Thompson Rivers University

Faculty of Law Update

March 21, 2011

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Uli Scheck

Dr. Uli Scheck, Provost and Vice-President Academic addresses recent developments surrounding the new Faculty of Law

Uli Scheck

Uli Scheck

Dear faculty members, staff and students,

As you know, we are scheduled to receive our first law students this coming September, and the admissions process and the search for faculty colleagues are well underway. The creation of our Faculty of Law has created tremendous interest both from students and prospective faculty members.

You may recall that our Law curriculum is based on the University of Calgary’s highly respected program and that we are creating the Law School as a self-funding, cost-recovery program very much like all of our graduate programs. The operating budget for the Law School is a standalone budget and does not require any subsidies or transfers from other academic faculties, schools or divisions. Our Law program will lead to a J.D. (Juris Doctor) which will be credentialed as a TRU degree with a notation on the transcript that the degree is awarded in collaboration with the University of Calgary.

Our program has been accredited by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Law Society of British Columbia.  In addition, a few weeks ago, a DQAB expert review panel visited us and has provided a positive recommendation for approval by the Board later this month. We are confident that TRU will receive final Ministry approval by mid-April. We are now in the process of designing and building the physical infrastructure for the Faculty of Law in Old Main. In the meantime, faculty offices and teaching space will be provided for Law in our soon to open House of Learning. This is a temporary measure until the home for our new Faculty is ready for occupancy.

House of Learning

House of Learning

I trust you share the great enthusiasm on campus and in the community with respect to the creation of the first Faculty of Law in Canada in over 30 years. Please accept my gratitude for all the moral and logistical support you have given to the process of creating our new Faculty of Law.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ulrich Scheck,
Provost & Vice-President Academic