CAMPUS NOTICE

 

OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

OFFICE OF THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR –
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

February 10, 2010


ALL ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UCSD
ALL STUDENTS AT UCSD

SUBJECT:    Joint Committee to Explore UC San Diego Affiliation with
California Western School of Law

UC San Diego and California Western School of Law have formed a joint committee to consider an affiliation that could lead to the establishment of a UC San Diego School of Law. The committee is composed of faculty and administrators from both institutions.

It is important to note that UC San Diego and the joint committee will only consider a law school that would be self-supporting, and we would ensure that no state or UC San Diego campus funds would be needed to make the new law school viable.

The committee will explore ways in which a UC San Diego School of Law might build on existing strengths, enhance other academic disciplines and create unique broad-based areas of exploration in law, science and technology. In addition, the committee will consider how to integrate existing California Western faculty and plan for new hires; attract students with strong credentials; maintain consistency with University of California, American Bar Association and American Association of Law Schools standards; and chart a smooth transformation into a UC San Diego School of Law.

If the Joint Committee determines that the proposal should advance, a planning document would be submitted to the UC San Diego Faculty Senate and administration, and to the California Western faculty and Board of Trustees. If those bodies endorse the committee’s recommendation, it would then be sent to the UC Office of the President for a final evaluation and decision.

UC San Diego has had a substantial history of academic interactions with California Western. In December 2002, the two institutions signed a formal Memorandum of Association providing broad interdisciplinary opportunities for the faculty and students of both institutions. This Memorandum pledged the institutions to explore joint educational efforts and cooperative degree programs and research opportunities in medicine, political science, history, and other disciplines to the law school’s faculty and students.

The joint committee does not have a firm timeline for making a determination on the possible establishment of the public law school. We will keep you informed of the committee’s progress and decision.


Marye Anne Fox
Chancellor

Paul W. Drake
Senior Vice Chancellor –
Academic Affairs