Dr. Brenda R. Shaw — The Title III Program and its Impact on the NCCU School of Law

The Title III Program and its Impact on the NCCU School of Law

BY DR. BRENDA R. SHAW Director, Title III

The Title III Program is funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, by the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (and subsequent amendments). The purpose of the Title III Program is to assist eligible institutions in equalizing educational opportunity through a program of federal assistance.

Funding That Encourages Legal Eagles to Fly

Funding over the past three years has been very significant and has enhanced the Law School’s ability to serve its student population well. Data collection for the formula to allocate HBGI grant award funds under section 326 (f)(3)(a-e) “funding rule” is driven by five elements: 1) The University’s ability to match federal funds with nonfederal funds; 2) the number of students enrolled in the programs for which the eligible institution received funding under this section in the previous year; 3) the average cost of education per student for all full-time graduate or professional students (or the equivalent) enrolled in the eligible professional or graduate school, or for doctoral students enrolled in the qualified graduate programs; 4) the number of students in the previous year who received their first professional or doctoral degree from the programs for which the eligible institution received funding under this section in the previous year, and 5) the contribution, on a percentage basis, to the total number of African Americans receiving graduate or professional degrees in the professions or disciplines related to the programs for the previous year. As a result of such, the following charts show the amount of funding the NCCU School of Law has received for the last three years:

Activity Number Amount of Funding Activity Description 2018-2019

Activity 1 $ 81,347 Enhancing Academic Quality Activity 2 $ 416,105 Enhancing Facilities and Academic Technology Activity 3 $ 95,000 Enhancing Library Resources and Services Activity 4 $ 20,211 Enhancing Fiscal Stability (Development Staff Development) Activity 5 $ 396,538 Enhancing Student Services Outcomes Scholarships, Fellowships and Financial Assistance (Scholarships, Activity 6 $ 1,335,988 Research Assistance and Tutors, Summer Public Interest Stipends and Internships) Activity 7 $ 4,150 Enhancing Institutional Management Total $ 2,349,339

Activity Number Amount of Funding Activity Description 2019-2020

Activity 1 $ 58,697 Enhancing Academic Quality Activity 2 $ 245,850 Enhancing Facilities and Academic Technology Activity 3 $ 95,000 Enhancing Library Resources and Services Activity 4 $ 20,211 Enhancing Fiscal Stability (Development Staff Development) Activity 5 $ 36,222 Enhancing Student Services Outcomes Scholarships, Fellowships and Financial Assistance (Scholarships, Activity 6 $ 1,488,166 Research Assistance and Tutors, Summer Public Interest Stipends and Internships) Activity 7 $ 4,150 Enhancing Institutional Management Total $ 1,953,296

Activity Number Amount of Funding Activity Description 2020-2021

Activity 1 $ 336,667 Enhancing Academic Quality Activity 2 $ 178,707 Enhancing Facilities and Academic Technology Activity 3 $ 100,000 Enhancing Library Resources and Services Activity 4 $ 17,076 Enhancing Fiscal Stability (Development Staff Development) Activity 5 $ 16,349 Enhancing Student Services Outcomes Scholarships, Fellowships and Financial Assistance (Scholarships, Activity 6 $ 1,527,293 Research Assistance and Tutors, Summer Public Interest Stipends and Internships) Activity 7 $ 4,150 Enhancing Institutional Management

Activity 8 $ 30,212 Future Law Students Pipeline Program Total $ 2,210,454

A few examples of financial support the Law School receives from the Title III grant are as follows:

The Clinical Legal Education Program

The Clinical Program is supported by Title III funds with instructional support that enhances students’ skills which are needed to assist in providing legal services efficiently and in accordance with ethical and professional parameters set by the North Carolina State Bar and the American Bar Association. To that end, the Title III grant provides resources to offer trial practice classes; supports law student competitions in appellate advocacy (moot court), trial advocacy, client counseling, and mediation; provides funding for contracting educational consultants to prepare students for these competitions; and supports students’ travel to compete, including air fare, per diem, hotel, and related expenses.

Enhanced Facilities and Technology

Title III funds provide the School of Law the opportunity to create a technology user friendly environment where over 90% of the faculty continue to use technology for instructional purposes. Title III funds provide support for all of the Law School’s electronic classrooms and study rooms. Students are able to study and learn and faculty are able to teach, research and provide legal counsel in a technology enhanced and user friendly environment.

Enhancing Law Library Resources and Services

Title III has provided resources to enhance the Law Library by increasing the number of titles in the collection by purchasing materials in print and electronic formats. Through this support, the Law Library continues to expand and improve its collection to ensure that it supports not only the current curriculum and research needs of students, but future and emerging curricular and research needs as dictated by the curricula. Available funds have also allowed the Law Library to expand its footprint in order to provide a learning environment that enhances students’ research skills and knowledge of legal resources and to purchase advanced teaching equipment and materials, such as iPads and educational software that enables librarians to provide advanced virtual teaching and reference services. Additionally, Title III funds have been used to install the RFID system, which not only detects the unauthorized removal of library materials, but speeds staff charge and discharge, simplifies and speeds patron self-charge and self-discharge, and supports electronic inventorying and shelf searching.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Financial Assistance

The greatest contribution that Title III funds makes is to provide opportunities for scholarships, internships and financial assistance with the expectation of relieving some of the financial burden of attending law school. Students may receive scholarships, Summer Public Interest internships, and work aid, serving as tutors and research assistants. The purpose of this funding is to increase the number of African Americans who enter the legal profession. If students have the resources they need to cover their financial obligations, they will be able to focus on their studies without having to worry about financing their education. Consequently, the retention, graduation, and bar examination passage rates for African American students at NCCU School of Law may increase.

Latest Renovations and Upgrades for the Legal Eagles

Newly Renovated Student Study Area

STUDY AREA BEFORE RENOVATION STUDY AREA AFTER RENOVATION

LIBRARY BEFORE RENOVATION LIBRARY AFTER RENOVATION

The North Carolina Central University School of Law has truly been impacted by the millions of dollars it has received through the years and continues to make strategic use of the funding allocate to enhance student success. It is anticipated that with these funds, the NCCU School of Law Eagles will soar even higher.