MTSU: Law school transfer denied by Higher Education Commission

Brinley Hineman | Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Valparaiso University's School of Law won't be transferring to MTSU, according to a news release issued Monday.

The move was denied by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to move the law school to MTSU's campus.

"We regret the Tennessee Higher Education Commission did not approve our proposal to establish a college of law to provide the citizens of Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas an accredited, public law school," MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said.

Commissioners voted eight to five to deny MTSU's proposal after both MTSU and Valparaiso both endorsed the transfer.

More: MTSU, Valparaiso approve law school transfer agreement

"We are very sorry that our citizens will be deprived of the opportunities that this college of law would have provided because of concerns about competition by the state's two existing public law schools," McPhee said.

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@gannett.com or 615-278-5164 and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.