University Park, Pa. -- At an informational meeting of the Dickinson School of Law Board of Governors held Saturday, May 1, at Penn State's University Park campus, Terence Blackburn, dean of the Michigan State University College of Law, discussed the benefits of a law school being affiliated with, and located near, a major university.
"There should be only one determining factor when deciding whether to become affiliated with a university -- the quality of education you can provide," Blackburn told the Board. "Our mission statement did not involve economic impact on Detroit or what would make our alumni comfortable. Our mission is to educate."
The Dickinson School of Law Board of Governors, which is considering the option of having a law school presence at the University Park campus, was visiting the campus to look at possible locations for a new law school building. Founded in 1834, it is the oldest law school in Pennsylvania and the fifth oldest in the nation. Its affiliation with Penn State began in 1997.
According to Blackburn, the Detroit College of Law's partnership with Michigan State University was created in 1995. Two years later, it relocated to East Lansing, where it moved into a state-of-the-art new law building in the heart of the university's campus. Now known as the Michigan State University College of Law, it is part of the University but remains financially independent and does not receive money from the university or the state.
Blackburn said among the numerous benefits of relocating the law school is the opportunity for law school students to cross register for classes in other programs at Michigan State University and to pursue dual-degree programs. "Our primary goal is teaching lawyers to practice law. But the world of law has changed and the world of legal education has changed. It is increasingly difficult to be a general practitioner." He added, "Affiliation with a major university provides a richness and depth in legal education that is absolutely impossible at a private law school."
In addition, several joint certificate programs, including law school collaboration with the university's School of Social Work for students to earn a Child and Family Advocacy certificate, have been created because of the affiliation.
Law school and university faculty have benefited as well, according to Blackburn. Along with "team teaching" opportunities in which professors from the university and the law school jointly teach a class, there also is cross-teaching and courtesy appointments of faculty, all which promote enhanced research opportunities. "We could not do this at a standalone law school," he said.
For pictures from the tour, go to http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2004_05_03_tour/index.html