ABA Rejects Golden Gate Law School's Plan To Terminate Its JD Program

Following up on yesterday's post, Golden Gate Will Terminate Its JD Program In May 2024; 1Ls And 2Ls Can Complete Their Degrees At Other Law Schools:  Council and Executive Committee Decision (ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar), Golden Gate University School of Law Teach-Out Plan (Nov. 2023):

At a meeting on November 16-17, 2023, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) considered the Teach-Out Plan submitted by Golden Gate University School of Law (the “Law School”).

After careful review of the Law School’s submission, the Council rejected the Teach-Out Plan as filed because the plan did not include sufficient detail relating to the operation of a teach-out.

As provided by Rule 29(k)(2), the Executive Committee of the Council directed the Law School to revise and resubmit the Teach-Out Plan on or before January 12, 2024. The revised Teach-Out Plan will be considered by the Executive Committee of the Council at a date to be determined.

ABA Journal, ABA Legal Ed Council Rejects Golden Gate University's Plan to End its JD Program:

On Thursday, after years of struggling to meet the ABA’s accreditation standards and financial woes, the San Francisco-based law school announced it will discontinue its juris doctorate program when this academic year ends. According to the letter signed by Barbara Mendelson, the chair of the university’s board of trustees, and David Fike, the university president, current JD students could complete their ABA-accredited degrees through arrangements with partnering institutions to earn an ABA-accredited degree.

However, the ABA council rejected the plan because it “did not include sufficient detail relating to the operation of a teach-out.” A revised plan can be submitted by Jan. 12.

University officials “were surprised and disappointed to see that the ABA decided to post this public notice,” according to an email to the ABA Journal on Friday. “We strongly object to this posting.” ...

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an accrediting commission, also put the school on notice. A March 17 letter details reporting requirements from the commission, including a continued forecast of cash balances to ensure university spending didn’t outpace the realization of new revenues.

Golden Gate Law School's spring semester begins on January 8. Tuition is due January 26. The last day for students to drop courses without tuition charges or receiving a "W" grade on their transcripts is January 26.

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• Struggling San Francisco Law School Slashes Class Size, Cancels Tuition (Sept. 30, 2022)
• ABA Gives Golden Gate Law School 3-Year Extension To Meet 75% Bar Passage Accreditation Standard (Mar. 30, 2023)
• Golden Gate University Law School Faces Bankruptcy, Closure (June 21, 2023)
• 122-Year Old Golden Gate Law School Will Keep Its Doors Open A Little Longer Despite Continued Financial Woes (June 26, 2023)
• Golden Gate Law School Won’t Close, But Faculty Layoffs May Be Coming (July 14, 2023)
• Golden Gate Law School Sends Discontinuation Notices To Tenured Faculty, Paving Way For Possible Termination In FY25 (July 17, 2023)
• Golden Gate Will Terminate Its JD Program In May 2024; 1Ls And 2Ls Can Complete Their Degrees At Other Law Schools (Dec. 1, 2023)