FAMU law school investigation update

The ongoing internal investigation at the FAMU College of Law involving allegations of improper grade changes and admissions is not tied to an ongoing federal grade-changing investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Tallahassee Democrat reports today.

FAMU officials disclosed this week that three employees had been fired, and both the Democrat and the FAMUAN student newspaper identified them as Deborah Swain, Carol Rojas and Derrien Bonney. The story said Swain and Rojas are appealing. It noted two students have been dismissed.

The law school probe was first reported by the Gradebook in this post in February. FAMU officials said in a press release this week that the investigation uncovered one instance of a grade change to a student's transcript, and two instances where students were fraudulently admitted. An audit of more than 27,000 other grades found no other instances of improper changes, the release said.

The FAMUAN reports more about the other investigation. The Democrat cites an official with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is assisting the U.S. Attorney's Office, as saying that investigation should be finished soon.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[FAMUGRADguy]

I PASSED THE BAR !! The Times IS NOT ACCURATE THEY only cited FAMU’s first-time bar passage rate. The overall passage rate is conspicuously absent.

According to page 26 of FAMU’s March 2008 ABA report (available in a link in yesterday's story) FAMU’s overall bar passage rates have been the following: June 2005, 70.6%; February 2006, 71.4%; July 2006, 70.3%; February 2007, 70.9%; and July 2007, 81.3%.

The 70-81 percent passage rates are much larger than the "little more than half" statistic listed in the Times.

These rates prove that (1) the overwhelming majority of FAMU’s law students are passing the bar and (2) most FAMU law students are resilient men and women who persevered through tough circumstances.

[FAMUGRADguy]

I PASSED THE BAR !! The Times IS NOT ACCURATE THEY only cited FAMU’s first-time bar passage rate. The overall passage rate is conspicuously absent.

According to page 26 of FAMU’s March 2008 ABA report (available in a link in yesterday's story) FAMU’s overall bar passage rates have been the following: June 2005, 70.6%; February 2006, 71.4%; July 2006, 70.3%; February 2007, 70.9%; and July 2007, 81.3%.

The 70-81 percent passage rates are much larger than the "little more than half" statistic listed in the Times.

These rates prove that (1) the overwhelming majority of FAMU’s law students are passing the bar and (2) most FAMU law students are resilient men and women who persevered through tough circumstances.

[schellshock]

Oh stop with the rumors.

FAMU grads find jobs - and they DO JUST FINE.

If you look at placement statistics for 2007 - out of 72 graduates 67 found jobs after graduation and were employed and only 5 were looking at time of the survey report

[Way aHead]

FAMU is on its way to a complete overhaul. Haven't you read the news lately?

The new Dean, LeRoy Pernell is totally on task. Administrators and faculty are developing new programs and initiatives designed to move FAMU College of Law to the next level of greatness.
They are strongly headed for accreditation and then after that point you probably wouldn't be able to get in.

I'm heading there this fall 2009 and I can't wait.

Have you seen the sharp new FAMU LAW building?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOICTx_wdiY

FAMU just announced the hiring of TWELVE law professors who are nationally and internationally recognized for their academic leadership and legal expertise. The appointments are effective for the 2008-09 academic year.

They opened a new International Law Center in August, 2008, a new Cafe in December, 2008, a new Bookstore in January, 2009.

In September, 2008 Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) College of Law was recently ranked seventh for providing clinical opportunities by National Jurist magazine, beating out other schools like Cornell, Harvard, Stanford and Rutgers Universities.

FAMU President James H. Ammons. “The sun is indeed rising as we embark on a new day at FAMU. In taking steps to ensure the College of Law becomes a leader in producing the tops lawyers in the country and is home of top-rate and credible academic programs, this is just a sign of things to come.”

FAMU is pathetic. The law school is a joke! I feel for the students that have worked hard.