Life University
Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia. It was established in 1974 by chiropractor Sid E. Williams. History. Life University was founded in 1974 by Sid E. Williams as Life Chiropractic College. The school was established on the site of a placer gold mine, next to Southern Technical Institute (later Southern Polytechnic State University and now Kennesaw State University - Marietta Campus). 22 students attended the first classes in January 1975. In 1989 the name of the school was shortened to Life College, as the school recently had opened an undergraduate  program and was no longer purely chiropractic. This undergraduate program allowed Life to establish an intercollegiate athletic program. By 1990, the school had grown to become the largest college of chiropractic in the world. In March 2004, Guy Riekeman, former Chancellor of the Palmer Chiropractic University System, was appointed as the President of Life University. In 2017 Rob Scott took over as President of the university and Riekeman became Chancellor. Accreditation. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor, master's and doctoral degrees. The doctoral degree program is also accredited by  the Council on Chiropractic Education. Two programs in dietetics are accredited by the American Dietetic Association. Athletics. Life University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes at the NAIA Division I level in the Mid-South Conference since the 2014–15 school year; after years competing as an Independent from the inception of its athletic program (with its tenure of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) from 2008–09 to 2011–12, and during the 2013–14 school year), and only one season in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) during the 2012–13 school year. Their nickname is the  Running Eagles. Men's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, rugby, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading. On 16 December 2020, Life announced that they will leave the Mid-South Conference to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), effectively the 2022–23 school year. Intercollegiate Rugby Program. The Running Eagles reached the national quarterfinals in 2011 in its first season. Life reached the national semifinals in the 2011–12 season, and finished the season ranked #2  in the country. In 2018 and 2019 Life U beat the California Golden Bears to become back to back national champions. Life University has been successful in rugby sevens. Life won the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. Life U won the spring 2012 Las Vegas Invitational, earning a berth at the June 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship, where Life U went undefeated in pool play and reached the semifinals. The CRC tournament, played at PPL Park in Philadelphia, is the highest profile college rugby tournament in the US and is broadcast live every year on NBC. Life U won  the fall 2012 South Independent 7s tournament. This victory earned Life an automatic berth and a chance to defend its title at the fall 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships, where Life U went 5–1 and finished second in the tournament, losing in the Cup Championship match to rival Arkansas State. In 2013, Life U went 5–1 at the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships to finish 5th. Men's senior rugby. Since 1986, Life U has played at a senior level, including a stint in the Rugby Super League from 1997 to 2002. Life U rejoined the RSL  in 2009.