On October 20, 2002, what would have seemed inconceivable just a few years ago happened. Life University Chiropractic College (LUCC) -- the largest chiropractic college in the world -- lost its accreditation and entered a state of educational limbo.

The decision by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) to deny the school's appeal shattered the last hopes of many students that they would be able to complete their training at Life, particularly since neither the CCE nor Life officials could guarantee that the school would ever be able to regain its status.

Dr. Michael J. Schmidt, Life's interim president who took over when Life founder Sid Williams, D.C., resigned this summer, tried to remain optimistic. "Let me assure you that the school will not close," he announced. "Financially, we are capable of keeping the school operating throughout the re-accreditation process, which we are already preparing for."

But even he had to admit that the re-accreditation process might take anywhere from six months to two and a half years.

Most students clearly aren't staying around for that to happen. Already, according to Joseph Belcher, D.C., of Michigan, whose daughter was enrolled in Life, "patients are leaving the clinic (and) very few students are in classes."

Some reports say enrollment was down by half even before the latest CCE announcement. Students have already been transferring to other schools. Palmer College spokeswoman Lori Leipold told a reporter from the Quad-City Times, "We are expecting from 55 to 60 Life University students to transfer to Palmer College in Davenport this fall..." The school noted that it is not actively recruiting Life students, although it has set up programs and services for those inquiring about a transfer.

Some students and doctors blame the CCE for the problem, saying that the decision was politically motivated because Life refused to teach medical diagnosis. "The CCE has destroyed Life and to my knowledge nothing is being done. The monster needs to be stopped," insisted Dr. Belcher. "What college is next? The CCE is the terrorist and the students of chiropractic life in fear."

Others place the blame squarely on Life University itself, saying the school did not live up to its responsibility to provide adequate education. David J. DePalma, a 12th quarter Life student from New Jersey wrote to the CCE stating: "The Life University Administration has violated all the trust of 'higher education' with its student body, as far as I could see over the past three years of my being there. This has probably been so for more than my years there and more than I care to think of."

Several lawsuits have already been filed by students naming the school and Dr. Williams as defendants. In one case, filed by Peter Scire and four other students, the complaint noted that Life "conducted a self study but failed to identify many of the obvious deficiencies, failed to address many areas of major concern to CCE and failed to provide a plan of action and/or to assign responsibility to correct any deficiencies."

They argued that Life had promised the students "they would receive a degree from an accredited university upon completion of all course requirements at LUCC" and that they would be "eligible to sit for any chiropractic licensing examinations offered in the United States once they received their degree from LUCC." The students are asking for a minimum of $250,000 each in compensatory and punitive damages.

In another case, representing 75 students, attorney Joseph Hoffman said of Life officials, "They've been negligent in their duties. They misled and misinformed the students." The number of students named as plaintiffs in the case is expected to rise, possibly to as many as 100.

But for most Life students, figuring out who to blame is the least of their problems. They are faced with difficult decisions, an uncertain future.

In a letter to her state senator, Life student Jennifer Lopez pleaded for government help. "We are all facing many pressing and serious issues today," she wrote. "An economic slump and impending war dwarf most of them. The question of Life University's accreditation might be considered a small issue on a global scale, but it is very real and very threatening to the individuals and community impacted by it. Clearly, this is a most distressing and distracting event for the students who have been so highly motivated and focused on such an important and serious course of study."

World Chiropractic Alliance President Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., sympathizes with students but notes, "It isn't productive to play the blame game at this point. Let's first address the needs of the students involved in this situation. Let's begin by urging both Life and CCE to keep the profession up to date with all the information students need to make the decisions that will affect the rest of their education and lives. Students need to weigh this information carefully, and if possible, turn to their family members, friends, and mentors to seek advice about their options. We don't wish to see anyone who loves chiropractic leave the profession because of this hurdle."

The CCE did offer a glimmer of hope to Life students who may chose to transfer to another school.

"Given the provisions of the CCE Standards and appropriate latitude available to CCE/COA accredited programs in making admissions decisions, transfer of credits earned during the current LUCC term is possible," it announced on Oct. 21. "However, the COA cautions that, before making admission decisions regarding such transfers, the admitting program must carefully evaluate the content of each of the courses proposed for transfer and assure its equivalency with the corresponding course content in the admitting program."

The organization added a precautionary bit of advice: "It is strongly recommended that each transfer student be advised regarding the potential difficulties in obtaining licensure in some jurisdictions due to the somewhat unusual nature of this situation, and that the admitting program secure a signed understanding (waiver of responsibility) in that regard."