January 9, 2001
The Honorable Jeb Bush
Governor, The State of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

Dear Governor Bush:

       Enclosed are the reports mandated by the legislature and performed, at our request, by MGT, Inc.  Although this is a project that we have not requested, we have attempted to provide a high quality report so that those who must decide whether to implement a College of Chiropractic may have full information.

       Time has not allowed me an opportunity to carefully review each detail of these reports, however, they are being forwarded now in order to keep the process envisioned by the legislature on schedule.  The reports are those of MGT and there are places where I have some differences, some in substance and some merely in tone and in emphasis.  Overall, I do believe that MGT did its usual thorough job.

       My reading of the reports leads me to several conclusions which I want to pass on to those who must decide this issue.  First, it would be unwise to attempt to start up a new chiropractic school within the structure we are using to build a medical school program.  The complications of an "integrated" approach far outweigh the advantages and there is the real risk that some of the special focus which must be placed on both the new medical school and an entirely new chiropractic school would be lost.

       Second, there seem to be some excellent reasons to consider the FSU Panama City campus for the new program.  These are detailed in the report but especially important in my thinking is the inevitability of significant growth in the Panama City region as St. Joe/Arvida put their plans into effect.  This will mean that the Panama City campus offerings will have to expand and the science programs necessary to support a chiropractic program will serve not only that new school but will also support expanded science offerings at Panama City.

       Third, I do want to endorse the MGT report that any new chiropractic school not be fashioned merely to meet the minimum accreditation standards but, rather, be designed to educate its graduates in the full range of services contemplated in the laws of Florida.

       Finally, I want to add the predictable but important comment that, if a school is to be established, it is critically important that it be properly funded.  If established, this new school will be unique in the country since no other research university offers a chiropractic degree. If this is to be done, it must be done very well.  We are prepared to execute whatever decision is made by the legislative process, but we are extremely concerned about the consequences of a program that is established but not properly funded.

       We are ready to cooperate in any way we can to help you evaluate the chiropractic school.