Broaden Skills in Law and Policy
BY KEVIN KRUGER
There is no question that law and policy issues continue to be important aspects of the work of many student affairs
professionals. Law and policy programs at national and regional conferences and workshops are often sold out.
Increasingly, an expertise in higher education law has become a requirement for senior-level student affairs posi-
tions. In addition, it is vital that university administrators appreciate and understand the myriad legal and regulatory issues that
impact their work.
To address the need for a broader knowledge base in this
area, Stetson University College of Law and NASPA have created a Certificate Program in Student Affairs Law and Policy.
The certificate program is designed to provide student affairs
professionals with a foundation to identify legal issues that
impact their work and a structure to work with others on and
off campus to resolve legal and law-related issues.
The certificate program runs from April 27, 2009 through
July 31, 2009. (See Course Content box, next page.) The
program starts with an online module that will introduce participants to the legal system, legal research, and other process
matters. In June, participants will participate in one week of
live, intensive sessions that will cover the public and private
law modules. The program will be held at Stetson’s Tampa
Law Center. In June and July, students will participate in an
online capstone module that will focus on one or more special
topics, allowing them to synthesize and apply concepts learned
earlier in the program. In late July, students will take a com-
It is vital that university
administrators appreciate
and understand the myriad
legal and regulatory issues
that impact their work.
prehensive written examination that will determine whether
they earn the certificate.
All of the course content will be led by two outstanding
faculty: Peter F. Lake, Charles A. Dana Chair and director of
the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy
at Stetson University College of Law, and Darby Dickerson,
vice president and dean of the Stetson University College of
Law. Both are recognized nationally through their numerous articles and speaking engagements as first-rate experts in
higher education law.
While the early application deadline was in late December
2008, additional applications will be accepted on a rolling
basis until the class reaches capacity. To register, complete an
application on the NASPA website at www.naspa.org/lawcert.
