First-tier schools

• Stanford University 92.8% California
• University of Colorado-Boulder 96.5% Colorado
• Vanderbilt University 92.5% Tennessee

Second-tier schools

• Lewis and Clark College 78.8% Oregon
• University of Georgia 91.8% Georgia
• University of Hawaii 79.4% Hawaii

Third-tier schools

• Drake University 81.8% Iowa
• Loyola University 69.2% Louisiana
• Pepperdine University 61/1% California

Fourth-tier schools

• Northern Kentucky University 85.3% Kentucky
• Quinnipiac University 76.2% Connecticut
• University of Tulsa 73.4% Oklahoma

Law school talks resemble past cases

By Chris Gibson
Skiff Staff

In 1992, the financially strapped University of Bridgeport sold its law school to Quinnipiac College in a deal reportedly worth close to $6 million.

At the time, Bridgeport officials saw the selling of the law school as a possible way to climb out of a financial hole the school had been digging for years, according to a series of reports by The New York Times from fall 1991 to August 1992.

The situation at Bridgeport mirrors that of Texas Wesleyan University.

Financial problems were affecting Bridgeport’s overall accreditation. The law school’s accreditation by the American Bar Association was also in jeopardy due to the financial problems. As a result, law school officials had an excuse to seek a more stable home, according to The New York Times.

It was unclear Wednesday whether the Texas Wesleyan Law School’s ABA accreditation was in jeopardy, but the school’s recent financial troubles have been topics of discussion throughout the Fort Worth community.

Texas Wesleyan was put on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for dipping into its endowment to supplement its budget. Recently, officials from Wesleyan announced the layoffs of university employees and the decision to drop its athletic status from NCAA Division II to Division III, eliminating all athletic scholarships.

In 1991, Bridgeport requested that Superior Court Judge Joette Katz release $2.5 million of its restricted endowment to meet its payroll. It dropped many of its undergraduate and graduate programs and laid off employees in an effort to save the school.

Bridgeport’s law school was a relatively recent addition when this all began. The law school was the independent Wethersfield School of Law until 1977.

Frank T. Read, President and Dean of South Texas College of Law whose school is still involved in a possible merger with Texas A&M, said if an opportunity came up for TCU to acquire Texas Wesleyan, the schools should jump at the chance.

“It would be a great chance for TCU to get an ongoing, accredited law school, which would be a great financial benefit,” Read said. “Wesleyan (Law School) would gain instant notoriety, access to TCU’s library and all of the programs associated with a school like TCU. It’s potentially a win-win situation for both schools.”

TCU officials have discussed the possible interest in starting a law school from scratch, but Read said there are some obvious negatives to that.

“I would think that starting a law school from scratch, meaning building new buildings, hiring staff and doing all the things involved with that would cost anywhere from $40 to $60 million,” he said. “There are many other aspects that go into that, but the financials are a big factor.

“Everyone has to start somewhere, but imagine being able to start with an established, accredited school. It’s a big advantage.”

Mergers between law schools and universities are not unprecedented. In 1992, Bridgeport’s law school became Bridgeport School of Law at Quinnipiac College. In 1995, Michigan State University affiliated with the Detroit College of Law, becoming Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University.

Read said mergers with larger, more respected universities create great opportunities for students at smaller, private law schools.

“It is a positive thing for the students and the law school,” he said. “In most cases it brings instant notoriety to the law school, gives students better options for ultimate employment and gives them access to a large university network.”

Texas Wesleyan School of Law began as independent DFW Law School in 1989 and merged with Texas Wesleyan in 1992. Chancellor Michael Ferrari said there have been no further discussions between TCU and Texas Wesleyan. TCU officials have said that any decision regarding the cost of building or purchasing a law school would have to be evaluated in comparison with other university projects.

Chris Gibson
c.j.gibson@student.tcu.edu