The 3,300-student university in Marietta has begun a national search for a successor, he said.

	Andy Sharp / AJC Life University founder Sid Williams and wife, Nell, leave after a meeting with students Thursday.

Williams shared his plans with the Council on Chiropractic Education, which announced Monday it had revoked the accreditation of Life's chiropractic program.

The 74-year-old founder said he had decided to resign as president and move to the figurehead role of chancellor before the council revoked the school's accreditation.

The loss of accreditation, considered vital to the school's continued success, stunned the administration, which thought it had resolved the problems cited by the council, Williams said.

Life's chiropractic program had been on probation for a year.

Williams said he respected the council's decision but disagreed with its conclusion that the university had not met standards.

"I do not think the academics of this university are deficient," he said. "The program at Life University is far beyond many of the accredited universities. Students get a superior education."

In a letter to the university, the council's Commission on Accreditation criticized the administration, but did not seek Williams' resignation.

Several chiropractors said only Williams' complete and immediate departure, with replacement by a leader who supports the standards required for accreditation, will regain for the university its standing.

"If he moves up as chancellor, he probably will still be in control of the school," said Arch Culbreth, president of the 600-member Georgia Chiropractic Association, which has criticized Williams' leadership of the program that trains thousands of chiropractors.

"He needs to resign and retire. They need to have a cleaning out," Culbreth said.

J.C. Smith, a Warner Robins chiropractor and Life graduate, doubts Williams' influence over the university will wane. "As long as he has his hand in the mix, nothing's going to change," Smith said.

Some of Life's current students said they will be disappointed if the man who has been the driving force at the school steps down.

"Sid did a lot for the university," said Cody Golman. "I hope he doesn't [step down]."

Williams, who founded the school in 1974, told nearly 1,000 students and faculty gathered Thursday in the gymnasium not to worry about their future.

"It's been a very hectic and emotional and anger-filled, in many instances, time of our lives," he said. "I know you have a lot of things on your mind."

A subdued Williams spent about 20 minutes going over what many students already knew: That the university will appeal the decision of the accrediting agency. And that the appeal itself should continue the accreditation of the chiropractic program through October or November.

"I hope this puts it out of the rumor stage," Williams said. "I hope it puts you in a state that will give you peace and relaxation. Try to turn off adverse activities, try to turn off negative behaviors. We need to learn how to do that."

Williams told students the university is not in danger of immediate closure. "You shouldn't go off on your summer vacation and worry about what's going to happen to Life," he said.

Some students gave Williams an enthusiastic reception, and many crowded around him afterward to greet him personally. Some, however, left the gymnasium once Williams handed the microphone to visiting chiropractors and Life graduates, who encouraged students to stick with the program and keep the faith.

One audience member interrupted a speaker who told students they needed to consider the "valiant cause" of chiropractic.

"How are we going to get a license, doc?" he shouted.

Stef Fortney said the issue is bigger than Life. "It's not our school, it's chiropractic being attacked," she said. "We fall, they all fall."

John Gamble, a 30-year-old student, said Williams didn't address a lot of the practical issues the prospective chiropractors are concerned about.

"A lot of opinions on what chiropractic is is not a concern if we're not going to be chiropractors," Gamble said. "This whole meeting was to give us an uplift."

Later in the afternoon, about 200 students marched on the Richard Russell federal building in downtown Atlanta, calling for a congressional inquiry into the accreditation process.

"Our accreditation has been pulled, and it was an unjust removal. We want it fully investigated," said student council president Peter Beuttell, 55.

A few students met with members of Sen. Max Cleland's staff, who said they would look into the controversy but would not usurp the university's leadership in taking any action.

Many students said they feel the profession of chiropractic is under attack.

Standing atop a concrete planter at the Federal Building, , Drew Rubin said this is a historic moment for the science. "Years from you'll ask: Did chiropractic survive in 2002?" he said.

Staff writers Michael Kolber and Craig Schneider and news researcher Nisa Asokan contributed to this story.