Dean: Despite Discord, Ave Maria's Fla. Move Went Well
Despite some dire predictions and discord over the relocation of Ave Maria School of Law’s campus from Michigan to Florida, it has turned out well, the acting dean says.
After moving over the summer, the school greeted 210 first-year students this fall, up from 126 last year, acting dean Eugene Milhizer told the Naples Daily News.
And, despite the increase in class size, first-year Law School Admission Test scores went up, he says. Meanwhile, Ave Maria settled litigation brought by several faculty members who opposed the move and retained its American Bar Association accreditation.
“The fact is we have moved and those who didn’t think we could do it and were concerned about that, we have moved, so it’s been done,” Milhizer tells the newspaper. “Those who were concerned that our ABA accreditation might be impacted by the move, well we retained our full accreditation. Those who had a concern that, ‘Well, gee, if you move down there will you still be able to attract students?’ Well it’s been shown that we’re in a better position to attract students.”
The winter weather in Florida as opposed to snowy Michigan is one reason students and faculty are happy to be in Naples, Milhizer said.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Naming Rights Don’t Sell for $20M, So Ave Maria Scraps New Building Plan”
ABAJournal.com: “Fired Ave Maria Law Prof Gets Tenure in Whistle-Blower Settlement, Lawyer Says”
