Ed0901rufellows Whitley Rai.JPG

Rutgers University's Board of Governors approved a proposal to merge the Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden law schools. (Star-Ledger file photo)

NEWARK — Rutgers University's Board of Governors on Thursday approved merging the Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden law schools, contingent upon approval by the American Bar Association.

An integrated Rutgers Law School would begin using a single application this fall for the 2016 entering class, according to the university. Students would not have to attend classes on both campuses, but would have the option to do so through classrooms linked by video.

Rutgers Law-Camden Acting Dean John Oberdiek called the merger an "ambitious play in legal education." Students at both locations will have increased opportunities to advance their career searches and learn from a wider selection of faculty, he said.

"Rutgers Law School will be greater than the sum of its parts and will strengthen the reputation of a Rutgers legal education," he said.

Two co-deans, reporting to chancellors at each university in Camden and Newark, will lead the merged Rutgers Law School, according to the university.

The co-deans will maintain their individual lines of authority, reporting to the chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark or of Rutgers University-Camden. They will work with both chancellors and also work collaboratively with the university senior vice president for academic affairs.

The concept to reunify — the schools were first separated into two Rutgers entities with their own accreditation, faculty and curricula in 1967 — was first introduced by law school leadership in 2011.

Rutgers says the new combined law school will have more than 1,000 students, placing it among the nation's largest.

University officials said the law school will incur some start-up costs, including marketing and promotion, but they expect to see long-term cost savings. Rutgers did not provide any specific figures for the cost.

NJ Advance Media reporter Kelly Heyboer contributed to this report.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.