Penn State, Dickinson Law School Merger On Track

5-16-97
University Park, Pa -- Penn State's merger with The Dickinson School of Law is on track and expected to begin as scheduled on July 1. On that date, the law school will officially be known as The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, its employees will be on Penn State's payroll, and the transition period in the governance of the law school will begin.

John Brighton, Penn State's executive vice president and provost, told the Board of Trustees May 16 that the University has identified at least 36 different functional areas for integration with Dickinson and that a high-speed communications link between the two institutions will be installed in early June.

"Dickinson will then have full data capacity to integrate with Penn State's administrative computer systems," Brighton said. "We believe that by next year, the registration, billing, student aid, and admissions systems will be up and running at Dickinson."

On Jan. 17, nearly 30 years after the possibility of an alliance was first considered, Penn State's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a merger with the 163-year old law school. The law school's board had previously approved the merger, and so the vote of Penn State's trustees was the final action needed to seal the deal.

During a three-year transition period that begins July 1, Dickinson's board of trustees will be augmented by the addition of H. Jesse Arnelle, president of Penn State's board, and two senior Penn State administrators. During the first stage of the merger, this augmented board will oversee Dickinson's operations. After the merger is complete, it will become an advisory board.

Brighton said that Peter Glenn, dean of the law school, is a "tremendous leader," and that Penn State is delighted with the intensity of the cooperative efforts between Penn State and Dickinson. "We have seen a high level of communication both ways and we feel very positive about the process," Brighton said.

Brighton also updated the board on other ongoing University activities, including those of the University Planning Council, the Center for Quality Improvement, the Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning, the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education, the IDP Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and the University Faculty Senate's Special Committee on General Education. He also reviewed issues related to faculty promotion and tenure.

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Contacts: Alan Janesch (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 867-3621 (home) axj12@psu.edu
Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 237-9046 (home) cmr7@psu.edu