Life's Probation Extended
In a further sign of the re-emergence of Life University, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) has extended the school's probation period through December 2004. According to a statement on the SACS Web site, Life's probation was extended an additional 12 months for failing to comply with two sections of the association's criteria for accreditation, both of which related to financial resources.
SACS originally placed Life on probation in December 2002, after a yearlong review found serious deficiencies with the school's finances and business operations. In 2001, the agency issued a public warning against the university, a step just below probationary status in terms of sanctions. The warning recommended 52 separate changes to the school's infrastructure and was based on a variety of factors, including financial instability, mismanagement and poor faculty instruction and preparation.
Had the association chosen to revoke Life's accreditation, the school would have suffered a serious setback in its attempts to reorganize itself. Without regional accreditation, students could not qualify for federally subsidized student loans. Depending on the type of degree being pursued, tuition costs at Life can amount to between $55,000 and $58,000.
TCC Administrator Helps Design New CAM Course at Rice University
Dr. James Giordano wears many hats at Texas Chiropractic College (TCC): Not only is he the acting chair and director of TCC's department of pathology, he is also the school's director of research. Each position brings with it myriad responsibilities - yet despite his hectic schedule, Dr. Giordano has still found time to work on several projects that help bring awareness of chiropractic and other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to a wider audience.
For the past year, Dr. Giordano, along with other TCC faculty members and research staff from major medical institutions in the Houston area, has worked with Rice University to develop a model course in CAM. The efforts of Dr. Giordano and the others will soon bear fruit with the debut of "Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Integrative Model," which will be offered on the Rice campus for eight consecutive Mondays beginning Feb. 9, featuring Dr. Giordano as a co-instructor.
The course is co-sponsored by several organizations, including The Asia Society Texas; Rice University Department of Religious Studies; Ligmincha Institute-Texas; and the Moody Health Center at TCC. In addition to chiropractic, the course will provide an overview of CAM, with lectures devoted to Eastern systems of healing; mind-body therapies; other manual therapies such as osteopathy and massage; biologically-based therapies such as naturopathy and phytomedicine; and the responsibilities of patients and practitioners.
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