ABA Finds Hofstra Out Of Compliance With Law School Accreditation Standard On Faculty Diversity

Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, Notice of Finding of Significant Noncompliance With Standard 206, Hofstra University Maurice A. Dean School of Law:

At its November 17-19, 2022, meeting, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) considered the status of Hofstra University Maurice A. Dean School of Law (the “Law School”) and concluded that the Law School is not in compliance with Standard 206(b) ["Consistent with sound educational policy and the Standards, a law school shall demonstrate by concrete action a commitment to diversity and inclusion by having a faculty and staff that are diverse with respect to gender, race, and ethnicity"], with respect to full-time and adjunct/part-time faculty. ...

The Law School has been asked to submit a report by March 31, 2023, and to appear before the Council at its August 17-19, 2023, meeting. The Council will consider the written report at its May 11-13, 2023, meeting. 

ABA Journal, Hofstra University Law School Gets Criticism From ABA About Faculty Diversity:

In the most recent Standard 509 Information Report available, the law school has a total of 128 faculty members. Out of 47 full-time faculty, 23 are men, 24 [51.1%] are women and five [10.6%] identify as people of color. Of the 81 faculty members who are not full time, 57 are men, 24 [29.6%] are women and seven [8.6%] are people of color.

Gail Prudenti, the law school’s dean, said in a statement the school takes the ABA accreditation process seriously and will respond appropriately. “Hofstra Law is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in legal education and the legal profession and has implemented educational and recruitment efforts that have improved diversity and inclusion at the law school. The law school is continually growing and strengthening these efforts,” the statement read.

• Law.com, ABA Council Finds 4 Law Schools Out of Compliance
• Legal Insurrection, ABA Flunks Hofstra Law School For Insufficient Diversity