Preparing for Our First Ranking of Law School Part-Time Programs

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I'm really happy about your decision thus far. As one of the students you allude to who will be applying to part time schools around the country the extra information will be very helpful. Currently, it's very hard to even find a list of these programs.
To the other reviewer who suggested it should be either separate or combined, not both: I disagree. What about the schools where many students transfer from one program to another? A weighted average of the part-time and full-time first year statistics with weights equal to the percentage of second year class coming from each, would make a lot of sense. This would penalize the schools taking advantage of the loophole without hurting the schools who are relaxing standards but running the programs separately. Also, I don't agree with your statement about using the same ranking formula. Part-time students have different goals than full-time students and the formula should be adjusted for this to the extent these students are the target audience of the rankings. For instance, part-time students are on average older so GPA should be given less weight. Course selection and flexibility is very important in an evening program. A metric accounting for this would be helpful.

Matt of CT 11:32PM October 13, 2008

Thank You U.S. News for seeing it as it is!

Damien of WI 10:40AM October 13, 2008

Separate rankings for part-time law programs are ridiculous, redundant, useless and an embarrassment to the integrity of US News & World Report.
Why is US News making such a big deal about the part-time programs? Is it because some schools are guilty of "gaming" the rankings? Do law schools really have their own interests in mind when submitting their information? How can US News avoid this loopholing behavior?
Put simply, it is definitely in the interest of US News to augment the methodology with part-time program statistics (as opposed to the ridiculous notion of separate rankings). If the periodical truly wants to combat "gaming" then by all means the rankings should be combined. If law schools are not guilty of gaming the system then they should have nothing to be afraid of. After all, isn't the whole idea of the rankings to project educational quality?
It is almost unbelievable, albeit aggravating, that US News, as an independent authority, has gained so much influence and power over the lives of the US legal community. But if US News wants to maintain its integrity, it should NOT be afraid to augment its methodology. Just because a few schools guilty of gaming are pressuring to rank part-time programs separately, does not mean that this should be the case.
The question that remains now is:
Will US News be bold enough the say "No!" to external pressures and have the guts to change its ranking methodology?

J. Townsend of NY 2:16AM October 10, 2008

The University of Wisconsin, among others located within the state of Wisconsin, receives full credit for their 100% bar passage rate. I do not think that is a fair and accurate assessment of their "eye-popping" success when their graduates get admitted to the state bar "automatically" upon graduation due to their unique diploma privilege (no bar examination) system. I think that figure is misleading at best (Wouldn't "N/A" be more reflective of the situation?) and unfair to other similarly ranked schools from other states with more stringent admissions standards, whatever those might be.

jr 5:32AM October 08, 2008

It will be important to understand that some part time programs are totally independent from the full time program at the same school in terms of students, and others are not. At some schools part time is little more than an enrollment option that can and does change from semester to semester. In other words, students may enter as part time students and shift to full time after the first year and visa versa. Indeed they may shift back and forth several times over the course of three or four years. In some schools both part time and full time students can take classes during the day or evening. These arrangements provide students with educational, employment and financial flexibility. For schools like this, it is not really possible to separately assess the part time program. For these schools the plan to combine full time and part time students in an overall assessment is the better approach.
But there are many schools at which the programs are entirely separate in terms of student enrollment, and usually in terms of student credentials. Although the ABA seeks to assure that part time students receive instruction from the same faculty as do full time students, the reality is that part time students at these schools see less of full time faculty and more of adjunct faculty. It is also the case in most schools with part time programs that everything else is not equal. That is, most part time students go to school at night so do not have the same access as full time students to faculty and other professional staff.
Not all part time law programs conform to a single model, so ranking them will not be a simple matter.

Jim Huffman of OR 8:59PM October 07, 2008

If you are separately ranking part-time programs, then wouldn't the purpose of the overall rankings be to rank full time programs/student bodies? If so, does it make sense to merge day and evening admissions statistics into the full time rankings?
It seems to me that it should be one or the other, i.e., a separate part-time ranking with only full time student stats(LSAT/GPA) counted for the general rankings, or just stick with the general rankings and count both day and evening student stats.
The key distinguishing factor between the full and part-time programs seems to be the students, and the numerical/soft factors they bring to the respective programs. The other aspects of the school are identical - resources, faculty, etc.

B. of NY 3:10PM October 07, 2008

If you are separately ranking evening programs, then wouldn't the purpose of the overall rankings be to rank full time programs? If so, does it make sense to merge day and evening admissions statistics into the full time rankings? It seems to me that it should be one or the other, ie, a separate part-time ranking with only day stats counted for schools with

of 3:03PM October 07, 2008

If you are separately ranking evening programs, then wouldn't the purpose of the overall rankings be to rank full time programs? If so, does it make sense to merge day and evening admissions statistics into the full time rankings? It seems to me that it should be one or the other, ie, a separate part-time ranking with only day stats counted for schools with

of 3:03PM October 07, 2008