UC Berekley's Boalt Hall

"UC Law School Needs to Privatize, Dean Says"

The Los Angeles Times interviews Boalt's new dean, Dr. Christopher Edley, Jr. , who has some innovative ideas about how to fix Boalt's financial problems: privatize the institution.

While not unprecedented -- the University of Michigan and University of Virginia law schools operate on a similar model -- it is startling to hear a Berkeley dean propose fiscal independence. 

Motivated by an impending major capital campaign (Goal: $100 million) that if successful could make Boalt financially independent and restore academic luster, Edley wants to be able to reassure potential donors that donations will go only to Boalt and not to other schools at UC Berkeley, other UC campuses, or other California needs.

I wonder if Edley is grandstanding to pressure Sacramento into providing Boalt with more money. We'll see.