Page 10 - NYLS Magazine • 2014 • Vol. 33, No. 2

By Ruth Singleton
When Anthony W. Crowell became Dean and President of New York Law School in May 2012, he brought with him a drive for innovation, accountability, and transparency developed during his
nearly 11 years working as Counselor to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Soon after his arrival, he initiated a strategic review process with the faculty and administration that encompassed all aspects and operations of the Law School. That process included meetings, one-on-one discussions,
and surveys involving faculty, administrators, staff, trustees, alumni, and students, as well as a comprehensive operational review. The result was the NYLS Strategic Plan, issued in
July 2013, which has been widely praised for its innovative ideas, clear presentation, and focus on transparency. Arthur N. Abbey ’59, Chairman of the NYLS Board of Trustees, hailed it as “groundbreaking,” and said it “will ensure a bright future for the students of New York Law School.”
The Law School also received a great deal of positive feedback from students and alumni, many of whom were involved in the process, as well as from other law school deans, many of whom said they were studying it to inform their own strategic planning. Several deans said they considered the Strategic Plan
an impressive and comprehensive document that focuses on the School’s core strengths and charts its course forward in an eloquent and convincing fashion.
The Strategic Plan presents a systematic approach for attaining a new level of excellence with measurable outcomes in every aspect of the School’s life. It sets forth five broad strategic goals to be achieved in the areas of Academic Excellence and Innovation, Career Success, Intellectual Life, Community Engagement, and Operations. Also included are 32 priority action items in support of those goals and seven outcomes used to measure progress. One of the most important objectives for the planning process was to help the Law School function better in a structurally changed legal marketplace in order to enhance the career prospects for students. Among the most important features of the Strategic Plan, therefore, is offering students substantially more opportunities to engage in meaningful clinical and experiential learning, as well as enhancing academic advising and career planning. The Strategic Plan spotlights the Law School’s clinical offerings, notably reporting on the School’s recent doubling of the number of clinical offerings, from
13 to 26.
York Law SCHooL magazINE • 2014 • VOL. 33, NO. 2
THe FuTure iS NOW:
NYLS MakeS IMpreSSIVe prOgreSS ON achIeVINg StrategIc pLaN gOaLS
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