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Left : Life University Doctor of Chiropractic students study in the Anatomage Lab , which features digital 3-D dissection tables rather than cadavers . Center and Right : Before reopening its campus to students , faculty , staff and visitors , LIFE implemented required daily temperature checks for all individuals .
we don ’ t know what the future will hold . Making sure that we have a program where students want to be here and want to be a part of it — to make this program so unique and so sought after that we have to start a waiting list .”
Dr . King said she doesn ’ t know what to expect over the next five years , and that her answer may have been different if she had been asked prior to the pandemic . “ But I know that I want to make sure that we are prepared , as a program , to sustain challenges or natural disasters or recessions . My dream for the next five years would be to create a program that ’ s bulletproof , that can sustain and adapt to any type of outside variables that it comes up against .”
The job of dean is not one that Dr . King takes for granted .
“ I am very proud to be a part of Life University , and the individuals that work in the chiropractic program are the ones that really need to be highlighted — the faculty , the staff , the associate deans . It ’ s not a ‘ me thing ;’ it ’ s ‘ we and us .’ They have stood the test of time and stepped up to the plate to hold this program together during this challenging time . I just don ’ t know how to thank them enough and even be able to begin to show my gratitude for everything that they do and their commitment to the program and Life University . Without them , we don ’ t exist .”
College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies
The transition to virtual instruction was also an obstacle for Life University ’ s College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies ( CGUS ).
“ However , faculty and students accepted the challenge and adapted to remote learning ,” CGUS Dean Dr . Jana Holwick said . “ Faculty changed their approach to teaching and learning , which carries over into the classroom now that everyone is back on campus and schedules are normal . Staff within CGUS have been a great help as well . It was difficult to manage everything remotely , particularly when the reason for being remote is a crisis impacting everyone . We ’ ve all learned and grown from this experience .”
Even though education looked a little different in 2020 , Dr . Holwick pointed out , “ CGUS graduated some of our largest classes during the past year , which speaks to the growth of our programs as well as the persistence of our students .”
According to Dr . Holwick , CGUS added several fulltime faculty members over the last year .
“ Jason Shepard joined us in the Biopsychology program , and Stephanie Sears in the Psychology program at Arrendale ,” the state prison which is home to the Chillon Project , Dr . Holwick said . “ Charlie Farmer is heading up efforts within our academic learning center and teaching English courses while also providing tutoring to undergraduate students . Stephanie Wakefield has joined us in the Natural Sciences to be our point person in the Human Ecology program .”
Dr . Holwick also pointed out the loss of a significant member of the CGUS family .
“ CGUS lost a foundational faculty member in the passing of Raj Pradhan ,” she said . “ Raj was part of the fabric of the undergraduate programs and was a faculty member for more than 30 years at LIFE . He was among those who started the College of Arts and Sciences , the precursor to CGUS . Raj will be missed by students and faculty alike .”
In the year ahead , Dr . Holwick said some changes are on the horizon .
“ We will be concentrating on streamlining processes and simplifying a student ’ s pathway to graduation , looking at everything from curriculum to course schedules ,” she explained . “ We will also begin focusing on items from LAMP II [ LIFE Academic Master Plan II ] and beginning the development of new programs .”
College of Online Education When Life University shifted gears to remote learning , the College of Online Education helped lead the way .
“ We ’ ve needed to be so much of a support for the University on the ground , whether it be on course design or technology , or other support ,” College of Online Education Dean Dr . Richard Belcastro said . “ It ’ s kind of been an all-hands-on-deck effort for that .”
Even so , the College added a new academic program in 2020 , as the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies became an online-only degree .
“ We ’ re still working on bringing new programs online ,” Dr . Belcastro explained . “ What we ’ re looking at two-fold : those programs that can be delivered in an online modality in a way that the students can be successful , and to bring those programs over that provide a good pathway for employment for students . We want to make sure that we ’ re getting those areas that are in demand and where students , once they graduate , can be employed in a rewarding career .”
Dr . Belcastro said he hopes additional degree programs can be up and running soon .
“ With the pandemic , more people want completely online learning as an option ,” he said . “ They ’ re
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