King DC, has told them that LIFE expects to have additional rates that fall below the 70% threshold before it improves.

In the end, LIFE University's President in his letter - contrived an implication and then declared his own implication as false in an effort to engage in scapegoating over the sparse amount of information being provided to LIFE's constituents regarding these issues.

In his letter, Scott also revealed concerns circulating amongst the students that LIFE was moving to a semester/trimester system and transitioning from a quarter system. Scott stated this was still being evaluated and that no decision had yet been made by the Board of Trustees.

LIFE has long considered moving out of a quarter system into a more drawn out semester/trimester system in order to give students a longer period of time to deal with coursework. It is thought that such a move would improve LIFE's graduation rates.

LIFE has previously blamed their low completion rates on CCE's Policy 56 which LIFE claims directly conflicts with the current state of inequity regarding program completion rates seen nationally. LIFE stated the reason is that:

". . . nearly half of our students identify as students of diversity. When you consider national 'time-to-completion' data for students of diversity, especially first-generation and socio-economically disadvantaged students, this CCE policy directly conflicts with the current state of inequity regarding program completion rates seen nationally."

In addition to this, LIFE has added these issues related to how students are categorized and counted in relation to degree completion to explain its failure to meet CCE's Policy requirements. 

CLICK HERE to read Scott's letter

CLICK HERE for more on LIFE's Accreditation Issues