A recent story on this blog reported that a tipster contacted OTLSS and informed us that recently-opened Concordia University School of Law was denied provisional accreditation by the ABA. Madeline Turnock, APR, Advisor to the President of Concordia University, informs us that that is incorrect (below). Our prior post was based on the uncorroborated word of a single source, albeit one we had reason to believe was reliable. In light of Ms. Turnock's statement, we have decided to take down the post.
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Hi OTLSS Team,
I am writing with respect to your blog post at http://
Thanks,
Madeline
Madeline Turnock, APR
Advisor to the President
Concordia University
Suppose the source had inside knowledge of the ABA decision process. Then he or she could have heard already what Concordia will hear in mid-August.
ReplyDeleteI seriously hope the Idaho court grants them in-state legitimacy. Combine that with a smaller class size appropriate to the Boise legal market, and you have the makings of a decent law school.
ReplyDeleteTuition should still be substantially reduced, whether or not the ABA makes the degree portable between states.
Since the time that Concordia announced it would open a law school in Boise, the Idaho bar has changed its rules from formerly allowing only graduates of fully ABA accredited schools to take the Idaho bar to now allowing graduates of provisionally accredited schools to take the Idaho bar. Now the Idaho Supreme Court should allow grads of a non-accredited school to sit for the exam? It seems to me that admission standards have already been reduced enough to benefit Concordia.
DeleteOh well, better safe than sorry, and Concorida handled it well with regard to requesting a retraction. The last thing anybody wants is to have somebody file an ethics complaint out of the blue, or anything like that...
ReplyDeleteI disagree with 2:55 AM. There's no reason for Concordia Law School to exist (other than to make money for a select group of people). The University of Idaho produces enough new lawyers, and if the university goes through with its plan to open a second law school in Boise, then Concordia makes even less sense.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, the ABA is a rubber stamp, so Concordia will most likely gain provisional (and full) accreditation. That doesn't make it a good investment for students. There are many fully accredited law schools that I would not attend even for free.
Since Concordia exists, it makes no sense for the University of Idaho to open another law campus in Boise.
Delete6:14 @ 7:22, yes, you're right. What would make the most sense was if the University of Idaho moved their law school from Moscow to Boise. One law school in Idaho is enough, and I would rather it be a state school with relatively low tuition than a private school with higher tuition (although Concordia must be giving substantial discounts). Nothing against Moscow--it's a nice place.
ReplyDeleteU of I Law is in Moscow based on Idaho Constitution. It's opening a Boise campus for 2 and 3Ls so that there are more externship and clinic opportunities
Delete"In Moscow, Law Schools apply to you!"
ReplyDeleteNo, wait, that's not it...
Concordia SoL held a hastily arranged, very short notice "bad news" convocation with the current students informing them of the ABA's recommend deny (of provisional accreditation) last week - the week of July 14th. Knowing that an exodus of transfer-eligible students is the likely result of such an announcement, for Concordia to inform the student body suggests they do not expect to gain accreditation. Word has it that 40 (of 105) are seeking to transfer. Not all will be able to transfer of course and the unfortunate 3Ls may have no choice but to hang and hope for the best due to the transfer rules regarding the number of credits earned at an institution for the purposes of becoming a graduate of the receiving institution. Also, reading into the reply from the CU SoL administration suggests they are to be denied. Cases in point; " .....This week, Concordia filed a petition to the Idaho State Supreme Court requesting that 3L students be allowed to sit for the bar in fall ’15 and spring ’16......" . If they are getting provisional they would not need to be taking this step because their grads could sit for the bar anywhere. And, clear out into 2016? Weird - as I thought this special dispensation periods could only remain in effect for one year. The other statement, "....Meanwhile Concordia continues to pursue ABA provisional accreditation and hopes to hear more by mid-August.......". Continues to pursue?????? This suggests they are presaging the announcement of denial. Although, we should not discount the possibility of lobbying, political pressure and other measures. Three to four full weeks exist between their announcement to students last week and the Aug. 7 ABA meeting. If they can grease the right palms they may achieve the Lazurus syndrome.
ReplyDeleteI to hope that the 3Ls/2015 graduates are allowed to sit for the Idaho bar. It would be tragic for those folks to fall victim to Concordia SoL's underperformance. I suspect they will be allowed to sit for the Idaho bar. Some of the faculty and supports of CU SoL are very well connected to the incestuous political circles in Idaho.
CU SoL is offering nothing innovative. They are carpet baggers trying to enter a mature/declining market. University of Idaho on the other hand is a quite good and well regarded institution that punches far about its weight. As others have hinted at, I believe the 2nd & 3rd year satellite programs are the beginning of their relocation to Boise in whole. They are rehabilitating a historic building in downtown Boise that, when completed, would have the capacity to house their entire operation. Having the state law school in Boise makes too much sense for even Idaho politicians (not the sharpest tools in the shed) to ignore. Concordia SoL is unnecessary both nationally and for Idaho/Boise. They should go carpet bag elsewhere and sell their building to Boise State University who is experiencing growing pains from lack of real estate. The building sale should provide the CU SoL money-changers enough of an exit incentive. In fact, CU will probably make some nice coin since the commercial real estate market has come screaming back in the last 2-3 years. They did do a very nice job on their building - it would definitely be an attractive asset.
Sounds like the grumblings of a U of I faculty member to me @ 11:19a.
ReplyDeleteThere are several states that only have one public university (Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana). I went to one of these universities for law school, and now I teach at another one of these universities. In states with only one public law school, the absence of competition and often limited state budget results in a state law school that is slow to respond to the changing legal market and generally “behind the times.” The old voting tenured faculty has no reason to embrace change and stay current—because the school is the only ticket in town. Many of these state schools are also located in undesirable areas of the state, which limits the school’s ability to hire young, talented faculty.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a good thing that University of Idaho now has to contend with a private law school opening in Boise. Concordia may be a rising star despite its ABA challenges—along the lines of Chapman, which dealt with its share of ABA grief when opening (circa 1998) but now touts a top 100 ranking. Even if Concordia does not follow in the footsteps of Chapman, the competition will undoubtedly raise the level of education at University of Idaho.
Um, I don't think Chapman is a good school to emulate, and it's currently ranked 140 (Idaho is 118, not that it really matters, but...). Chapman went down in the rankings when they started counting employment scores. Idaho is a better bet than either Concordia or Chapman based on costs, local reputation, and employment prospects. But the idea that Concordia would somehow make Idaho "compete" and thus improve in the national rankings? Not going to happen. And it shouldn't--that kind of thinking is what made schools vastly increase tuition to chase rankings (Chapman is a perfect example of that, really). Students are much better off if Idaho stays a cheap regional law school without pretensions of being nationally ranked.
DeleteI agree. I have heard from U of I grads that the teaching there is pretty lazy because they have no competition whatsoever. Also, I am a Concordia rising 3L student who will be transferring if accreditation is denied. I chose Concordia because I do not have the liberty of leaving Boise and going to Moscow because I have a family. If you have never been to Moscow consider yourself lucky. You couldn't pay me to move there for even one year. Now that U of I has expanded their Boise program to include 2Ls, I will be able to get a degree without leaving Boise. U of I has jumped on this opportunity and waived all sorts of application requirements and somehow created space for about 50 Concordia people when the program normally only hosts 35 (sorry any Moscow 2Ls that wanted to come to Boise- out of luck). I was unofficially accepted before I even submitted my application based on my unofficial transcript sent via email. Anyway, I had to put down a $500 non-refundable deposit and register this week (love how they made it before the announcement so they stand to make $24,000+ on this if accreditation is granted). They are severely lacking in practical skills courses, are really heavy in self-directed courses, and my upper level writing requirement paper from Concordia, which was an appellate brief, won't transfer because they require it to be an academic paper. What? How is that relevant to the actual practice of law? My point is the school is far behind the times, and I am not looking forward to this transfer at all. Oh, and it will cost me more per year because there are no scholarships for transfers.
DeleteWait, what? You would rather graduate from a provisionally accredited Concordia with zero job placement history than from the fully accredited U of I with alumni all over the state? In this job market? Even after paying the U of I 24k?
DeleteThe above Concordia student is damn lucky anyone will take him or her at all. The fact the UI even cares to admit students this late speaks to it's commitment to students. Sounds like Concordia students should be grateful for the life boat
Delete6:40 is supremely out of touch with reality of he/she doesn't get how lucky he/she is. Wake up.
DeleteWow. The U of I is super lucky to have you as a transfer student. Why don't you post with your name so the rest of us U of I practicing attorneys from such a crappy school with no practical skills will know not to hire you?
DeleteDitto, 3:03. As a CU transfer student to UI, I'm very aware of how extremely lucky I am. Most CU students transferring (and there are many) are tremendously grateful and have the common sense to realize what a step up it is. 6:40 is clueless.
DeleteI agree with July 25, 2014 at 5:58 AM.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on the Concordia situation. The Idaho Supreme Court has denied its request to allow its students to take the bar without the school having achieved provisional accreditation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/08/03/3307977/court-denies-concordia-waiver.html?sp=/99/1687/&ihp=1
@Aug03 5:57pm ........Costa Concordia School of Law. That is funny! And apt!
DeleteLittle known fact. Concordia started in 2012 because their first application for accreditation to the regional body, the The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) was denied. They were due to begin in 2011. See a pattern? Their negligent arrogance is coming home to roost, but it is the poor students who will get stuck holding the bag.
The Costa Concordia School of Law is sinking. Better find a life raft! Ha. Ha. Ha.
ReplyDeleteConcordia has their accreditation as of June 6, 2015.
ReplyDelete