UMass trustees approve UMD law school
BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees today
approved a proposal to establish a legal education program at UMass
Dartmouth, moving Massachusetts one step closer to the creation of its
first public law school.
“This is a major step forward for public higher education in
Massachusetts,” said UMass President Jack M. Wilson. “The creation of a
public law program will afford the citizens of the Commonwealth the same
opportunity that exists in 44 other states. The University of
Massachusetts exists to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth, and this
action opens the doors of opportunity to students seeking an affordable,
high-quality legal education.”
Robert J. Manning, chairman of the University of Massachusetts Board of
Trustees, said that UMass trustees made “the right decision for the
University of Massachusetts and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
“The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees has examined this
proposal very thoroughly. The academic and financial components of this
proposal have undergone rigorous review. After much study, it is clear
that we can create a top-tier public law school without placing
financial demands on the state or the University. Given these findings,
we are proud to provide this legal-education opportunity to the sons and
daughters of Massachusetts,” Chairman Manning said.
Chairman Manning added: “I commend Chancellor MacCormack for crafting
this creative, responsible proposal and commend President Wilson for
conducting a comprehensive, clear-eyed review.”
The law program proposal was approved on a 14 to 4 vote.
Under the proposal developed by UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F.
MacCormack, law program enrollment would rise from 278 students in
academic year 2010-2011 to 559 students in academic year 2017-2018.
Because of increased enrollment, the law program would generate $81
million in student revenue between Fiscal Year 2011 and Fiscal Year
2018. Those funds would play a key role in allowing the program to
achieve American Bar Association accreditation and would fuel academic
growth and achievement.
MacCormack became Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth in 1999 and, under her leadership, enrollment at the campus has risen from 6,599 students to
9,302 in the current 2009-2010 academic year. That 41 percent enrollment
increase is responsible for $18.8 million in additional campus revenue
during the current fiscal year alone. Graduate-student enrollment has
increased by 52 percent during Chancellor MacCormack’s tenure.
“Chancellor MacCormack has a proven track record of expanding
enrollment, which, in turn, produces the funds that fuel academic
excellence,” President Wilson said. “Anyone who doubts our ability to
create a first-rate public law program either hasn’t read the plan or
doesn’t know Jean MacCormack.”
Chancellor MacCormack thanked the Board of Trustees for its support,
noting: “The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees has come down
on the side of students and in favor of opportunity. This vote advances
our historic mission and demonstrates that the University’s future will
be determined by the public interest rather than by private
institutions.”
Under the proposal, the UMass Dartmouth law program would arise out of
the proposed donation of Southern New England School of Law, also
located in Dartmouth. Pointing to a desire to preserve their school’s
“historic mission” and commitment to legal education excellence and
diversity, the trustees of Southern New England School of Law in October
offered to donate their law school to the University of Massachusetts,
with the total value of the donation estimated at $23 million.
According to the UMass proposal, the law program would:
* Be on course to gain American Bar Association provisional
accreditation by academic year 2013-2014
* Generate $673,576 for the Commonwealth in tuition revenue next
year and more than $1 million annually within five years
* Produce a cumulative cash balance, rising from $2.1 million in
Fiscal Year 2011 to $8.8 million in Fiscal Year 2018
Founded in 1981, Southern New England School of Law is one of the
state’s nine law schools. Nearly 70 percent of the school’s first-time
takers received passing grades in the most recent (July 2009) sitting of
the Massachusetts Bar Exam. School officials say that three out of four
graduates of Southern New England School of Law have passed the bar
exam.
The law program proposal now goes to the state Board of Higher Education
for approval. If approved, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth law
program would enroll its first students in the fall of 2010.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 774-455-7188; John Hoey, 508-999-8027
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