(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564804)

http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com/display.php?user=Jppadro

3.44/161 = columbia?

this is what is meant by the trickle down effect, if a 161 can go to columbia what kind of urms is houston going to get?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564863)

Its a god damn melting pot.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564796)

and these lawyers are here to serve a list of clients full of..

smart americans, stupid americans, rich americans, poor americans, lazy americans, asshole ammericans, 2nd generation americans, disabled americans..

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5714076)

180.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#9535107)

Many of you were present for last Friday's Law Center faculty meeting - thank you to the 100+ that attended to show student concern for the state of affairs at our school. Those of you that were not present have surely heard all the details by now. A quick summary is in order.

The UHLC continued its sinking in the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings this year, but with a precipitous drop that has us tied for 70th place. What was previously our creep toward the third tier suddenly appears more like the Titanic on its way to the bottom. Naturally, faculty and students alike are concerned; let us not forget the thousands of alumni whose degrees are also depreciating as they hang on office walls around town and across the country.

When the dean eventually rolled around to the rankings (and to a lesser degree, the abominable Fall Semester class schedule that makes all students evening students), she again held the floor, to "spin" the agenda before hearing from students. We heard Dean Rapoport’s annual rhetoric about why the rankings don't work, why they don't reflect the quality of our school or education, and why she refuses to play the game that every other law school dean in the country plays in achieving respectable rankings. While it is true that the classes and education we receive each day may be no different or worse than they were last year, it is undeniable that the UHLC J.D. has steadily become worth less. It seems our dean cannot see this, in spite of its obviousness to those of us rapidly spending ourselves into debt on an equally-rapidly declining investment.

The reception of student remarks by Dean Rapoport was a tragedy that had to be witnessed to be appreciated. The dean ignored the students. The dean blamed the students. The dean blamed the faculty, even calling out one or two professors by name. The dean cried. . . After all, Dean Rapoport damages not just the law school - Newton teaches us that her own value as a dean anywhere will hit rock bottom at precisely the same moment our rankings reach impact. She has a deeply personal, vested interest in this debacle. While she may not be ready to leave her post, it seems only logical that she is likewise not ready to join the ranks of the academically unemployable. Better that she be given the opportunity to do the right thing, with dignity, on her own. We first need to create that environment, option, and incentive for the dean.

If such a genuine attempt proves unsuccessful, and Dean Rapoport entrenches herself and clings to her tenuous hold, then we need a contingent of faculty with the courage to stand up and say "enough is enough – we must save this school." I can personally guarantee a student turnout of over 500 at a faculty meeting where that happens - just schedule it for Krost Hall ahead of time. Once our alumni, students, and faculty have approached the dean about leaving on her own two feet, it will be much easier to paint a picture for the University administration. If we are forced down this uglier path, then we must make the right moves in the right way, making sure that the writing on the wall is crystal clear. What is clear? The right time is NOW.

I will distribute this message to every student I know how to reach via the law school mailing lists. I ask you in turn to distribute it to professors with whom you have close relationships. More importantly, please pass it along to all the alumni of the law school that you can reach. Help inform those who do not realize the magnitude and seriousness of what is happening at the law school - those that don't even know their law degrees are depreciating into oblivion. I assure you that they are invested in this disaster, that they need to know about it, and that at least some of them will become productively involved in helping us save this ship before the last deck slips below the water.

Best regards,

Deeply Troubled UHLC Student

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES:

Be aware that Prof. Guerra-Thompson is moderating a meeting to discuss student views on rankings tomorrow at noon, 109BLB. Bring your own lunch.

Feel free to respond to this e-mail address, where messages will be stored and archived in case they are later needed. At some point I will investigate whether this can be set up as a Yahoo Group mailing list or internet forum for mass distribution, to help interest parties remain involved in what is sure to be an interesting and hopefully fruitful process.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564675)

Deaning doesn't involve cooking or cleaning, so she's out of luck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5570147)

"After all, Dean Rapoport damages not just the law school - Newton teaches us that her own value as a dean anywhere will hit rock bottom at precisely the same moment our rankings reach impact."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5570255)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600682)

I'll be there! With my lunch!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599550)

but employers in south texas who liked houston grads before will still take them, and the rest of the country will still not care.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564799)

The building just needs a bit of patching up and UH will rocket back into the first tier.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564982)

Here's a tip, Houston Law students: if you cared so much about rankings and reputation, you shouldn't have gone to Houston!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5564932)

Nancy Rapoport

Nancy Rapoport ’82, dean of the University of Houston Law Center, has accomplished much in her relatively short career.

Rapoport graduated from Rice summa cum laude with a double major in legal studies and honors psychology. In 1985 she completed her doctorate of jurisprudence at Stanford, where she was a member of the Law Review and vice president of alumni programs, while also finding time to win the women’s intramural power-lifting competition.

From there Rapoport clerked for the renowned Joseph T. Sneed III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and then worked at the San Francisco firm Morrison & Foerster, where she specialized in bankruptcy law, the field in which she has established her national reputation.

In 1991, she returned to academia, when she became an associate professor at the Ohio State College of Law. Within three years she was a full professor with tenure. Rapoport was then named dean and professor of law at the University of Nebraska College of Law. In 2000 she returned to Houston to head up the UH Law Center.

Rapoport’s remarks upon her return to Houston give insight to what motivates her to accomplish so much: “Because our tuition is low, relative to that of private schools, we can educate those for whom a legal education — and the power that it brings — would not otherwise be possible. As a public law school, we have a moral obligation to return our talents to the community.”

http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=2929&SnID=31375020

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5565304)

That way the Dean will be concerned with making their school look good (all a Dean really does) instead of making the world a better place or some such thing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5570206)

BWAH, HAH, HAH!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600788)

Spending per student counts a lot in the rankings. The private schools like SMU and Baylor charge more, but they also spend more on their students’ educations. UT has its own law school endowment and is more adept at working the Texas Legislature (see below for an example from the last Appropriations Bill). However, even UT has a tough time with the Legislature these days.

US News uses medians for LSAT and GPAs, so the scores of minority students should not hurt unless URMs account for at least ½ the class. On the other hand, increasing the scores of non-URMs would help.

Let’s face it, the law school facility at UH is not up to par. Every time a hurricane blows through town, the underground library floods and half the books are ruined. Then it takes ten years to reacquire the lost books. The school is located in a bad part of town and is associated with a fourth-tier university.

Maybe Rapoport can use her Rice University connections to induce Rice and its new president (former dean of CLS) into taking over UH Law School. [I know this is far-fetched, but the school is going nowhere under the current arrangement.]

Rice University could then provide a decent law facility on its campus (located in a desirable part of town), cut the size of the program, increase student selectivity and tuition, and in turn, increase the funding, prestige, and ranking of the law school.

Obviously, there is a stratification process going on among Texas law schools. The same thing happened in other large states a long time ago:

California -- 1. Stanford, 2. Berkeley, 3. UCLA, 4. USC

New York -- 1. Columbia/NYU, 3. Cornell, 4. Fordham

Illinois -- 1. Chicago, 2. Northwestern, 3. UIUC

Texas is starting to look like -- 1. Texas, 2. SMU, 3. Baylor, 4. Houston

redacre, if you don't like Rapoport and you can't get into UT, why don't you try to transfer to SMU or Baylor?

Example:

5. The University of Texas at Austin School of Law Enrollment. It is the intent of the Legislature that The University of Texas at Austin study the impact that enrollment levels have on the quality of education at the University's Law School. The University shall make recommendations on the optimal enrollment level at which the school can provide the highest quality education. The University shall submit a report to the 80th Legislature, not later than January 1, 2007. It is the intent of the Legislature that a limitation on enrollment not adversely impact current funding levels.

http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Bill_79/6_Conference/79-6_Conf_0505.pdf

Page: III-63 – III-64

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5565507)

I'm not informed enough on the issues to be a proponent of either side, but I am surprised at the level of apparent support for the remove-the-dean movement, even among faculty. I suspect that there's more than rankings behind the effort to have the dean resign; I just don't know what it is.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5569851)

It would not surprise me to learn that many of the UHLC students upset about this would not have been accepted to UH had Rapaport gamed the system the way they want her to.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5565525)

South Texas College of Law, and

Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5565806)

"White House Counsel Harriet Miers has accepted Dean Nancy Rapoport’s invitation to serve as the keynote speaker at the UH Law Center’s commencement ceremonies on May 12, 2006."

http://www.law.uh.edu/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5569382)

These Houston students are pathetic. Are we even sure they should be ranked as high as 70? There are California law schools like Santa Clara that are ranked lower that I'll bet are actually better.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5570186)

Some more info here, including the provost getting pissed at all the internet posts hating on UH: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UHLCINFORMER/message/28

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599363)

Date: Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:01 pm

Subject: Today's meeting with the provost...

Friends --

By now most of you have heard: the rumors swirling about regarding

Dean Rapoport's resignation last week were very true. Today, the UH

Provost addressed the law school faculty at lunch. Along with only

a handful of other students, I attended the public portion of that

meeting, and felt I should update you on what was heard.

First, and most obviously, Dean Rapoport resigned last Thursday. My

understanding is that the resignation is effective at the end of

May, though she has extended an offer to stay on and serve in

whatever transition role might be most productive for the Law

Center.

Second - ACTION POINT: The provost announced that he is immediately

seeking an interim dean, while a nationwide search will eventually

launched for a permanent replacement. Input is being accepted

from "stakeholders" until close of business this Wednesday, April

19. While the provost specifically addressed his comments to

faculty and alumni, I would encourage all alumni and even students

to be heard on this issue. This is one of those rare times where

your input is relevant, helpful, and requested, so please let it be

heard. The provost's comments suggest that it is not set in stone

that the interim dean while be chosen from the current faculty, but

it seems highly likely to be the case.

Third, when asked directly whether he would improve funding to the

Law Center, the provost responded with thoughts on raising private

contributions. As he noted, people want to give money to a rising

program, but that isn't what we have here -- we have a situation

where the school is (at best) drifting. This looks like a chicken

and egg problem to me. I hope that there is a compromise in which

the greater UH body can find a way to improve our funding while our

alumni recognize this unique opportunity to mark a significant

change and new direction for our fine institution.

Finally, the provost lashed out at the internet rumor mill and

anonymous postings which have surrounded this topic in the last week

or two. He likened it to "fouling our own nest," and he is probably

right. I hesitated to submit this posting, but most especially for

those that are off campus, I felt there was a responsibility to

report what happened in today's meeting. Rather than ending the

discussion, I think it becomes even more important to keep our eye

on the potential positive outcomes, and for everyone to speak

forthrightly, openly, and accountably. I implore each of you to

take what started out as a disruptive forum and mailing list and to

make it productive, to continue the dialogue, and to do it in a

spirit which will best benefit our law school.

I am certain that departing was a hard decision for Dean Rapoport,

and the next few weeks here can only be difficult for her.

Regardless of whether or not you supported the dean, please show her

the proper respect as she finishes her tenure as our dean, and

appreciate her efforts to transition the program as best possible to

its interim leadership.

John M. Hardy

UHLC 2L

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599552)

http://www.law.indiana.edu/ilj/volumes/v81/no1/17_Rapoport.pdf

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599471)

Because it turns your school into a TTT?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600840)

See my user name, I'm from Houston. I never considered at all going there.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599515)

I told him they'd be better off if USNews had never ranked the second tier in the first place.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5599682)

Apparently the dean was viewed more as the latter group and was not willing to take the steps necessary to be a competitive law school.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600082)

He's a graduate of Orkin Academy,

with a Major in Cockroaches and a Minor in Slime Mold

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600387)

Or that those 3 would happen to be going to an office where their Dean is of-counsel?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600259)

Honestly, this is not the deans' fault. The Texas Legislature does not adequately fund its state schools and it is difficult for a school like UH to raise the type of private funds that a school like UT can raise. If UH wants to play the game, it may have to raise tuition (a lot).

Funding can also be a problem in the search for a new dean as it has been at UNC:

"UNC has been forced to reopen its search for a dean after it offered the job to Duke University law professor Erwin Chemerinsky, an academic star who said no.

Chemerinsky set off alarm bells, not mincing words in explaining his reason. 'I think it's a terrific school, but it's a very underfunded school,' he says. 'I think any candidate will be concerned over money.'"

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12248881/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600248)

One of the possible routes is to move the school away from a purely public school and move towards a partial private partial public funding system like other schools (UVA and Penn are examples of schools that have done this I believe).

Whatever the new plan involves, it is good that a new plan is being developed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600307)

UVA: "Source of Institutional Control: Public (with no state funding)"

http://www.law.virginia.edu/home2002/html/about/factsstats.htm

Michigan: "In 1935, state funding accounted for nearly 50 percent of the budget, but in 2004 funding stands at less than 4 percent."

http://www.law.umich.edu/campaign/faq/campaign.htm

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600322)

I could easily see them getting saddled with some ridiculous impositions (every year they grumble in Richmond about how many out-of-staters there are in C-Ville).

Look at UNC, where they are mandated to take a % of there class in-state and are still punished by their moronic state gov't.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600403)

I wasn't comparing the quality of the schools. That would be ridiculous. I was only showing a model of shifting from purely state funding to private funding.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600420)

Either way, it is clear from my post that I do know that it is not a public school.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600488)

Freudian slip?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600558)

Come on: significant turn around = 20.8 student/faculty ratio?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600697)

Dean RAPOPORT: "I know--they stink!"

or that's how it should have went.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5600532)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5601057)

i doubt that the rankings influence job placement much at all. do you think law firm partners sit around and comment about the rankings? their perceptions of school quality are based on where they and all their colleagues went to school and on the quality of associates they have hired from the school in the past.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5601110)

First Time Examinees:

Texas Wesleyan 33/40 82.50%

Saint Mary's 21/26 80.77%

University of Houston 37/47 78.72%

South Texas 65/83 78.31%

Texas Southern 20/26 76.92%

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5714034)

EDIT:

UT 34/37 91.89%

SMU 16/18 88.89%

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5714119)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#5714252)

Profile of the 2007 Class

Full-time Part-time

Applications 3009 317

Admitted 869 78

Entering Class Size Target 250 50

Median LSAT 162 158

Median GPA 3.59 3.43

25th/75th Percentile LSAT 159/165 154/162

Average Age 24 30

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#8629324)

1. They are too far out-of-line with prior years.

2. A “Class Target Size” indicates the school does not know how many students will actually enroll.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#8637972)

1. LSAT median increased 2 points (not really out of line)

2. not necessarily

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#8638008)

Applications were down a little and the acceptance rate was about the same.

We'll see what they report to the ABA.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#8638036)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=398291&forum_id=2#8927799)