The following letter was submitted by the CSL Alumni Association to the U.S. Department of Education on March 23, 2017 in response to the institutional changes at CSL. Alumni are invited to sign this petition to show support for these changes and for the continued movement of the institution in a positive direction, not only because of the implications for the value of a CSL degree, but also because of the implications for the success of the school and its students going forward.

Secretary Betsy DeVos
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

Dear Madam Secretary:

We are writing on behalf of the Charlotte School of Law Alumni Association regarding recent developments at the law school. Please accept this correspondence as a candid assessment of the impact of these developments on the law school, its current and prospective students, its alumni, and the Charlotte community.

As you are no doubt aware, the American Bar Association in November placed Charlotte School of Law on probation, citing admissions standards that improperly admitted underqualified students, and curricula that did not adequately prepare students to pass a bar examination. In December, the U.S. Department of Education made Charlotte School of Law the first law school ever to lose access to Federal student loans, and justified its decision by accusing President Chidi Ogene and Dean Jay Conison of concealing the seriousness of the school’s shortcomings as identified by the American Bar Association pursuant to a 2014 site visit.

Since then, many alumni have expressed real concerns that their degrees are devalued, and that the school’s tarnished reputation now adds an additional barrier to entry in an already fiercely competitive job market. Some students have transferred to other institutions, many losing valuable credit hours – and thus, valuable months or years of work – in the process. Others have continued their studies at Charlotte Law under a pall of uncertainty, not just with respect to the tuition bill, but also with respect to basic living expenses for payment of which graduate students frequently rely on Federal student loan dollars. Prospective students for the Spring 2017 semester had to change their plans on precious little notice. It is equally important to note that the school’s multiple legal clinics are no longer serving the Charlotte community to their full potential.

The alumni of Charlotte School of Law believe it is prudent for the Department of Education to reassess its decision in light of recent developments at the school. In response to the concerns raised by the American Bar Association and the Department of Education, the school has submitted a reliable plan to the American Bar Association that squarely addresses the issues that moved the school into a probationary period. A flurry of institutional changes has followed, beginning with Dean Jay Conison stepping down from his position on March 20, 2017.

The faculty of the school will now properly have control of academic programs, including veto powers over any decisions of non-faculty personnel regarding admissions and curricula. The faculty of Charlotte School of Law is now, and has always been, remarkably dedicated to the success of its students, and the alumni therefore fully support the faculty in this new role. Notably, Scott Broyles – a former Federal prosecutor and respected Professor at Charlotte Law – has been named interim Dean with the full support of the faculty. The alumni wish to extend their full support to Dean Broyles as well. Perhaps most important among the recent developments is that the school will transition to a non-profit model.

There remains real work to be done, but the alumni of Charlotte Law are pleased to see positive changes enacted by the school. We firmly believe that as the largest city in the Carolinas, Charlotte needs a law school, and has been well-served by Charlotte Law since 2006. We further believe in light of these recent changes that Charlotte Law can and will continue to serve its students and its community for years to come. However, the Department of Education’s decision stands as the most significant obstacle to the school’s ability to succeed in its purpose and share the full benefits of these newly-enacted changes with students, alumni, and the broader Charlotte community.

It is our hope that that the Department of Education will seriously reconsider its decision to deny Charlotte School of Law students access to Federal student loans. The school is looking and moving forward by enacting positive changes calculated to benefit its students. We therefore respectfully request that the Department of Education exercise its considerable discretion to effect a similarly positive change that will benefit current and prospective students, while also allaying the deep concerns of alumni.

A copy of this letter has been posted to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/csl-alumni that other alumni may join with the Alumni Association as signatories hereto. Thank you for your kind attention.

Very truly yours,

/s/ R. Lee Robertson, Jr. ('12)
President
Charlotte School of Law Alumni Association

/s/ Daniel O'Shea ('16)