Students at the University of Vermont may soon be able to earn an undergraduate degree and a law degree in five years as part of a new affiliation with Vermont Law School announced Friday.
Officials at the University of Vermont and Vermont Law School are creating a joint degree program that would allow students to complete an undergraduate degree at UVM in three years, followed by a law degree in two years at the Vermont Law School in South Royalton.
The public university and the private law school said the plan is one of several ideas being explored that would tighten the bond between the two institutions, according to a news release issued Friday.
Dubbed the “Vermont 3-2,” the program is still in the planning stages and is contingent on faculty approval from both schools.
There are already some “3+3” programs, including one between UVM and VLS, that allow students to obtain undergraduate and law degrees on an accelerated timeline. The VLS-UVM proposal would shave another year off the process.
“Vermont Law already has one of the most progressive JD programs in the nation, and we look forward to working with UVM to help their students reach their educational goals with minimal student debt. We want to ensure we continue to attract and retain the talent we need to support a prosperous future for Vermont,” VLS President Marc Mihaly said in a statement.
The news release points to common ground that exists between UVM and VLS. The two schools already offer a dual Master’s degree program in environmental science and policy.
The news release also cited a collaboration between UVM graduate psychology students and Vermont Law students to find ways to assist survivors of torture whose requests for asylum are difficult to process because of memory loss and other post-traumatic issues.
UVM President Tom Sullivan is quoted as saying, “Both institutions share a commitment to environmentalism, sustainability, and innovation and both play vital roles in Vermont’s economy.”
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who recently proposed legislation designed at making college more affordable, praised the idea.
“I applaud UVM and Vermont Law School for this innovative and practical idea to make higher education more affordable for Vermonters,” Welch said in a statement. “Keeping the doors to college open for all students will require this brand of leadership and innovation from higher education administrators nationwide.”
Asked if the two schools were considering a merger, VLS communications director Peter Glenshaw provided the following email responsel:
“Vermont Law School and the University of Vermont have a long history of collaboration, and believe this initiative provides a natural opportunity to further that relationship and to explore additional areas of mutual interest in the future. UVM President Tom Sullivan and VLS Dean and President Marc Mihaly are committed to reducing the cost and increasing accessibility to higher education. Both are also interested in creating academic synergies and opportunities for faculty and students.”
The news follows a positive development for Vermont Law School — The Times Argus reported Friday that the school’s environmental program is receiving a $1.5 million donation from trustee and alumnus James E. Hanson II, president of Hampshire Real Estate Cos. in Morristown, N.J.
This story was updated at 5:15 p.m. Friday.
