Santa Clara University

Dear Friends:

The law school has made noticeable progress in recent years and has moved into national recognition and prominence through the work of, and leadership by, Dean Mack Player, the faculty and staff, and a very dedicated group of alumni. The key benchmarks for success of a law school—the quality of students attracted to the school, the scholarly ambition of the faculty, the investment of funds by graduates and friends to strengthen the school, and the demonstrated success of its graduates—are very visible and measurable in recent years. Santa Clara School of Law clearly is poised for greater recognition and success. So, how do we ensure that it continues on this path toward greater opportunities for its faculty and graduates, greater financial security, and greater national recognition for the quality of its programs?

One significant step in this path is the successful completion of the capital campaign: From Promise to Prominence. Great law schools demonstrate the continuing investment of graduates and friends in the programs and the future of those schools. We have achieved approximately 70 percent of our campaign goals, and it is still early in the campaign. More needs to be done, however, and each of you will be asked to make that needed investment in the law school’s future.

A second step is to prepare for the future by creation and articulation of a plan for the law school’s future. I recently met with faculty and staff and asked them to join me in creating an ambitious strategic plan for the law school. By this summer, we expect to have a comprehensive five-year plan, building on the work previously done by faculty and staff in connection with the recent peer inspection and review by the American Bar Association.

A third, and vital, step is to seek more ways to connect with graduates and friends of the law school. Preparing tomorrow’s lawyers, public servants, and community leaders is an increasingly complicated task and great law schools ask for the advice, support, and assistance of their graduates and friends in charting the future and accomplishing their ambitions. We will be asking you to assist us—by mentoring our students, providing financial support for our programs and activities, and offering advice as we move our programs ahead.

I look forward to reporting back to you in the pages of this publication on our progress in the steps described above. I am excited about the prospects for moving the law school, it curriculum, and its programs ahead and I encourage you to let me know how you think we are doing. This is your law school and I hope you are, and remain, vitally interested in what we are doing.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Polden

Dean