Kansas City’s Newest University Name Has a Familiar Past

The newest name in higher education in the Kansas City region belongs to an institution with a nearly century-long history: Cleveland Chiropractic College is changing its name to Cleveland University-Kansas City.

In a news release announcing the change, President Carl Cleveland III said “the name change and expanded identity supports the university’s degree program expansion, and is centered around the university’s vision for providing leadership in health science and health promotion education.”

He’s the grandson of the man who founded the college in 1922, and since then, the university has produced doctors of chiropractic practicing in all 50 states and around the world. And its on-campus Cleveland Health Center, which is integrated into the chiropractic curriculum, serves nearly 40,000 patient visits annually, the release said.

“It is important that the name and university identity be crystal clear about where we are headed and why our university matters,” said Jeff Karp, chief financial officer. “The curriculum will be expanded to include additional undergraduate and graduate programs in the near future.”

The university said that the name change was part of a 10-year strategic plan and growth strategy that would include a new public-information campaign and Web site will launch this month.