Life University students should learn Tuesday morning if their school gets more time to overcome a financial crisis caused by the loss of chiropractic accreditation.

A regional agency that reviews all of its degree programs, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, will announce whether it will continue the university's accreditation. The association's Commission on Colleges voted on the university's status Monday, but did not disclose its decision.

President Ben DeSpain could not be reached for comment. He said previously he expected the university would keep its regional accreditation with a sanction of probation. DeSpain is expected to update students in a campus assembly at 11 this morning.

The Marietta university has been shrinking in size and stature since June, when the Arizona-based Council on Chiropractic Education revoked the accreditation of its chiropractic program.

It has since lost half its students. The founding president, Sid Williams, retired under duress. The $38 million budget has been cut by a quarter, and a highly regarded athletics program that brought the university national publicity has been killed.

More than 2,000 students have withdrawn since June, many transfering to accredited chiropractic schools, according to university records. The exodus has put the university under financial strain. If 1,000 students remain, the loss this academic year could reach $10 million, according to a September review by SACS.

Life now has 1,340 students, about half of them enrolled in the bachelor's and master's programs initially started to complement the chiropractic school.

Life immediately applied to restore its standing, but the chiropractic council rejected its request in November, saying the university has to wait two years before it can re-establish itself.