Paperwork Stands Between Law School Receiving Millions In Funding - Above the Law

"Appalachian School of Law has recently made headlines over its financial straits. The school was so pressed for money that it floated the idea of merging with a college hours away, but that would betray the school's mission of making lawyers in the community. There was talk of the County granting the school $6M to keep the doors open, but recent developments suggest that number has been dialed down quite a bit. Cardinal News has coverage:"

"Buchanan County supervisors have tentatively agreed to provide $3.4 million to help keep the Appalachian School of Law afloat. The county board had previously been asked to consider providing $6 million to the small private school....[S]upervisor Trey Adkins - who was recently appointed to the law school's board of trustees - moved to provide $3.4 million to the county Industrial Development Authority to help boost the school's struggling finances."

"As important as it is to consider the economic benefits that spill over from having the law school, the school's reluctance to be transparent about its funding can't inspire much faith in investors: The law school got a loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, but it was not paid back, [Craig] Stiltner noted. He complained that the law school has been reluctant to provide financial documents to the county without signing a non-disclosure agreement."

Appalachian School of Law is experiencing acute financial distress and explored merging with a distant college as a contingency. Buchanan County supervisors tentatively agreed to provide $3.4 million through the Industrial Development Authority after an earlier $6 million request. Preserving jobs and local economic activity is a key rationale for funding, since faculty, staff, businesses, and landlords rely on student presence. The law school defaulted on a loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and has resisted sharing financial records without a non-disclosure agreement. County supervisors and critics urge fundraising and enrollment growth rather than sustained public subsidies.

Read at Above the Law