preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 32)

approach” to foster diversity, said Dean Claudio Grossman. To get its message of diversity across, American has established an Office of Diversity Services, with a full-time director to oversee outreach and diversity and provide individual counseling to students on issues of diversity. The office also coordinates several programs for students, including an annual First-Year Diversity Day. In addition, the school actively pays attention to the messages it sends in the “symbols of the institution,” Grossman said, such as its selection of speakers and topic choices for conferences. For example, the school hosts the annual Sylvania Woods Conference of African Americans in the Law and the Hispanic Law Conference and Careers Forum, both of which are open to students, alumni, and the general community, Grossman said. For the past two years, the Roger Williams University School of Law has given its incoming minority students a “Jump Start” on their education. Through a week-long pre-orientation, minority students, as well as those who need a little extra boost, attend social as well as academic sessions aimed at getting them acclimated to law school as quickly as possible. Law school staff does everything it can to help students, whether it is setting up their email accounts, establishing study groups or outlining the skills they will need to succeed in law school, said Lydia B. Hanhardt, director of diversity programs for the Rhode Island school. Hanhardt frequently finds herself working with students one-on-one to find ways to improve the law school experience. As one of the nation’s newest law schools, Drexel University College of Law in Philadelphia is working to ensure diversity is a top consideration from the start, said Jennifer L. Rosato, a Drexel faculty member and senior associate dean for student affairs. “We try to think about what all students need, particularly students of color and minorities,” Rosato said. More than 20 percent of its first class — those who will graduate in 2009 — are minorities, Rosato said. Drexel offers entering students a variety of scholarships to help with the costs of law school. They also have a diversity fellowship that awards these students with $5,000 over each of their three years of law school. There are seven diversity fellows in Drexel’s class of 2009, Rosato said. Minorities need mentors and faculty support USC strives to support minorities throughout all three years of law school and into their career. In fact, Rasmussen said the school often asks minority alumni and students to reach out to other diverse candidates. “It’s much more effective to use people who have actually had the experience,” he said. “Students are smart. They can tell an authentic experience [from an insincere attempt to sell diversity],” Rasmussen said. 32 preLaw http://www.law.cuny.edu http://www.law.cuny.edu

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents From the Editor For the Record Large Gender Gap Remains Among Political Hopefuls Man Charged in LSAT Scam Barry Dean Recognized New Report Examines Legal Ed Drexel Receives Accredidation New Mexico No. 1 for Hispanics A Film Journey in Law A Law Student at Last Debt Salvation Great Law Schools for Minorities Grad Opts Out of Big Firm Job Specialties Helpful Advice

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

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