Cooley Law to make faculty and staff cuts
Thomas M. Cooley Law School announced this week that it plans faculty and staff cuts as enrollment and revenue declines.
“Enrollment at law schools across the country has gone down in the last couple years,” said James Robb, Associate Dean of External Affairs and Senior Counsel. “We now see at Cooley that it’s time to rebalance and bring our expenses into line with revenue. As part of that, we’re reviewing staffing needs and operations at the campuses. We’re looking at all our expenses as we contain costs. We won’t cut back on the quality of the classes and instructional programs that we offer.”
The Lansing-based school has campuses across Michigan and in the Tampa, Florida, area. It cited rising health care and legacy costs. It also told students it wouldn’t enroll a new class at its campus in Ann Arbor this fall.
The school says it’s conducting a wide review of its programs. It’s looking at all campuses and facilities as well as purchases, travel and other expenses.
Robb said that some media had misrepresented the enrollment plans for this fall.
“It’s been inaccurately reported, with some media saying we’re not enrolling any new students at all, which is not the case,” he said.
“We’ve decided that, for the fall session, we will not be enrolling incoming first semester students at the Ann Arbor campus. At Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Tampa Bay they will be enrolling students for the fall semester.”
In a statement, the school said: “The plan will help the school remain at the forefront of innovative approaches to legal education and continue to deliver the broad, high-quality access to legal instruction students have come to expect from Cooley.”
The cuts come less than a year after Cooley and Western Michigan University signed an affiliation agreement in September 2013 to allow students to jointly pursue a law degree at Cooley and a master’s in business administration, public administration or social work at Western.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
— By Steve Thorpe
Holiday Hours
The Third Circuit Court Civil, Criminal and Family Divisions will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
In observance of Independence Day, the 36th District Court will be closed to the public on Friday, July 4. Felony arraignment
hearings will be held at the 34th District Court in Romulus. The court will reopen on Monday, July 7.
The Wayne County Probate Court will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 4 and will reopen on Monday, July 7 at 8 a.m.
The Michigan Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the State Court Administrative Office will be closed Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Reception featuring retired ALJ Roulhac
UDM Law will welcome retired Administrative Law Judge Roy Roulhac (‘75) on Tuesday, July 15, for a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. followed by a program at 6 p.m. in the Atrium during which he will speak on the topic, “From Busboy to Barrister: Reflections on Life as a Lawyer, Genealogist, Author, and Administrative Law Judge.” Register online by July 11. Direct questions to cso@udmercy.edu or (313) 596-0223.
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