AJC Sid Williams founded Life University 28 years ago.

Sid Williams, who founded Life University 28 years ago and raised it to national prominence, has retired as president of the nation's largest chiropractic school.

Williams' retirement from every aspect of the school's operations was announced today to a gymnasium on the Marietta campus packed with students returning for summer session. The announcement comes almost one month after the Council on Chiropractic Education revoked the university's accreditation.

Without accreditation, students who graduate from Life cannot take the national exams required to practice as chiropractors.

University officials also said today the school has filed a "letter of intent" to appeal the council's decision, a move they hope will continue accreditation until the appeal is resolved later in the year.

Officials with the Council on Chiropractic Education have declined to comment on whether Williams' departure from the university -- which had been expected for about a week -- would have any impact on the school's accreditation struggles.

Council officials, however, have been specific in their correspondence with the school in noting that the school's problems are rooted in its academic failures.

Life officials also laid out a series of options the school is pursuing to restore accreditation, or ensure students transfer to other chiropractic schools.

School officials said a search for an interim president will continue.