Giving Opportunities
While academics are at the core of any college education, there are a number of other areas at the Law College that enhance the student experience beyond the classroom. Your gift further strengthens our programs, facilities, and faculty research and outreach. Whatever program or giving opportunity you choose to support, your gift fosters excellence in legal education at MSU College of Law.
Giving opportunities include:
- Student scholarships
- Academic programs
- Faculty research and professorships
- Student programs
- Clinic programs
- Endowments
- Unrestricted
(If you make a gift online, by mail or phone, please designate how your gift should be used or give as unrestricted, which allows the dean to allocate it to the area of greatest need.)
Here are more details about ways to give to MSU College of Law
Endowed Deanships
The selection of individuals to the leadership of MSU colleges is an academic process carried out by the Office of the Provost. The provost may use expendable amounts from an endowment that names a deanship to supplement the salary of a dean and to support his or her academic outreach endeavors.
Endowed Department Chairmanships or Directorships
The selection of individuals for executive positions in departments, schools, centers, or institutes is an academics process carried out by the relevant colleges with the approval of the Office of the Provost. The relevant dean and the provost may use expendable amounts from an endowment gift that names these positions or to supplement the salary of a department chairman or the director of a school, center, or institute and/or to support his or her academic endeavors.
Endowed Chairs
Creating an endowed faculty position (Chair) is one of the best ways to attract leading professors who want to work in a world-class institution that recognizes their accomplishments and supports their scholarly ambitions, research and related funding. A gift to endow a Chair will permit the College of Law to recruit a new professor who would be the first endowed Chair on the faculty. This gift can be named to support a distinguished professor in a specific area of study or can be an effective recruiting tool for stellar faculty.
Endowed Professorships
A named professorship award can be used to recruit, retain, or recognize outstanding faculty. The supporting endowments provide expendable amounts that can be used to support the salary of the recipient and/or the expenses of his or her teaching, research, or service activities.
Endowed Fellows
A named fellow award can be used to recruit, retain, or recognize faculty early in their academic careers. The endowment will provide expendable amounts that can be used to support the salary of the recipient and/or the expenses of his or her teaching, research, or service activities.
Visiting Professorships
Endowed funds supporting visiting professorships provide expendable amounts that can be used for salary supplements or academic expenses for a specified period while a visiting professor is pursuing academic activities at MSU College of Law.
Visiting Lectureships
Endowed funds supporting visiting lectureships provide expendable amounts that can be used for expenses and fees for a visiting lecturer, whose visit might range from one day to two weeks.
Scholarships & Student Awards
To offset the cost of tuition, which is more than $32,000 annually, scholarships are essential. Scholarships ease the way for students who need funding to pursue their goal of earning a law degree. Many of our scholarships are endowed, which provides for growth of the principle while ensuring that tuition assistance is available for students in need. We also invite donors to fund merit scholarships, so we can draw from educationally gifted and accomplished students. Donors who choose to endow a scholarship can help set up the criteria to whom the scholarship can be extended. Annual expendable scholarships can also be given a designation by the donor.
High-tech, well-designed facilities
Teaching students to communicate legal matters with the aid of advanced technology is a strength at MSU College of Law. One example is the Clif and Carolyn Haley Moot Courtroom used by students in the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute. This room features a state-of-the-art communications system with video screens, microphones, speakers and other technology that helps law students conduct mock trials. High-tech equipment includes monitors to show detailed evidence, video conferencing to connect with experts from around the world, and interactive computer systems for greater student engagement with faculty. Major gifts help create and sustain such learning environments.
International Law Programs
Our students must have the capacity to become global leaders. A pioneer in developing international law programs and student-faculty exchanges, MSU College of Law has student and faculty programs in Canada, Mexico, Poland, China and Lithuania. An increasing number of foreign students from all continents come here to study law. By sharing legal knowledge and bridging differences in cultures, politics and business practices, we intend to become a premier institution for international law opportunities.
Clinical Programs
We provide students with the foundation of academic and theoretical education, bolstered by real-world experience in how law applies to various situations. We have created clinics in family and child advocacy law, immigration, housing, small business and non-profit law, and tax law. Two new clinics in plea & sentencing and immigration law are being developed. Students gain hands-on experience in representing such clients while still in law school. We plan to expand these clinics to offer greater opportunity to students. This requires moving the clinics from their current rented space to a new location that offers comfort and convenience, making it more attractive for students and the clients with whom they interact. If you are interested in supporting a new clinic building, please call Tina Kashat Casoli at 517/432-6842.
Specialized Academic Programs
To prepare students for the trend toward specialized practice areas, we have supplemented the general practice of law with focused academic programs in Litigation, Business, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, Family Law, Regulated Industries, Tax, Indian Law, Criminal Practice and Public Interest Law. The Law College is also creating centers of excellence in the areas of Indigenous Law & Policy, Intellectual Property (IP), and Legal Ethics. The greater the investment placed in these programs, the broader their impact will be on both students and the communities served.
We invite your support in these efforts
Each of these programs needs support. Naming opportunities are available. We can work with you to ensure that the timing and funding of your gift matches your financial timeframe. MSU College of Law has an obligation to educate students in the practice of law so they can seek justice for and protect the legal rights of future clients. The results of legal cases are often transformational, which is a gratifying outcome for preparing students well. Be assured that your investment in our programs will yield positive results for years to come.
Naming Opportunities
| Law College | Per Discussion |
|---|---|
| Building-wide Technology | $1,000,000 |
| Fourth Floor | $1,000,000 |
| First, Second or Third Floor | $750,000 |
| Trustee/Alumni Board Room | Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Castle |
| Large Classroom | Irvin and June Yackness (2), L.D. and Frances MacLean & Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Castle |
| Deans’ Suite | $500,000 |
| Admissions Suite | $300,000 |
| Career Services Suite | $300,000 |
| Computer Lab | $250,000 |
| Distance Learning Classroom | $250,000 |
| DCL Heritage Gallery | $250,000 |
| Registrar’s Office | $200,000 |
| Small Classroom (4) | $250,000 |
| Deans’ Conference Room | Professor Emeritus Edward J. Littlejohn |
| Office of Advancement |
$250,000 |
| Front Entrance Lobby | $300,000 |
| Seminar Room (4) | $250,000 |
| Student Organization Suite | David and Pat Sparrow |
| Communications Suite | $200,000 |
| Law Review Office | Lilyan I. Marx Estate |
| Journal of Medicine and Law Office | $100,000 |
| Journal of International Law Office | $100,000 |
| Student Bar Association | Janet H. Richwine |
| Student Lounge (2) | In Memory of John A. Downs & Consumers Energy Foundation |
| Faculty Office | $100,000 |
| Faculty Lounge | $100,000 |
| Staff Lounge | $100,000 |
| RWA Office | $25,000 |
| Career Interview Room | $25,000 |
| Student Organization Office | $20-25,000 |
| Law Library | John F. Schaefer |
|---|---|
| Legal Periodical Collection of the Library | $300,000 |
| Library Administration Suite | $250,000 |
| Law Library Reading Room | $250,000 |
| Library Microtext Room | $100,000 |
| Head Librarian Office | $75,000 |
| Library Conference Room | $75,000 |
| Rare Book Room | $50,000 |
| Reference/Circulation Desk | Richard Heiss |
| Librarian Office (7) | $25-40,000 |
| Library Staff Room | $25,000 |
| Library Group Conference Room (5) | $25,000 Mr. and Mrs. Philip F. Greco, Albert Lopatin, David M. Miro, & Jerry and Justine Raymond |
| Library Open Staircase | $25,000 |
| Library Copy Room | $15,000 |
| Circulation Workspace | In Memory of Irving B. Ackerman |
| Study Carrel in Library (164) | $5,000 |
| Moot Court Room | Clif and Carolyn Haley |
|---|---|
| Moot Court Office | Norman and Beverly Lippitt |
| Moot Court Judge’s Bench | Peter J. Lucido |
| Moot Court Jury Box | Judge and Mrs. Thomas and Helen Van Tiem |
| Moot Court Judge’s Chair (3) | $25,000 Mr. and Mrs. Bart A. Lewis |
| Chairs for Defense and Plaintiff Tables in Moot Court (6) | $25,000 Margaret A. Costello, Charles E. Langton, Daniel M. Clark, Simkins & Simkins PC, & Jules B. Olsman and Barbara L. Grossman Olsman |
| Chairs for Bailiffs, Witness, and Recorder (4) | $25,000 |
| Moot Court Podium | Marvin Novick |
| Seat in Moot Court Room (60) | $10,000 |
| Endowed Deanship |
$3,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Endowed Department Chair or Directorship |
$2,500,000 |
| Endowed Chair |
$2,000,000 |
| Endowed Professorship |
$1,000,000 |
| Endowed Fellow |
$500,000 |
| Visiting Professor |
$250,000 |
| Visiting Lecturer |
$150,000 |
| Scholarships & Student Awards |
$30,000 |