The FAMU College of Law is working toward becoming a full member of the American Bar Association (ABA).
A recent “confidential” report from the American Bar Association revealed that the College of Law is dealing with some challenges, but that same report also highlighted a number of positive developments at the College of Law. Among the positives cited were the appointment of FAMU President James H. Ammons and new Dean LeRoy Pernell.
According to Pernell, who started work in January 2008, this report refers to a site team visit and assessment gathered prior to October 2007.
“We made tremendous progress since the October 2007 visit,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We are committed to providing the College of Law with the resources and support it needs to achieve permanent accreditation.”
The report released in March noted, “he [Ammons] is strongly committed to the success of the Law School and to removing the previous barriers to a positive working relationships between the University and the Law School.”
Other improvements outlined in the report are:
• The hiring of several new faculty members for the upcoming 2008-2009 academic year;
• Three lawsuits that were resolved in favor of the College of Law;
• Beginning with the class entering in the fall 2008, Ammons has authorized 12 merit-based, renewable, full tuition waivers
scholarships for high achievement admitted recruits, plus 3 merit-based, full tuition wavier scholarships for Bethune
Cookman University graduates;
• Since the arrival of the new assistant dean for admissions and financial aid in May 2007, the College of Law has
sponsored a number of events designed to target both admitted and prospective students; and
• During the 2007-2008 academic year, the College of Law implemented a comprehensive academic support and bar preparation
program.
“We know what needs to be done to reach our goal of full accreditation,” said Pernell. “We are prepared, we have the support of our administration and the commitment of faculty to meet the challenges and concerns that arise as we go through this process.”
The College of Law was awarded provisional accreditation in 2004. It has until August 2009 to meet full accreditation standards.
The ABA report was prepared for the use of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar Association and not intended public release. Each page of the report was stamped confidential. However pursuant to Section 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, FAMU was required to release the report to the media, which made a public records request.
The anti-FAMU crowd is having a field day trashing our university over this issue. Check out the discussion on the St. Pete Times' Gradebook. We, as Rattlers, need to go this website and tell these people where to go with their demands for UCF to take over our law school. NEVER!
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/
2008/05/a-very-steep-mo.html#more
http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/
2008/05/the-law-school.html
Also, there are some FSU alumni who wish the worst for us. Looks like their feelings are still hurt from the ass-whooping they took from FAMU during the recent E-School fight.
http://floridastate.rivals.com/
showmsg.asp?fid=1085&tid=113022024
&mid=113022024&sid=1061&style=2
While the ABA report points out a lot of problems, none of them are insurmountable. Hopefully, Pernell and Ammons can resolve many of the problems quickly. I wish the law school the best of luck. ABA accreditation is a tough business.
ReplyDeleteFAMU's Law School will be fine. Pernell & Dr. Ammons are up for the challenge and are two very capable administrators.
ReplyDeleteI can see the light at the end of the tunnell.
ReplyDeleteWe can't stick our heads in the sand; these are very serious issues that the faculty and administration must work together to resolve. Let's attack other schools AFTER we win permanent accreditation. Right now, it is far from certain unless major changes are made by senior faculty members. They can't run that law school like it is some kind of personal kingdom...get off their butts and get along with each other and get accredited. If we can get back together in Tallahassee they can do it down there. Nothing they have to deal with is worse than Cast-hell. Get over yourselves....and get to work.
ReplyDeleteThe following statement from the ABA Site Team report reveals how Castell tried to sabotage the law school much like she did to our pharmacy school.
ReplyDelete"The President [James Ammons] made clear to the Site Team that money would not be an obstacle to the Law School's successful accreditation. The Law School was exempted from the 4% cut imposed on the rest of the University in the current academic year and the President agreed to return to the Law School $5 million that remained unspent from the Law School's 2006-2007 budget."
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/
PDFs/FAMU051308/FAMU_Attempt2.pdf
Castell starved the law school by withholding $5 million dollars that it needed for its payroll, teaching supplies, and financial aid! This is absolute madness! No wonder so many basic needs for the law school went unmet during Castell's tenure.
I agree with 7:31. Let's focus on doing what we need to do rather than talking with our critics, whose minds and opinions will not be changed by our arguing with them. As a people, I wish we would do less "righteous indignation" and more "roll up your shirt sleeve and work."
ReplyDelete