National Jurist - November 2008 - (Page 16) Optimistic about the future Florida A&M University College of Law, a six-yearold school, races in its bid for full accreditation eroy Pernell likes a challenge, and it’s a good thing too, because the newly appointed dean of Florida A&M University College of Law has found himself in tough territory during the first months of his tenure. Pernell came to FAMU in January, right in the midst of its bid for full accreditation, a task that is daunting enough. The law school has an August 2009 deadline to complete the typically arduous process. uplifting. Results have increased for first time takers by 15 percent since February 2007, though bar passage performance is still among the worst among public universities in Florida. But Pernell remains optimistic about the law school’s future. This summer, FAMU held its first bar preparation program and it is about to launch its new academic success program. Their goal is to raise students’ grade points PHOTO BY PHELAN EBENHACK ing a new international program. “It’s (a challenge) I’ve loved doing,” said Pernell, who came to FAMU after 10 years as dean and professor of law at Northern Illinois by Karen Dybis University in Dekalb, Ill. “We’ve had a busy few months and we’ve made some remarkable progress getting things done for the school.” The law school has had a challenging history indeed. The FAMU College of Law was founded in 1949 in Tallahassee. After graduating 57 lawyers, the state of Florida closed the law school in 1968. The Florida Legislature voted to reopen it in 2000. The College of Law opened its doors in 2002 in downtown Orlando, and it received provisional accreditation two years later. Pernell largely dismisses the media’s focus on the controversial ABA report. That is because the document in question focused largely on a site team visit “We know what needs to be done to reach our goal of full accreditation.” — Dean Leroy Pernell, Florida A&M University College of Law and assessment prepared prior to October 2007, and much has changed on campus since then, he said. For example, Pernell said the law school has recently hired nearly a dozen new permanent faculty, including three new full-time writing instructors. Plus, Pernell said he is excited to have Kenneth Nunn on board to serve as FAMU’s new associate dean for Research and Faculty Development. Student applications are up more than 25 percent from last year, Pernell said, and he believes FAMU is a great law school for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. “We expect a lot more to happen,” he said. “There’s a very different level of excitement and enthusiasm than has ever existed before at the school.” Then area news outlets got wind of a “scathing” confidential American Bar Association report regarding tensions on campus. The document, written by an Association team that visited the Orlando campus, is reported to say FAMU reaching accreditation “appears to be a very steep mountain to climb in a very short time.” Other controversies, including questions about a $1 million donation the law school received in 2002, have followed. But recent news of increased bar exam passing rates for first time takers has been and ultimately, bar passage rates, which seems to have worked in their favor. “We know what needs to be done to reach our goal of full accreditation,” Pernell said. “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.” He points to the university’s renewed support of the law school, a strong list of fresh hires and additional educational opportunities available to students, includ16 THE NATIONAL JURIST November 2008
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