Is Baltimore Law School a Cash Cow? University President Disputes Ousted Dean’s Figures
University of Baltimore President Robert Bogomolny is disputing assertions that the law school is shouldering too much of the university’s funding burden.
In an email to faculty and staff, Bogomolny said the school’s ousted law dean, Phillip Closius, had mischaracterized the university’s relationship to the law school and had cited incomplete figures. The Baltimore Sun has a story.
Closius had criticized the university in a widely distributed email that claimed law school tuition increases had largely benefited the university rather than his students. For 2010-2011 academic school year, he said, the university retained about 45 percent of the money generated by law tuition, fees and state subsidies.
Bogomolny disputed the claim, using figures from the prior school year, the Baltimore Sun points out. Although the university retained 42 percent of law school revenue, it spent much of the money on the law school’s operating costs, such as human resources, technology, heat, light and security, Bogomolny said. “In fact, in 2010,” he wrote, “the university retained 13.7 percent of law revenue centrally, after allocating costs related to the law school’s regular operation.”
The Baltimore Sun contacted Closius for his comments. He said he disagreed with Bogomolny’s interpretation of the financial numbers, “and I’m pretty sure I’m right.” He has the support of many students and alumni, the story says. A rally to protest Closius’ ouster was planned for Tuesday.
