Graduation Day Makes It Real, Makes It Clear

Yesterday was graduation day at Concord Law School of Kaplan University, my school. Ours is an online law school program. Anyone with continuing skepticism about whether online programs can create community; can be interactive; can be support students’ work; and can be rigorous and academically challenging should attend our ceremony. Or, go to a Kaplan University graduation or similar events conducted by other high-quality providers of online higher education programs. I suspect that your concerns will be laid to rest. What a great day it was!

Our graduation has the look and feel of traditional ceremonies, but there are a few differences from what you would see at brick-and-mortar law schools. Most obviously, the graduates are older. I would estimate that 90 percent of yesterday’s graduates were parents; many were grandparents, as well. Our graduates bring with them to Concord not only life experience, but also a lot of education. More than 40 percent of this graduating group had earned other post-graduate degrees prior to matriculating at our school, and more than ten percent of the graduates had either a Ph.D. or an M.D.

Our speaker on this occasion was Professor Arthur Miller, long-time member of the law faculty at Harvard Law School and now a University Professor at NYU. He has been a part of our community since the school began in 1998. Within an absolutely terrific speech, he observed that a law school education can launch rewarding and successful second or third careers and also can help professionals do more or better in their current careers. We agree. And, my colleagues and I are never more proud of what we can do with and for our students than on Graduation Day.

Congratulations to all the Spring 2010 Concord Law School graduates, and the families, friends, and employers who supported them on their law school journey.