Thursday, September 18, 2014
Levit has served as Dean since 2007
A message from TU President Steadman Upham:
We all know that change is the only constant – and that rule also is true for academia. We are about to undergo a change in leadership at The University of Tulsa College of Law: Dean Janet Levit has announced plans to return to the faculty following the current academic year.
We are going to miss Janet’s able leadership in this role, particularly as we reflect upon the achievements the law school has experienced the past seven years. TU Law has advanced on many fronts during Janet’s tenure:
Student and faculty strength
- – Increasing the academic quality of student body
- – Revamping professional development office and increased student placement rates above national and regional averages
- – Recruiting and retaining faculty whose fields complement each other and offer a tailored legal education
Meaningful programming
- – Introducing three-year professionalism curriculum
- – Expanding the college’s focus to include undergraduate legal education
- – Creating Accelerated Law Programs with Henry Kendall College of Arts & Sciences, Collins College of Business, and Oklahoma – State University
- – Revitalizing experiential learning curriculum, including externship program and Lobeck Taylor Family Advocacy Clinic
- – Establishing three new degree programs: Master in Jurisprudence in Energy Law (online), Master in Jurisprudence in Indian Law (online), and LL.M. in Energy and Natural Resource Law
College excellence
- – Raising U.S. News ranking from 147 to 72
- – Renovating John Rogers Hall
- – Introducing Access to Legal Education Scholarships as a way to address rising costs of legal education and mounting student debt loads
Janet began her post as dean in 2007, and I am pleased she will remain with TU Law beyond the 2014-15 academic year. We thank her for the work she has done.
“It has been a privilege to lead The University of Tulsa College of Law through exciting, yet challenging times,” said Dean Levit. “Change can be very healthy for institutions and for individuals. I am confident in the steps that we, the TU Law community, have taken to strengthen the College of Law, and I look forward to remaining a vital part of the community.”
The university will begin a dean search immediately with initial focus on internal candidates. The College of Law faculty will have meaningful involvement in the selection of a new dean.
Contact:
Michael Campbell
michael-campbell@utulsa.edu