After weeks of public debate, Massachusetts’ plan to create its first public law school recently gained the formal support of Jack M. Wilson, the President of the University of Massachusetts. Wilson stated that in creating this law school and expanding educational opportunities for Massachusetts citizens, UMass would be honoring its educational mission. In addition, it would make Massachusetts the 45th state to offer a public law school.
Last month the Southern New England School of Law announced that it was willing to donate its campus, facilities, and assets to the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. The Southern New England School of Law currently has 235 students, is valued at $22.6 million, and is not accredited by the American Bar Association. Some critics of this deal have stated that due to the current economy, the state cannot afford taking over the school, calling it a taxpayer-funded bailout. Wilson agreed that financial viability is a crucial component of the plan’s success. To alleviate concerns, he presented projections by UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack that showed the law school’s enrollment growing to 559 by 2018 and the cash balance growing to $10.2 million in the same year.
UMass’s Committee on Academic and Student Affairs and the Committee on Administration and Finance will review the law school plan later this month, with the UMass Board of Trustees making its decision by December 10, 2009. If passed, the state Board of Higher Education will review the proposal.
