California Invests $4.5 Million in UC Law SF Diversity Pipeline Collaboration
University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco is pleased to announce the creation of a new outreach and diversity program that will support a pipeline to recruit, enroll, and financially support California residents who graduate from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the American University of Armenia (AUA).
The California Scholarship at UC Law SF, San Francisco, will cover the $45,000 enrollment fee (tuition) and $20,000 in living expenses, per year, for awardees from participating schools. The initiative, funded through the State of California Budget 2018-19 announced today, was introduced by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge), Chair of the State Senate Education Budget Sub-Committee.
“I am so happy to help shape this opportunity to advance the legal careers of some of California’s best and brightest students from HBCUs and AUA,” said Senator Portantino. “A diverse and talented student body benefits the student and the campus. Representing vibrant African American and Armenian communities in my district, I know there is tremendous excitement about this program already building.”
“The California Scholarship is profoundly significant in so many ways,” said UC Law SF Chancellor & Dean David Faigman. “It gives UC Law SF the opportunity to attract top talent to our law school, gifted individuals who will contribute their experience and backgrounds to an already diverse and varied law school community. The program inures to the state’s benefit because these students are now more likely to pursue careers, and become taxpayers, in California. Graduates will be filling roles currently underrepresented and contributing to this state’s economic vitality. The pipeline program demonstrates California’s commitment to diversity and its continued belief in the value of a public education. UC Law SF was founded in 1878 as the original law department of the University of California. We are deeply thankful to the California Legislature, the Governor, and the people of California for their generous support. And we especially thank Senator Portantino for his vision in crafting this scholarship.”
“This presents a wonderful opportunity for our graduates who have left the state to continue their education at a top university and hopefully start their career here in California,” said Wesley A. Coleman, Chairman of the Hampton University Board of Trustees.
“Senator Portantino has been a leader in California’s outreach to HBCU’s students and in creating unique partnerships for our outstanding students,” said Robert C. Davidson Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Morehouse College.
“This new initiative creates an exciting opportunity for our students to follow their passion into law without generating debt. Educating a more diverse cohort of lawyers is good for UC Law SF, good for California and good for the African American Community in California. We are very grateful to Senator Portantino for this opportunity.”
The AUA has been affiliated with the University of California since its co-founding in 1991 and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. “AUA presents an outstanding opportunity for students in California to come to Yerevan for an excellent education,” added AUA President Armen Der Kiureghian. “The scholarship gives an extra incentive to these students to further their dreams to become lawyers without the fear of creating debt. I am grateful to Senator Portantino for proposing the idea for our students.”
Guaranteed Housing: UC Law SF will guarantee scholarship winners subsidized student housing on campus for all three years of their legal education.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Alex A.G. Shapiro
Chief Communications Officer, UC Law SF
Office: (415) 581-8842 Cell: (415) 813-9214
Email: shapiroa@uclawsf.edu
Yvonne Vasquez
Press Secretary | Senator Portantino
State Capitol, Room 3086 Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Email: yvonne.vasquez@sen.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 651-7925