preLaw - Back to School 2007 - (Page 20) SCHOOL PROFILE Whittier’s commitment to diversity Dean Neil Cogan is trying to get his school off probation. Whether he is successful or not may say a lot about the future of diversity in law schools and the role LSATs play in accreditation decisions. BY PAUL HUGHES N eil Cogan collects rocks, and keeps ABA’s probation violated its due process what an acceptable bar passage rate is.” When the school’s ethnic diversity was them on his desk at Whittier Law rights and had placed the school at the School, where he has been dean “precipice of ruin.” The suit stated that highest — the class that entered in 2000 since 2001. They are souvenirs from sev- Whittier had suffered “grave harm to its was 51 percent non-white — the resulting first time bar pass rates three years eral trips to Israel, where his school, later, when that class was taking the based in Costa Mesa, Calif., runs a bar, plunged to 31 percent. popular study abroad program. Since being placed on probation This April, about 15 miles from by the ABA in 2005, Cogan says Jericho, Cogan picked up a few more Whittier has had to boost its focus rocks while walking in a nachal — a on currently reigning standards of stream that runs only in the spring, admission — namely, LSAT scores and is dry the rest of the year. and GPA. A nachal can be dangerous. When Loretta DeLoggio, a Seattle-based you think it’s dry, a sudden torrential national consultant to students conrain can wash down what we might sidering law school, says LSATs are call a riverbed. not the name of the game — they Walking in a nachal is for Neil are the game. Cogan a little like guiding a law “A number that is too low is school in the 21st century — an too low,” said DeLoggio, president issue facing the school can take him of DeLoggio Achievement Program. one way or another, knock him “The magician can only pull a rabdown or sweep him away. It’s prebit out of a hat if someone puts one carious, but worth it. in there.” “We have a different mission and Cogan said he wants Whittier we hope the community will underto be the best school for as many stand,” Cogan said. students’ needs as it can. But he has The school — with Quaker roots been forced to admit fewer at-risk and a desire for ethnic diversity students in order to improve the — pursues a rich mix of students. school’s first time bar passage rates. But its quest for diversity has led it Whittier’s bar pass rates have into trouble with the American Bar almost doubled in the last three Association’s law school accreditayears in California. And pass rates tion committee. WHITTIER LAW SCHOOL Dean Neil Cogan says in California are the toughest row Minority students have tradito hoe. In other states, Cogan says tionally struggled on the bar exam Whittier has a different mission, which is to be the the school is at or above those states’ compared to the overall student best school for as many at-risk students as it can. averages. population, and Whittier’s bar pass Whittier has partly accomplished rate was as low as 31 percent in this through an extensive prep pro2003. As a result, the ABA placed gram for incoming and current students. Whittier on probation in 2005. Whittier financial condition and reputation.” The Academic Success Program is “Whittier has been placed on probarecently improved its pass rate to 59 percent in 2006, and then sued the ABA in a tion for one simple fact: The ABA has required at the school. It includes training failed attempt to get its probationary status been unhappy with their bar passage rate,” in all elements of law school, from class Whittier’s lawyer, Paul Kiesel, told the New prep and time management to outlining revoked. Whittier, which was originally accred- York Law Journal in May. “But they never and analysis. And it starts before a student does, with ited in 1985, claimed in its lawsuit that the told Whittier, or any other law school, photo by melissa stottlemeyer 20 preLaw www.preLawInsider.com http://www.preLawInsider.com
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