Albany Law

[Dane96]

Don't get too excited about the medical school. No way we would be taking over SUNY Downstate. They were not referencing Albany Med. I don't think that is on the horizon...in the near future. And let's call the Albany Law situation what it is: A slow takeover.

 

My guess is this will be a gradual move to incorporate the school into the University portfolio within 5 years. It allows the detractors (and there are some alumnae from Albany Law that are against this association) to get used to the concept, and allows the schools to formulate a seamless transition. This is a huge win for SUNY-- you don't have to spend a lot to get a second state law school.

[alum73]

No takeover in the near future. I hope it happens within 5 years.

[dslyank]

Why are we looking @ downstate med.? A collaboration with Upstate Medical Center [a school with significant monetary issues and presidential/administration issues] would seem more possible? If Nano or Poly or whatever it is called can go west to Utica, Canadagua, and Buffalo, why can't UA merge/takeover Upstate Med. in Syracuse. And, I believe downstate med. is already affiliated with Cornell. So why shouldn't UA move into their neck of the state and syracuse university has never made much of an effort (from what I've seen--could be wrong) to affiliate with Upstate Med.

[Michigan_Dane]

http://m.nationallawjournal.com/module/alm/app/nlj.do#!/article/1719293997

 

I'm very excited about the potential for this deal. Yet the terminology is confusing.

 

1) Not a merger but an affiliation

2) No longer independent - "going full-on with an affiliation OR retaining our independent status"

3) But remaining private - "although the law school would retain its financial independence and remain private."

[Michigan_Dane]

So no longer independent now affiliated but still private and financially independent?

[danefan]

You can read the Strategic Plan here: http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/news/current/Pages/Albany-Law-School-Announces-Innovative-Strategic-Plan-to-Prepare-the-Next-Generation-of-Lawyers-and-Leaders.aspx

[danefan]

FYI - the Dean of Albany Law has announced her resignation today. They have nominated a current professor as Acting Dean to implement their strategic plan but have not mentioned anything about commencing a search for the replacement, etc...

 

Apparently the Dean is going to stay involved in what she calls in her resignation as a "potential affiliation with the University at Albany."

 

I'm speculating but this makes me believe we may end up with more of a takeover than previously anticipated.

Edited October 14, 2014 by danefan

[Zalman B]

http://m.nationallaw...icle/1719293997

 

I'm very excited about the potential for this deal. Yet the terminology is confusing.

 

1) Not a merger but an affiliation

2) No longer independent - "going full-on with an affiliation OR retaining our independent status"

3) But remaining private - "although the law school would retain its financial independence and remain private."

 

Albany Law School Master Plan Might Include Affiliation

 

 

Amanda Bronstad, The National Law Journal

 

October 2, 2014

Albany Law School’s board of trustees will decide next month whether to move forward with a proposal to affiliate with the University at Albany.

The Nov. 21 vote comes as the law school, like many others, has faced declining enrollment and reduced revenues in a tight job market. On Wednesday, Albany Law School announced a strategic academic plan—called “Opportunity Pathways”—aimed at providing graduates with the practical skills they’ll need to find jobs in the legal profession and in other careers.

An affiliation with the University at Albany, State University of New York, would give students the opportunity to enroll in courses at both schools. It also would allow the schools to share resources, although the law school would retain its financial independence and remain private.

“We felt the synergies were so natural we want to think about some kind of affiliation,” law school dean Penelope “Penny” Andrews said. “Not a merger—an affiliation, so we can take advantage of the academic possibilities but retain our autonomy.”

Albany Law School, founded in 1851, is the nation’s oldest independent law school. Earlier this year, the school offered buyouts to faculty to reduce costs.

An affiliation with the university would allow professors to teach at both schools, broaden enrollment, decrease tuition and give both schools the opportunity to share resources including technology, Andrews said. Both schools already offer joint degree programs, plus an option by which students can earn a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years by spending three years at each school.

Andrews said the proposal is modeled on Michigan State University’s affiliation in 1995 with the Detroit College of Law, now Michigan State University College of Law.

“It really is a road map for us to see how we can integrate and still hold onto our strengths and, at the same time, share resources and grow with the University at Albany,” she said. “The board will vote on going full-on with an affiliation or retaining our independent status and look at a credible educational and financial model moving forward.”

If approved, the affiliated program would first be available to students enrolling in the 2015-2016 school year.

The Opportunity Pathways plan, meanwhile, focuses on six curriculum paths: business, tax and financial markets; public-interest law; government, policy and public service; civil and criminal advocacy; health; and innovation and entrepreneurship.

“The idea was to structure our program of legal education, mindful of the career paths and new places where new jobs are being created,” Andrews said.

Using existing courses, students on those paths will receive practical training as well as mentoring, internships and clinical training. The idea emerged two years ago, but market conditions put it on “a fast track,” Andrews said.

“It’s not so much that it’s new, but it is a restructuring, redesigning and strengthening each group of courses into a particular career pathway,” she said.

[Zalman B]

FYI - the Dean of Albany Law has announced her resignation today. They have nominated a current professor as Acting Dean to implement their strategic plan but have not mentioned anything about commencing a search for the replacement, etc...

 

Apparently the Dean is going to stay involved in what she calls in her resignation as a "potential affiliation with the University at Albany."

 

I'm speculating but this makes me believe we may end up with more of a takeover than previously anticipated.

 

Albany Law School Announces Realignment of Institutional Leadership

 

Albany Law School today announced that President Penelope (Penny) Andrews intends to step down at the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year. Until that time, she will oversee an ambitious agenda of strategic initiatives that will help to position the school for the future.

 

The Board of Trustees has appointed Professor Alicia Ouellette, previously Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Intellectual Life, to serve as Acting Dean. She will have responsibility for daily administration of the school, including implementation of the Opportunity Pathways Strategic Plan.

 

“I want to express our profound appreciation for the important and enduring contributions that Penny Andrews has made to sustain and enhance this very special institution. We look forward to continuing to work closely with her over these next months,” said Daniel P. Nolan ’78, chairman of Albany Law School’s Board of Trustees. “Alicia Ouellette is the perfect person to step into the vital role of Acting Dean and to implement the Strategic Plan, which focuses on Opportunity Pathways to ensure that our students have the educational and experiential training to succeed in the evolving legal environment.”

 

To read Chairman Nolan’s full statement, click here.

 

To read President Andrews letter to the community, click here.

[Zalman B]

An interesting article on the final step - the 2004 name change - in the Michigan State University affiliation (identified as the model in the article from The National Law Journal above).

 

From http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2004/msu-law-school-name-change-reflects-integration-and-collaboration/.

 

Published: April 16, 2004

MSU LAW SCHOOL NAME CHANGE REFLECTS

INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION

Contact: Janet Harvey-Clark, College of Law, (517) 432-6959; or Russ White, University Relations, (517) 432-0923, whiterus@msu.edu

4/16/2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The law school at Michigan State University is now named the MSU College of

Law to represent the academic integration and collaboration between a private law school on the rise and

a Big Ten university, MSU officials said today.

 

The name change and closer academic integration were approved by the university’s Board of Trustees

today and by the law school’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 14.

 

The change formalizes the fact that the law college is now fully a part of the university in the same manner

as the university’s other constituent colleges, said Clifton E. Haley, MSU College of Law president.

 

“The image and reputation of MSU College of Law will now catch up with the significant improvements in academic and professional standards that

have been achieved since the affiliation with the university,” Haley said.

 

MSU and law college officials said the change builds on the success of their affiliation, aligns their academic reputations and identities more closely,

and integrates law college faculty and students more completely into MSU’s academic life.

 

The law school's partnership with MSU was created in 1995, and the law college moved into a state-of-the-art new law building in the heart of the

East Lansing campus in 1997. It remains the oldest continuously operating independent law school in the country. Founded in Detroit in 1891, MSU

College of Law affiliated with MSU to extend its academic excellence and provide a greater variety of interdisciplinary programs for its students and

to provide MSU with a fully American Bar Association accredited law school.

 

Although the law college will operate as a constituent law college of the university, it will remain financially independent and receive no state or

university funding.

 

The law college and the university are perhaps more integrated academically than any other law school and parent university, MSU officials said.

MSU College of Law’s affiliation with Michigan State University makes it possible for law students to pursue both a law degree and another

advanced degree at the same time. For example, students can earn both a law degree and a master’s degree in just four years. Currently, there are

14 dual-degree programs with MSU with several more planned.

 

The name change is the culmination of a decade of growth and progress highlighted by these accomplishments:

 

Law students come to MSU from 42 states and 13 countries, a fact bolstered by the affiliation with the university.

More than 92 percent of its 2002 graduates were employed within eight months of graduation, higher than the national average of almost 87

percent. For the 2003 class, the placement rate has risen to more than 93 percent.

Applications to the law college have more than tripled since the affiliation with MSU in 1995.

Bar results for July 2000 through 2003 were significantly above the state average and, in the past two July examinations, the top score on

the MultiState portion of the test was achieved by a law college graduate.

The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute at the MSU College of Law offers selected students the opportunity to practice real trial lawyering

skills in a courtroom in front of judges, witnesses and juries.

 

Students can distinguish themselves with the law college’s concentrations and certificate programs, where students can take courses in the

following areas: corporate; criminal; environmental and natural resource; family; health; intellectual property and communications;

international and comparative; and taxation law. The certificate programs are in trial practice and child and family advocacy.

 

“The college has experienced enormous growth in quality since the affiliation with Michigan State. This reflects all of the work that has been done to

integrate our two institutions,” said MSU College of Law Dean Terence Blackburn.

“The name change will make the college's location clearer to outsiders and increase prestige for both the law school and the university.”

[Zalman B]

"Albany Law School’s board of trustees will decide next month whether to move forward with a proposal to affiliate with the University at Albany.

The Nov. 21 vote..."

 

Given this, I was a bit curious to see the makeup of the Board of Trustees that will be voting. In particular, I was interested to see whether any members had ties to both UAlbany and Albany Law School (and so - at least potentially - might have louder voices with respect to the proposals and/or might be "champions" seeking to approve or defeat the proposal depending on what they think is best).

 

The bios linked from Albany Law's Board of Trustees page (http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/default.aspx) are generally pretty sparse, but between the bios and the links to the attorney pages for firms, there are two board members who seem to have the most clear connection to UAlbany. Here they are:

 

William J. Curry '87

http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/William-J-Curry-87.aspx

Mr. Curry is a managing partner at Sullivan & Worcester LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Securities and Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Governance Practice Groups.

Mr. Curry has been recognized by Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for over 10 years.

While at Albany Law he was the Managing Editor of the Albany Law Review.

 

According to his firm profile (http://www.sandw.com/professionals-35.html), he is connected to UAlbany also - B.A., magna cum laude, State University of New York at Albany, 1982

 

John J. Halloran '84

http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/John-J-Halloran-84.aspx

John was born in New York, New York, on July 23, 1959. He graduated with high honors from the State University of New York at Albany in 1981, and from Albany Law School of Union University in 1984...

 

 

Not sure what use can be made of this information - if any - but I found it interesting so thought I'd share.

[danefan]

"Albany Law School’s board of trustees will decide next month whether to move forward with a proposal to affiliate with the University at Albany.

The Nov. 21 vote..."

 

Given this, I was a bit curious to see the makeup of the Board of Trustees that will be voting. In particular, I was interested to see whether any members had ties to both UAlbany and Albany Law School (and so - at least potentially - might have louder voices with respect to the proposals and/or might be "champions" seeking to approve or defeat the proposal depending on what they think is best).

 

The bios linked from Albany Law's Board of Trustees page (http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/default.aspx) are generally pretty sparse, but between the bios and the links to the attorney pages for firms, there are two board members who seem to have the most clear connection to UAlbany. Here they are:

 

William J. Curry '87

http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/William-J-Curry-87.aspx

Mr. Curry is a managing partner at Sullivan & Worcester LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Securities and Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Governance Practice Groups.

Mr. Curry has been recognized by Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for over 10 years.

While at Albany Law he was the Managing Editor of the Albany Law Review.

 

According to his firm profile (http://www.sandw.com/professionals-35.html), he is connected to UAlbany also - B.A., magna cum laude, State University of New York at Albany, 1982

 

John J. Halloran '84

http://www.albanylaw.edu/about/trustees/Pages/John-J-Halloran-84.aspx

John was born in New York, New York, on July 23, 1959. He graduated with high honors from the State University of New York at Albany in 1981, and from Albany Law School of Union University in 1984...

 

 

Not sure what use can be made of this information - if any - but I found it interesting so thought I'd share.

 

You missed the most important one......Board of Trustees President - Dan Nolan. UAlbany Football alumni and major contributor to the Athletic Program and.......wait for it....the 2014 UAlbany Citizen Laureate Award winner....

[Dane96]

It's just a matter of time, and political face-saving, before this becomes a full-on merge.

[UAalum72]

T-U story on Andrews' resignation mentions that the affiliation talks "have been greeted with less than positive response from students"

 

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-Law-president-to-step-down-5822138.php

[danefan]

What a throw away line. And current students are the last people whose opinions really matters to me. You have zero perspective when your nose deep in a book all day.