SCHOOL OF LAW

Minority Enrollment Rises at UT Law School

AUSTIN, TX -- The University of Texas School of Law reports a significant increase in minority enrollment for the Fall 2000 entering class. The most dramatic change comes in the number of African American students enrolled -- 18, compared to 7 in 1999, an increase of more than 100%. There are also 34 Mexican American first-year law students at UT, a gain of 2 over the previous year.

Shelli Soto, Assistant Dean for Admissions, credits the work of the entire law school community -- administrators, faculty, students, and alumni -- for this rise in minority enrollment.

"Our commitment to recruiting has allowed us to make a very positive step this year. The Student Recruitment and Orientation Committee works with great dedication each year providing tours and hosting students, but what took us over the top was the assistance we received from alumni -- people like Texas Senator Rodney Ellis, Texas Representative Henry Cuellar, and Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk," she said.

The efforts of several UT Law alumni area especially noteworthy. Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston visited frequently with groups of minority students and convinced several national air carriers to provide complementary airline tickets to prospective students, allowing them to visit the UT campus. Senator Ellis and Representative Henry Cuellar of Laredo are now working to expand this program in the coming year. Mayor Ron Kirk of Dallas, Representative Cuellar and others also played active roles as recruiters for the School.

Two other UT Law alumni were also instrumental in creating the Texas Leaders Scholarships for the Ex Students' Association. Larry Temple of Austin championed this scholarship program while serving as the President of the Ex Students' Association, and Joe Jamail of Houston, a great benefactor to The University and the Law School, provided much of the initial funding. These Scholarships currently provide financial assistance to 59 UT Law students.

"The influence of our alumni, along with the ability to bring to campus students who otherwise could not visit, and the financial assistance provided by the Texas Leaders Scholarships, help make us competitive with other law schools," said Soto.

Dean Bill Powers stated,

"We are delighted with the improvement in our minority enrollment. The lion's share of the credit goes to our loyal alumni who have worked so effectively and tirelessly on behalf of their alma mater. We have much more to do, but we are excited about this upward trend and we are determined that it continue.