Spring Break
USGA hosts Law School discussion
Craig Eisenberger
Issue date: 3/11/05 Section: News
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"We are still very early on in the process," Oxholm said. "If we are to have a law school, it should not be just another one like Villanova or Temple, but it should support the core strengths of Drexel University and respond to the interest of its students and faculty."
"Having Tobey come to the meeting to explain to the USGA and students in attendance at the meeting was a great opportunity for us to hear first hand what is going on with the law school and have our questions addressed direct from the source," USGA President John L. Dougherty said.
Members of the USGA asked several questions regarding resources for the new school, expressing concerns that the law school wold take away from current programs.
Oxholm stated that law schools, in general, are profitable and tend to add finical resources to a University. Another question addressed was the issue of the tight scheduling of classroom that is already present on campus. With the student body continually growing, some raised concern that a new school would only add to the congestion.
One senator recommended looking in Center City area. "That is where the co-op jobs will be and where the practice professors will come from," he said.
Oxholm confirmed that this was a very real possibility, but some present stated that it would be important to have it on campus so other colleges could benefit from the course offerings.
"Tobey has always been very receptive to students and is always willing to make sure we are informed and updated about anything going on," Dougherty said.
Lack of study space was another question offered to Oxholm, who reported that Drexel would have an extensive online library, which he described as the direction that most law firms and governmental offices are headed. He added that it would be supplemented by extensive collections in the law school's "core areas" which are health law and intellectual property. Agreements with other law libraries, such as the one at the University of Pennsylvania, will also be sought.
The process for approving new degrees is a one year process for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The application deadline for the degree must be filed before the end of June in order to have an opening date of September 2006. "We intend to make that deadline," Oxholm said.
Once approved, Faculty Senate would have to review and approve course offerings and programs, including joint degrees merging law with other fields such as psychology, business or medicine.
"There would also be lots of opportunities for students in the other colleges to take specific law classes that relate to their majors," said Oxholm.
"That's the best part of growing a law school from inside the University, as opposed to just acquiring one."
The Board of Trustees are going to discuss the issue further at their next meeting, May 17.
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