Together these two institutions have served the Capital Region for a combined 335 years and this announcement demonstrates that they are still innovating and partnering to ensure that generations to come will benefit from their rich curriculum and faculty

The University at Albany and Albany Law School today announced a deeper affiliation that creates important new academic opportunities for students, novel research and grant prospects for faculty, and advances the Capital Region’s role as a leader in higher education and innovation.

The announcement marks the natural next step in a 20-year collaboration between the region’s public research university and the nation’s oldest independent law school. That relationship already includes a “3+3” program in which students can receive an undergraduate degree and law degree in six years (instead of seven), and multiple joint graduate programs.

“This agreement strengthens both the University at Albany and Albany Law School, providing tremendous opportunities to our students and faculty across many disciplines,” said UAlbany President Robert J. Jones. “Today marks an extraordinary accomplishment—both as a model of collaboration and in establishing a powerful academic portfolio in our region.”

“This partnership makes both institutions stronger,” said Albany Law School Board of Trustees Chairman Daniel P. Nolan, both a UAlbany and Albany Law School alum. “With more than a dozen collaborative programs launching now, and in the coming months, our affiliation will offer unprecedented opportunities for Albany Law and UAlbany students, while enhancing the region’s economic growth, public service and access to justice.”

In addition to allowing expanded academic and research opportunities, the affiliation creates powerful synergies that can help tackle issues critical to our local community, our state and our increasingly complex world.

“An understanding of the legal landscape is crucial to numerous fields across UAlbany’s academic footprint,” UAlbany Provost James Stellar said. “Deepening our affiliation with Albany Law School will enable UAlbany students to incorporate legal education into their knowledge base, whether they are studying biology, business, mathematics, atmospheric science, political science, social science, public health, fine arts, psychology or countless other fields.”

“Together, Albany Law and UAlbany will now be able to offer more innovative and robust educational programs to undergraduate, graduate and law school students,” said Alicia Ouellette, President and Dean of Albany Law School. “We will also be able to strengthen the research and collaboration of the faculty at both institutions, while providing access to law school to a more diverse population.”

As just one example, the affiliation comes as UAlbany launches its new College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC).

“The University at Albany’s affiliation with Albany Law School is perfectly timed as the University launches the new College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC),” said CEHC Interim Dean David Rousseau. “This allows both partners to train professionals who can navigate the tradeoffs between security and civil and social rights in the most dire and distressing circumstances.”

In addition to the existing 3+3 program, academic partnerships already in place include joint degrees with Albany Law’s J.D. and a Master’s in Business Administration, J.D. and a Master’s in Public Administration, J.D. and a Master’s in Regional Planning, and J.D. and a Master’s in Social Work. Together the two schools also run The Institute for Financial Market Regulation, which educates students about, and researches critical issues in, financial market regulation. Also, the UA-ALS Health and Human Rights certificate program in UAlbany’s School of Public Health was recently approved by the State.

Capital District business and civic leaders also recognize the importance of this partnership to the region.

“As President and CEO of the area’s largest credit union, Chairman of the UAlbany University Council, Advisory Council Co-Chair to the Capital Region’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative, and proud two-time UAlbany alum, I understand how this enhanced alliance between two important institutions to the Capital Region strengthens our community, its workforce and vitality,” said Michael J. Castellana, President and CEO of SEFCU, UAlbany ‘84, MBA '92.

The deepened affiliation will:

• Enable UAlbany undergraduate and graduate students to enroll in classes taught by law school faculty, broadening the students’ learning and exposing them to legal education concepts that can better prepare them for their careers or consideration of advanced education.

• Create opportunities for Albany Law School students to enroll in classes offered at UAlbany to supplement and broaden their legal education. These include such areas as public health, cybersecurity, chemistry, tech transfer, and entrepreneurship courses through UAlbany’s Business School, housed in the newly named Massry Center for Business.

• Allow for joint UAlbany-Albany Law School grant-seeking and research opportunities through a dedicated Collaborative Venture Fund.

• Enhance promotion of special student recruitment programs such as the existing 3+3 program in which students enroll at UAlbany for three years and then begin their legal education at Albany Law School at the start of their fourth year.

• Facilitate recruitment of international students, a priority of both institutions.

• Permit the law school to work with the University’s talented workforce of online course developers to create online and hybrid courses within the law school’s ABA-accredited curriculum.

• Set the stage for additional collaboration in numerous other areas, including: study abroad programs, offerings to military veterans, and collaborative degree programs in criminal justice, history and social entrepreneurship.

• Generate potential cost savings to both institutions through resource sharing in such areas as online course offerings, registration processes and technology infrastructures, and student recruitment.

• Strengthen both UAlbany’s and Albany Law’s roles in growing the upstate high-tech economy.

• Lead to more graduates who are multi-skilled problem solvers who can think and perform across disciplines creating a better-educated workforce for the jobs of the future, some of which don’t even exist yet but will find homes in the Capital Region.

As publicly engaged institutions, Albany Law School and the University at Albany will provide opportunities to create reciprocal partnerships to tackle what matters most to the community. Through combined research, teaching, and service, we can partner with our communities, from local to global, to address complex societal challenges.

“Our world’s challenges are too large to be solved by just one discipline. Partnerships and informational cross-pollination are essential to solving vexing public and societal problems,” Jones said.

As part of the deepening affiliation, Albany Law School also announced it will continue to guarantee a three-year award of $17,000 each year ($51,000 in total), for all UAlbany graduates accepted for admission to Albany Law School. The offer does not preclude the UAlbany students from qualifying for additional financial aid.