UNH/FPLC Open Forum

The UNH-Franklin Pierce Law Center (FPLC) Merger Exploration Working Group invites members of our community to an Open Forum on Friday, May 15 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the MUB Theatre II. All members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend. President Huddleston appointed this Exploration Working Group to identify and analyze the issues salient to a possible merger between UNH and FPLC. A draft of the Working Group’s report can be accessed via the following link: flpc_report050498.pdf

The Working Group aims to articulate foreseeable costs and benefits of a potential merger and seeks comments on its draft report before sending its final version to President Huddleston. Members of the Working Group will begin the Open Forum with a brief presentation before fielding questions and comments. For anyone unable to attend this meeting, please email Nick Smith (nick.smith@unh.edu) with your comments.

UNH/FPLC Merger Exploration

Franklin Pierce Law Center (FPLC) approached UNH in January, 2008 to explore an affiliation or merger relationship to help FPLC achieve their strategic goal of becoming a Top 100 law school. Unlike other law schools that have sought a merger due to financial reasons, FPLC is financially sound. UNH and FPLC staff completed some preliminary work including site visits to Penn State and Michigan State who have recently merged with independent law schools.

In November 2008, President Huddleston appointed an Exploration Working Group to further evaluate the prospects of a merger relationship and provide a written recommendation to him in Spring 2009. The UNH/FPLC Exploration Working group has been meeting regularly, accumulating information, and meeting with constituents including FPLC faculty and staff. The draft report developed will be submitted to President Huddleston by May 2009.

Working Group Members

Nick Smith (co-chair), Associate Professor of Philosophy
David Proulx (co-chair), Assistant VP for Financial Planning and Budget
Taylor Eighmy (past chair), Interim VP for Research
Doug Bencks, University Architect and Director of Campus Planning
Kim Billings, University Spokesperson
Ellen Cohn, Professor – Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the Justice Studies Program
Lori Hopkins, Associate Professor of Spanish
Leigh Anne Melanson, Associate Provost for Academic Administration
Jen Murray, VP for University Communications
Charlie Putnam, Co-Director of the Justiceworks Program
Ben Smith, Director of Fundraising at the UNH Foundation
Jim Varn, Associate Provost and Director of the MPA Program
Venky Venkatachalam, Professor of Information Systems and Chair of the Decision Sciences Department
Deanna Wood, Associate Professor and Reference Librarian

President Huddleston's Charge to the Working Group

1. To consider and articulate the benefits and risks of merging Franklin Pierce Law Center (FPLC) with UNH, including program and intellectual resource enhancements, financial benefits, reputational consequences, faculty and student recruitment, etc.

2. To identify the most promising areas for programmatic collaboration and integration in undergraduate and graduate programs.

3. To identify and propose strategies to address the logistics of key integration issues, including FPLC’s operations as an operating budget unit, differential tuition structures, site location considerations, faculty integration issues (e.g., CBA, promotion and tenure, joint appointments), IT infrastructure and library needs, advancement, etc.

4. To propose governance mechanisms consistent with UNH policies and practices, including Graduate Council representation, college and department structures (including development of by-laws), and representation on Deans Council and other university-level governance bodies.

5. To consider options of having FPLC remain in Concord or move to Durham, including exploring a building site in Durham and transition space before a new building is available.

6. In concert with FPLC, coordinate internal and external University communications on the subject.

7. To coordinate and meet with the Integration Team from FPLC to delineate shared concepts, concerns, and goals.

8. To coordinate discussions and recommendations with the work of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

9. Address these and other questions, report to Graduate Council and Faculty Senate by mid-winter, and then report to President Huddleston by early spring.

Timeline/Next Steps

The UNH/FPLC Exploration Working group has been meeting with various core campus groups including the Graduate Council, Dean’s Council, Faculty Senate, OS and PAT Staff Councils to gather input. Based on feedback from the various campus meetings and the Open Forum on May 15th, a revised report will be submitted to President Huddleston by the end of May 2009.