MTSU in talks with Valparaiso University to move law school to Murfreesboro

Scott Broden | Daily News Journal

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Nashville School of Law is a private institution. A previous version indicated the school was public, based on information provided by state Sen. Bill Ketron.

Middle Tennessee State University has secured a non-binding letter of intent with Valparaiso University to transfer the Indiana institution's law school to Murfreesboro, President Sidney A. McPhee said.

Founded in 1879, the Valparaiso Law School has approximately 235 students and is accredited by the American Bar Association.

In order for the transfer to take place, approval would be needed from each university's governing boards and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, according to a news release from MTSU.

“Our exploration of this proposal is in keeping with MTSU’s tradition and strategic priority of pursuing innovative partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for our students, our region and our state,” McPhee said in the news release.

Valparaiso University is located in a northwest Indiana town by the same name.

A university spokeswoman did not provide any additional details about the agreement when contacted Friday afternoon.

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McPhee noted MTSU would not be buying the law school or merging with Valparaiso, but that the transfer would be much like a gift.

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The Andrew Woodfin Miller Education Center on Bell Street has emerged as a potential home for the law school, he said.

Discussions are preliminary, university leaders said. MTSU and Valparaiso are still working to determine whether such a move would be in the best interests of their stakeholders, the news release states.

Valparaiso's College of Law offers a juris doctorate program, and seven dual degree programs with an emphasis on mental health counseling, Chinese studies and sports management.

News of the possible MTSU law school pleased potential student Marvin Williamson of Cordova in the Memphis area of West Tennessee.

"I am interested," said Williamson, who graduated with honors in May from Tennessee State University in Nashville with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. "If it comes with potential scholarships, I am more than happy to do that."

State Sen. Bill Ketron said a law school at MTSU would be an affordable alternative to accredited private law schools at Vanderbilt and Belmont universities and Nashville School of Law.

"I think it would serve us well," said Ketron, a Murfreesboro Republican who graduated from MTSU in 1976 with majors in history and political science. "If we can work out the logistics at the state level with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, it would be a wonderful thing, and it would actually take Middle Tennessee State University to the next level by having the only public accredited law school in the mid-state area, including northern Alabama and southern Kentucky."

Reach Scott Broden through email at sbroden@dnj.com, phone at 615-278-5158 or on Twitter @ScottBroden.