Law Schools, Texas

Law Grads Want Diplomas Re-Issued To Reflect Enhanced Prestige

Retroactively upgrade your law degree with this fun petition.

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PETITION FROM TEXAS WESLEYAN LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES

PURPOSE: This petition presents a request for A&M to reissue diplomas granted to those who attended what is now called Texas A&M School of Law before its acquisition. This request is based on equitable arguments, the difficulties suffered by those of us who have diplomas from a non-existent law school, and the potential rewards to A&M by taking corrective action.

1. While obtaining approval from the American Bar Association to acquire and rebrand the Texas Wesleyan University’s School of Law as a part of the A&M system, Texas A&M University cited historical performance by graduates of the TWU School of Law. Only with that information did the law school find approval by the ABA.

2. During the September 12, 2013 meeting with TWU School of Law alumni, A&M Provost Dr. Watson stated that A&M would not reissue diplomas to TWU School of Law alumni, stating simply that these individuals did not graduate from A&M, so such an action would be illegal and threaten A&M’s accreditation.

3. Dr. Watson also informed us that A&M would issue A&M diplomas to those who were graduating from the school post-acquisition in December 2013, though those students attended A&M for one semester at most, well short of the usual requirements for transfer students.

4. The undersigned TWU School of Law alumni are dismayed by these actions, particularly that A&M has asked for and received a waiver from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to give A&M diplomas only to December 2013 graduates who received most of their credits under TWU School of Law, and no one prior.

5. Also dismaying was an assertion made that an action reissuing diplomas would be illegal; after substantial research by a number of TWU School of Law alumni, no law appears to exist that makes reissuing diplomas illegal. Nor does A&M appear to have even requested permission from SACS for a waiver, if such waiver is necessary.

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6. Since acquiring and renaming TWU School of Law, A&M has issued press releases extolling TWU School of Law graduates, taking credit for the work of those who made the A&M School of Law possible, while denying that they are A&M alumni. A&M representatives have indicated that A&M is preparing a certificate that will recognize TWU School of Law graduates as A&M alumni, but this is not a sufficient remedy. Our law school did not cease to exist, but was only renamed. Our diploma should be updated accordingly.

7. In these actions, A&M has jeopardized its relationship with TWU School of Law graduates, many of whom are in positions throughout Texas to hire not only attorneys, but all types of professionals. During these events, A&M has the opportunity to garner a real loyalty and benefit for all its alumni by doing little more than simply allowing more than 3500 professionals into its community.

8. The treatment of TWU School of Law alumni by both TWU and A&M leave us without an academic home. Our records are kept at a campus on which we have never stepped foot. Our diplomas refer to a non-existent school, though at any time we can go to the campus and visit professors who taught us property, tort, and family law.

9. In discussions with A&M officials regarding this issue, the standard retort is, “You didn’t graduate from A&M, so you can’t have an A&M diploma or be an A&M alumni.” But this simple syllogism ignores that A&M did not start its own law school, but acquired and renamed the one that we attended. It is not as though our law school disappeared, and A&M began one from scratch. Our law school still exists; it simply has been renamed.

10. A&M’s treatment of this problem significantly decreases the value of our degrees because we cannot represent on our resumes that we attended an existing law school. Given the current job market, obtaining a position at a large firm is difficult for graduates from even the best law schools in the country, let alone graduates of a school whose name is not on the ABA’s list of accredited law schools.

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11. Texas Wesleyan School of Law alumni request A&M to request a waiver from SACS to reissue us diplomas. In so doing, A&M will restore a proper relationship with those who made possible the Texas A&M School of Law, and which will benefit all A&M alumni, not only those from the College of Law. A decision to grant TWU School of Law alumni with A&M diplomas is a matter of respect for the work that made the A&M School of Law possible, and the right thing to do.

REQUESTED: The undersigned TWU School of Law alumni formally asks that A&M take action to reissue diplomas to those who made the renamed A&M School of Law possible, either by simply reissuing the diplomas, requesting permission from the SACS, or seeking statutory changes as necessary.

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