Akron Law Alumni

As spring awakens and we approach the end of the 2012-13 academic year at Akron Law, it provides us an excellent chance to reflect on, and evaluate, our law school. This has been a year when the community we have built has sustained and strengthened us in the face of challenges. Our faculty has continued the tradition of excellence, acting creatively and expeditiously to envision our future, start a health law program, build on the excellence of our IP Center and Miller-Becker Center, and continue to adapt our curriculum to today’s students and needs. Their scholarly presence is growing and having impact in the academy and the practice. Our students have been successful in national trial and appellate competitions, and continue to impress in the classroom and workplace. The BLSA chapter was named best small chapter of the year regionally and nationally. Our staff has redefined the meaning of being a team while expanding our strength and visibility. Despite retirements, we have had a banner year in every area, from admissions to career planning to alumni relations to programming within and outside of the law school. We have continued our commitment to being a school of opportunity, affordability and access by making bold moves such as freezing law school tuition for the Fall 2013 entering class until they graduate, and offering out-of-state students the in-state tuition rate with a modest surcharge. But we aren’t ready to stop there. To ensure student success, we need to be vigilant that we are utilizing our resources in the most efficient and effective manner, and continue to actively seek ways to remain fiscally responsible. Part of that initiative is to evaluate how we communicate. Publications continue to shift towards all-digital formats; for example, The University of Akron Alumni magazine will become primarily a digital publication in 2013-14. The reasons to move towards digital are numerous: remaining environmentally conscious, portability, timeliness, and significant cost savings. Therefore, I am proud to announce that we are adapting positively to the changes in our profession: the spring issue of Akron Law Alumni Magazine will be produced only in digital format. However, the print edition is not disappearing. Akron Law will receive a complete overhaul and will return in the 2013-14 academic year as an expanded annual publication available in both print and digital format. By making this change, we are able to save thousands of dollars, reallocating that money towards student success. As many of you know, I am a lover of quotes, and in this time of evolution, I am reminded of a quote by President John F. Kennedy: “Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” And as we move into the future, I welcome your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions (reilly@uakron.edu).