1. No category

Minnesota State University Moorhead
2007-2008 Accredited Programs Cover Sheet
(An electronic version of this form can be accessed at http://www.mnstate.edu/assess)
Note: Accredited programs will complete this form each year.
Degree Program: Bachelor of Science in Paralegal
Department: Paralegal
College: College of Business and Industry
Date: October 19, 2007
1. Name(s) of Department Assessment Coordinator and/or Assessment Committee
Members
Deborah Schaefer Kukowski: Assessment Coordinator
Judy Streich, Tracy Gompf, and Deborah Schaefer Kukowski: Assessment Committee
2. List of All Student Learning Outcomes. (List and number all outcomes, placing an asterisk
(*) by any outcomes that are new or that have been revised since last year.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Student knows substantive and procedural law applicable to the course.
Student can identify legal issues.
Student can analyze legal issues.
Student can research the law.
Student can draft legal memoranda and/or trial or appellate court briefs.
Student can draft documents and pleadings.
Student communicates effectively orally.
Student communicates effectively in writing.
Student understands the rules of legal ethics.
Student can obtain information by interviewing and investigation.
Student understands roles and relationships within a legal services delivery team.
3. Name of accrediting agency/organization: American Bar Association (ABA)
4. Do you have a report due this year to your accrediting agency?
Yes
No
(Whenever your program reports assessment information to your accrediting agency, you are
required to submit the same information to SLOAC. If you have a report due this year, attach
document to this form or submit report when it is submitted to your accrediting agency. Use
whatever format is used for your accrediting agency.)
5. Date of most recent report to accrediting agency: October 19, 2007
6. Date of next report to accrediting agency: An updated report will be required prior to the
on-site evaluation which the ABA will schedule, hopefully, sometime in the next 8-12 months. A
copy of the report is attached. A CD containing the report and all supporting exhibits is also
attached.
7. Describe any changes to your program’s assessment plan or procedures that you intend
to make this year.
The Paralegal Department plans to review and revise the assessment documents to incorporate
suggestions received based on the 2006 report.
If you received a grant in the previous two years, provide a summary of how the grant was used
and results, when available, for the outcome the grant targeted.
8. Signatures
Department Chair or Program Director
Dean or Director
Required Attachments:
1. If applicable, records of department meetings where changes to student learning
outcomes or assessment planning was discussed and approved.
2. If applicable, copy of report of assessment information that has been submitted to
accrediting agency.
American Bar Association
Standing Committee on Paralegals
321 North Clark Street
Mail Stop 19.1
Chicago, Illinois 60610-4714
APPLICATION FOR
APPROVAL OR REAPPROVAL OF
PARALEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Institution Name: Minnesota State University Moorhead
Institution Address: 1104 7th Avenue South
City, State, Zip:
Moorhead, MN 56563
Institution Telephone Number: (218) 477-2243
Program Name:
Paralegal
Program Address: Center For Business 207
City, State, Zip:
Moorhead, MN 56563
Program Telephone Number: (218) 477-5806
Submitted by:___________________________________
Dr. David Crockett, Dean of Business and Industry
Minnesota State University Moorhead
___________________________________
Deborah Schaefer Kukowski
Chair of Paralegal Department
Date Submitted: October 25, 2007
If Reapproval, current term of approval ends: August 2007, extended to February 2008
If Reapproval and Extension Granted:
Original Due Date:
November 15, 2006
Extension Granted to: January 15, 2007
Revised Report Due Date: October 25, 2007
©2004 American Bar Association
All rights reserved. The American Bar Association hereby grants permission for copies of these forms to be made by any
institution of higher learning or for use by not-for-profit organizations, provided that no fee is assessed or royalty is paid.
Requests to reproduce materials in any other manner should be addressed to: Copyrights & Contracts Department, American Bar
Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610; Telephone: (312) 988-6102; Facsimile: (312) 988-6030; E-mail:
[email protected].
Produced by the Standing Committee on Paralegals
Page 1 of 47
American Bar Association
Standing Committee on Paralegals
UNIFORM TABLE OF EXHIBITS
Include only the exhibits listed and identify with the specified number. If an exhibit does not apply to the
program, indicate that it is not applicable. Exhibits marked * must be provided in the format shown.
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 5
Exhibit 6
Exhibit 7
Exhibit 8
Exhibit 9
Exhibit 10
Exhibit 11
Exhibit 12
Exhibit 13
Exhibit 14
Exhibit 15
Exhibit 16
Exhibit 17
Exhibit 18
Exhibit 19
Exhibit 20
Exhibit 21
Exhibit 22
Exhibit 23
Exhibit 24
Exhibit 25
Exhibit 26
Exhibit 27
Exhibit 28
Exhibit 29
Exhibit 30
Exhibit 31
Exhibit 32
Exhibit 33
Exhibit 34
Enrollment Chart/Students by Program Option*
Number of Graduates by Program Option*
Organization Chart(s)
Advisory Committee Members*
Advisory Committee Guidelines or Procedures
Advisory Committee Minutes
Non-discrimination Policy and/or Affirmative Action Plan
Policies and Procedures for Accommodating Persons with Disabilities
Advertisements and Announcements to Recruit Faculty and Staff
Composition of Student Body by Gender and Racial-Ethnic Background*
Composition of Faculty by Gender and Racial Ethnic Background*
Expenditures and Budgets*
Needs Assessment Conducted Prior to Initiation of Program
Assessment of Paralegal Utilization in the Community (survey instruments and
summary/analysis of results)
Assessment of Graduate Satisfaction and Preparation (survey instruments and
summary/analysis of results)
Assessment of Employer Satisfaction and Utilization (survey instruments and
summary/analysis of results)
Student Evaluations (Survey instruments and summary/analysis of results)
Exemptions from General Education and Total Unit Requirements*
List of Legal Specialty Courses by Term*
Course Materials for All Legal Specialty Courses
Transfer Credit Information
Information on Courses Offered in Alternative Formats (if applicable)
Assessment Results for Courses Offered in Alternative Formats (if applicable)
Resumes of Persons with Responsibilities for Program Direction
Faculty Participation in Professional Development*
Minutes of Faculty Meetings
List of Faculty Members*
Resumes of Faculty Members
All Promotional Material used by Program
Employment and Continuing Education Information on Graduates*
Promotional Material for Continuing Education Courses
Written Agreement with External Library
Inventory of Required Library Resources
Assessment re Electronic Access to Library Materials
Page 2 of 47
American Bar Association
Standing Committee on Paralegals
THIS FORM IS DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETED DIRECTLY ON A WORD
PROCESSING PROGRAM ON A COMPUTER.
FEEL FREE TO EXPAND OR
CONTRACT SPACE FOR ANSWERS AS APPROPRIATE.
SECTION I
GENERAL INFORMATION
G-101 through G-107
A.
Name, address, telephone number, fax number, and URL of web site of the institution and
program.
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Paralegal Program
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563
218-477-5806
http://www.mnstate.edu/home/
http://www.mnstate.edu/paralegal/
B.
Accrediting agency by which the institution is accredited. Indicate date of most recent
reaffirmation of accreditation and the current status of the institution’s accreditation.
(G-302(c))
Minnesota State University Moorhead is accredited by the North Central Association of
Colleges and Secondary Schools to offer undergraduate and graduate programs leading
to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and certain masters’ degrees. The most
recent date of re-accreditation was July 2007. In addition, some departments and
disciplines are separately accredited by other agencies.
C.
List all program options in paralegal studies offered by the institution (i.e., each course of
study that leads to the award of a degree, minor, certificate or other diploma.) (Note:
“Program option” is defined in G-103A.)
Students completing the Paralegal Program at Minnesota State University Moorhead
are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree.
D.
Describe the location of the program and its courses.
1. Give the location of the main site at which legal specialty courses are offered.
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The Paralegal Program is located at Minnesota State University Moorhead, which has
only one campus at 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead, Minnesota. All courses are
offered on-campus only with 90% of the Paralegal classes being held in the Center for
Business building. Legal Research classes are held in the Library. Internships, while
coordinated by on-campus faculty, are completed at law offices and other sites around
the country. Most students intern in Minnesota and North Dakota, but many go far
out of state, ranging from Hawaii to Washington, D.C.
2. Indicate whether the program offers legal specialty courses at any location
other than the main location shown in D.1 and give the address of each location.
a. For each location, provide a list of all legal specialty courses offered there for
each of the past three years.
Legal specialty courses are not offered in any other location.
b. To demonstrate that the offerings at multiple locations should be considered one
program for the purposes of approval, address all of the factors set forth in G104K subsection 1 and 2.
Not applicable.
(G-104.K)
E.
Does the institution offer any programs for the education of paralegals, as defined in G-103
of the Guidelines, that are not included in this report? If so, describe and explain. (See G106A.)
Not applicable. No programs offered.
F.
Does the program cross-list any legal specialty course with other programs or majors
offered by the institution? If so, list and explain. (G-103 and G-503)
Para 321 Employment Law is cross-listed with Acct 321 Employment Law.
Para 446 Estate, Trust & Taxation is cross-listed with Acct 446.
These two courses are cross-listed with the Accounting department because, at various
times, the courses have been staffed by either the Accounting or Paralegal departments.
G.
Provide information about the following for each program option (i.e., each certificate,
degree) you offer.
1. Date students first admitted.
Students were first admitted, and the first course was offered, in Spring Quarter 1982.
Page 4 of 47
2. Complete Exhibit 1, showing the number of students enrolled in each program option
each year for the past three years, or if this is a reapproval application, for each year
since the date of the last report. (Use actual headcount of students in the program; do
not use FTE or the total of headcount in all classes if that headcount would count a
single student more than once. You may use your institution’s definitions for full and
part-time.)
The Enrollment Chart/Students by Program Option form is included as Exhibit 1.
3. Complete Exhibit 2, showing the number of graduates in each program option for
each year since the inception of the program and the total number of graduates in
each program option since the inception of the program.
The Number of Graduates by Program Option form is included as Exhibit 2.
H.
For reapproval applications, provide the effective date of the last approval by the House of
Delegates and the date of the last Interim Report.
Effective date of last approval by the House of Delegates: August 2000
Date of last Interim Report: September 3, 2004
I.
For reapproval applications, state verbatim each recommendation from the site team report
of your last reapproval site visit and from any follow-up visits made in connection with
your reapproval, and after each recommendation state the actions that the program has taken
to address these recommendations.
1. “As part of the restructuring of the Advisory Committee that will take place to bring the
program into compliance with G-203, the team recommends that terms be adopted for
Committee members.”
Actions taken: The program adopted new guidelines for its Advisory Committee in
October, 2001. They include the following language: The terms of the members will
be 3 years, with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms, but the Paralegal department
chairperson and the full-time Paralegal department faculty will serve without terms or
term limits.
2. “The team encourages the program to continue its development of articulation
agreements which [sic] area institutions to facilitate the transfer of associate degree
students.”
Actions taken: The department has worked out a transfer agreement with the North
Dakota State College of Science regarding the transfer of some of its credits.
3. “A plan for regular employer and graduate surveys and appropriate follow-up to ensure
greater response rates should be implemented.”
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Actions taken: In the fall of 201, the program completed surveys of its graduates from
Summer 1997 through Spring 2001. Those surveys were followed up by surveys of
the graduate’s employers (as reported in our Interim Report dated 9/9/2002).
Graduate surveys for the period of Summer 2001 through Summer 2003 and
employer surveys for the period of Summer 2001 through Summer 2003 were
conducted (as reported in Interim Report dated 9/3/2004). Graduate surveys for the
period of Summer 2003 through Summer 2006 and employer surveys for the period
of Summer 2003 through Summer 2006 were conducted in September 2006.
4. “In response to student and graduate comments, the team suggests that the program
consider using Loislaw as an additional computerized legal research tool.”
Actions taken: The program did adopt Loislaw, and continues to use it, primarily in the
Legal Research and Writing courses. The library’s Westlaw contract was changed
several years ago so that every Paralegal major has a Westlaw password and access to
Westlaw 24/7 through the internet. The password is issued in the Legal Research and
Writing I class and is operational until the student graduates.
5. “The site team recommends that the program formalize its policy on transfer of legal
specialty credits into a standard written policy.”
Actions taken: This has not been done. The department assesses transfer of legal
specialty course credits on a case-by case basis.
6. “The program is urged to develop a plan for regular meetings of adjunct faculty to
ensure that classes, course content, and instructional methods in the program are
coordinated and meet the program’s goals.”
Actions taken: The department attempts to meet with the adjunct faculty at the
beginning and end of each semester. In addition the full-time faculty shares
accumulated course materials with the adjunct faculty and the department chair sends
letters to the adjuncts at each semester’s end which include the student evaluations.
The department chair meets with each adjunct faculty member periodically on a oneto-one basis throughout the semester. The department has had several “thank you”
lunches or after-hours gatherings with adjunct faculty in the period since the 9/2/2002
interim report.
7. “The team recommends the additional use of adjunct faculty to ensure the expertise of
local practitioners whenever possible in course offerings.”
Actions taken: The department uses paralegals team-teaching with attorneys and
attorneys teaching alone in several legal specialty courses as indicated in Exhibit 27
which lists adjunct faculty, courses taught, and semesters taught.
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8. “The faculty should be provided with adequate clerical, technical and other supporting
services necessary to carry on an effective instructional program and the team
recommends increased administrative support for the program.”
Actions taken: Since the Interim report dated 9/3/2004, the department’s secretary’s time
was divided between the Dean and Paralegal Department. After the department moved in
summer 2005, the secretary was dedicated to the Paralegal Department as a half-time
position and the secretary shared the office with the adjunct faculty. Upon the retirement
of that secretary, a new position was created where an Office and Administrative Specialist
(OAS) at .50 FTE is assigned to the School of Business. The OAS desk is situated at the
front of the office suite with the other School of Business administrative staff.
The full-time OAS-I and the OAS share responsibilities for the Paralegal department and
the School of Business as further detailed in Section IV, part H. There are also 2 to 4
student workers who are available to the Paralegal faculty for projects throughout the year.
9. “The team suggests a subscription to Facts and Findings to add to the law collection in
the university library.”
Actions taken: The department subscribed to “Facts and Findings” after the last team
visit and continues to subscribe to it.
SECTION II
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
G-201 through G-206
A.
State the specific goals and explicit objectives of the program. Indicate where these goals
and objectives are published, e.g., college catalog and program brochures. (G-201, G201A)
The goals and objectives of MSUM’s Paralegal program are expressed in terms of
Student Learning Outcomes, and are contained in the department’s Assessment Plan.
(Each degree program at MSUM is required to have such a plan formally approved
through Academic Affairs’ protocol.) Those goals and objectives, which are published in
the university’s catalog, are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Student knows substantive and procedural law applicable to the course.
Student can identify legal issues.
Student can analyze legal issues.
Student can research the law.
Student can draft legal memoranda and/or trial or appellate court briefs.
Student can draft documents and pleadings.
Student communicates effectively orally.
Student communicates effectively in writing.
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9. Student understands the rules of legal ethics.
10. Student can obtain information by interviewing and investigation.
11. Student understands roles and relationships within a legal services delivery
team.
In addition to the above objectives, which apply across the curriculum, each Paralegal
course has explicit objectives. These are included with Exhibit 20.
B.
Provide an organizational chart showing the relationship of the program to the institution.
The chart should include major academic units and support departments in the institution,
including, for example, admissions, registration, student records, student services, and
placement. The chart must show where the program fits within the structure of the
institution, the titles of administrators, including the president or other chief executive and
others, and the reporting relationships among administrators. Include as Exhibit 3. (G201B and E)
The MSUM organizational charts are included as Exhibit 3.
C.
Describe the relationship of the paralegal program to:
1.
Administration of the institution offering the program. Indicate the academic unit
within the institution in which the paralegal program is situated and the title of the
person to whom the program director reports.
The Paralegal Department is a separate academic department. (Prior to July, 2000,
the Paralegal Program was part of MSUM’s Accounting Department.) The
department is located within the College of Business and Industry, which is part of
the Academic Affairs division of MSUM. The chairperson of the Paralegal
Department reports directly to the Dean of Business and Industry. (See Exhibit 3 for
further details on MSUM’s organization.)
2. Other academic and support units of the institution.
The dean holds monthly meetings with the chairpersons of the academic departments
in the College of Business and Industry. These include Paralegal, School of Business,
Computer Science and Information Systems, Mass Communications, PreEngineering, and Technology. The Paralegal Department chairperson has ample
opportunity to engage in planning, development, and program evaluation with those
departments.
The university schedules several campus-wide chairpersons’ meetings each academic
year, which provide additional opportunities to collaborate.
Specific academic departments with which the Paralegal Department has close ties
are Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Accounting (part of the School
of Business), and Social Work. Some of these departments – Accounting and
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Criminal Justice – offer courses that are part of the Paralegal curriculum. The
Paralegal Department offers a course in Government Benefits (previously Para 370,
now Para 470), which is required for all Social Work majors and is NOT a designate
legal specialty course for purposes of this report, and Elder Law, which is an elective
in MSUM’s Health Services Administration program. The Legal Studies major,
which is partly intended to be preparation for law school, includes several Paralegal
courses as requirements or electives.
The department maintains especially close ties with the campus library, due to the
need for legal research materials and instruction. Another significant support unit
upon which the department depends extensively is Instructional Technology.
3. Governing bodies, committees, academic or faculty senates, etc. Include a
description of the representation of the paralegal program on or to these entities.
Paralegal faculty have the opportunity to serve on a wide variety of committees and
task forces on campus, some of them are academic in nature and others are
administrative. Appointments are made by the president.
Paralegal faculty currently serve, or have served since the last ABA interim report
(September, 2004), on the Paralegal Advisory Board, Legal Studies Committee,
Criminal Justice Committee, Technological and Instructional Resources Committee,
Peer Review Committee for the College of Business and Industry, L.B. Hartz
Committee (awards to outstanding leaders in the community), Social Work Advisory
Committee, Re-Accreditation Committee, faculty search committees, and University
Scholarship Committee.
Faculty at MSUM are members of a statewide collective bargaining unit (InterFaculty Organization), and the local campus faculty association. Paralegal faculty
have the opportunity to become officers and to serve on committees and task forces
within those groups, but have not done so.
(G-201B, C, D, E)
D. Describe the process for planning, including long-range planning, in the institution and in
the program. (G-201F)
The University Planning and Budget Committee (UPBC) is the university committee that
makes decisions about allocating resources for university-wide planning initiatives.
Committee membership is a representative cross-section of the university community,
comprised of individuals informed by environmental scanning and active in other
planning efforts on campus. Administrators, faculty, staff and students are all represented
on the committee. A community member provides an outsider’s perspective for the
committee. The President chairs the committee.
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The committee coordinates two main types of university-wide planning processes on
campus. The MSUM Strategic Plan outlines seven long-term institutional goals and four
strategic priority issues. The MSUM Annual Work Plan takes the “strategic directions”
from the system’s annual work plan and describes how MSUM will achieve those goals.
The Annual Work Plan integrates the work plans of the four divisions of the university,
identifying specific initiatives on campus, projected outcomes, and projected completion
dates.
The Annual Work Plan includes funded initiatives, called Work Plan Initiatives, which
are approved by the UPBC. Work Plan Initiatives are one of the key ways that planning is
connected to budgeting. Recent Work Plan Initiatives have funded recruitment, retention,
and diversity initiatives. MSUM’s planning processes have resulted in realistic and
achievable plans that have positioned us to be effective in the future.
The Paralegal department engages in long-range planning in several ways. The
department projects out course offerings up to two and three years ahead and posts that
information in chart format on the department's web-site. The department works with its
Advisory Committee to anticipate trends and stay abreast of changes in the legal
community and to keep the curriculum responsive to such trends and changes. All the
department chairs in the College of Business & Industry meet with the Dean one to two
times a month during the academic year to engage in planning, budgeting, strategizing,
and other activities integral to attracting and retaining students. The department chair also
participates in campus-wide sessions for all department chairs which are typically held
once a month.
E.
Explain how the paralegal program is comparable to other similar units within the
institution. Identify one or more similar units according to size, nature of program,
specialized approval/accreditation, and other relevant matters and use the following factors
in the analysis. (Describe how the similar programs are treated comparably or differently
for each factor; do not simply conclude that the treatment is comparable.) (G-202)
The Paralegal Department has department status with the university and is probably most
comparable to the political science department within the university.
1. Responsibilities, treatment and status of faculty, program director, and staff.
The responsibilities of the department chairs are similar in that both have budget
supervision. The department chair and faculty members in both departments have
similar functions as far as teaching loads, student advisory, curriculum
development, class scheduling and such. For the academic year 2007-2008 the
Paralegal department had a 4.542 FTE allocation of which .623 was clerical
support and the Political Science department had a 6.28 FTE allocation, of which
.385 was clerical support.
2. Enrollment.
Enrollment for the 2007 calendar year for Paralegal was 87 and for Political
Science was 105.
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3. Amount and kind of staff support.
As indicated in subsection (1) above, for the 2007 calendar year, the Paralegal
department had a .623FTE clerical allocation and the Political Science department
had a .385 FTE allocation.
4. Technical and other supporting services.
Both departments have access to the Instruction Technologies Department and
other support services offered campus-wide.
5. Physical resources including office space, classrooms, laboratories, and library.
The Paralegal Department has its own “suite” of offices in the Center for Business
which is one of the newer buildings on campus, equipped with two computer labs,
four conference rooms, student study rooms, a lounge/atrium with groupings of
tables, chairs and benches, and a student lunch/coffee/snack room. The Political
Science Department is located in Lommen Hall and has a physical set-up similar
to the Paralegal Department. Each instructor has an individual office with the
secretary centrally located. Lommen Hall is one of the older buildings on campus
but will be the next building on campus to be renovated once the appropriations
have been passed.
6. Support for professional development.
The professional development funds allocations are set by the union contract so
both departments are treated the same in that respect.
7. Participation in academic affairs, governance, and decision- making.
The chair and faculty members from each department have the same opportunities
to participate in committees at the academic and administrative level on campus.
The chairs of both departments are included in the university wide chair’s
meetings.
8. Any other factors that may be relevant to assessing comparability.
The only difference which may be relevant in assessing comparability between
the two departments is that the Paralegal Department doesn’t offer a minor in
Paralegal while the Political Science department does offer a minor in Political
Science.
F.
Provide information on the advisory committee:
1. Complete the chart at Exhibit 4, showing the members of the paralegal program’s
advisory committee. As indicated on the chart, show for each member the
professional affiliation including title/position and the name and nature of the entity
with which affiliated; whether the member is 1) a practicing lawyer, 2) a public sector
paralegal, 3) a private sector paralegal, 4) a paralegal manager, 5) a faculty member,
6) a school administrator, 7) a representative of the general public, or 8) other; the
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date of appointment to the advisory committee; any affiliation with the program
and/or institution in addition to service on the advisory committee, e.g., if a person
listed as a practicing attorney also teaches in the program.
The Advisory Committee Members form is included as Exhibit 4.
2. Provide copies of written guidelines or procedures governing advisory committee
activities, if any. Include as Exhibit 5.
The Advisory Committee Guidelines are included as Exhibit 5.
3. How are advisory committee members appointed, and what is the appointment term?
Full-time faculty members are appointed by the president of the university. Other
members, including adjunct faculty, are invited by the department chair. The terms
limits are 3 years with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.
4. Indicate whether the committee has subcommittees and what the specific areas of
responsibility of these subcommittees are. Provide the names of current members of
subcommittees.
The advisory committee does not have subcommittees.
5. How often does the advisory committee meet? If applicable, how often do
subcommittees meet?
The advisory committee attempts to meet at least once each semester.
6. Provide copies of the minutes of the advisory committee meetings and any
subcommittee meetings held during the past three years or, if this is a reapproval
application, since the date of the last Interim Report. (Be sure that minutes show the
date of the meeting and the persons in attendance. Include as Exhibit 6.)
(G-203)
Included as Exhibit 6 are copies of Advisory Committee meetings of May 2004
through October 2007. In 2005 and 2006 there was only one meeting of the Advisory
Committee each year. The Advisory Committee met twice in 2007 and will meet in
April 2008.
G. Describe the procedures by which the institution maintains equality of opportunity and seeks
to avoid prohibited discrimination regarding the treatment of personnel and students.
1. Does the institution have a written non-discrimination policy or affirmative action
plan? If yes, include a copy as Exhibit 7. (Be sure to include policies if available
relating to both students and personnel.)
Page 12 of 47
Minnesota State University Moorhead has a non-discrimination and affirmative
action policy which is based on the statement adopted by the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities. The Affirmative Action Plan in its entirety is available
through the website http://www.mnstate.edu/affirm/ as listed in Exhibit 7. The
excerpt regarding non-discrimination policies relating to both students and personnel
is included in Exhibit 7.
2. Does the institution have a policy or procedures for the accommodation of students
and personnel with disabilities? Is yes, include a copy as Exhibit 8.
Yes, Minnesota State University Moorhead has policies on accommodation for
students, faculty and staff with disabilities. Those policies are included as Exhibit 8.
The Paralegal Program works closely with the office of Disability Services to assist
students and staff. Current and potential students can use TTY communication,
through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
3. What methods are used to recruit faculty and staff? The description should include
the methods used to encourage diversity and the steps taken to recruit and retain a
diverse faculty. If written advertisements and/or announcements are used, include
copies as Exhibit 9.
Minnesota State University Moorhead is firmly committed to aggressive recruitment
of qualified faculty, and the steps are designed to encourage diversity. Recruitment
steps are fully outlined in the university’s Recruitment and Hiring Guidelines. A
sequential checklist of those guidelines and a list of recruitment forms are included
with Exhibit 9, along with a copy of two vacancy announcements and a standard
application form and supplemental data form.
4. What methods are used to encourage diversity in the student body of the paralegal
program?
The Admissions Office has designated staff members whose responsibilities include
recruitment of minority students. A large majority of its students are residents of an
area within 250 miles of Minnesota State University Moorhead, which is a rural
homogeneous population. To encourage an increase in diversity, the university has a
concerted outreach effort to the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul and other
major cities, using Admissions Office staff and others.
The university collaborates on educational programs with the White Earth Indian
Reservation, which is about 80 miles northeast of Moorhead.
The program itself has not changed its methods for encouraging diversity in its
student body. However, since the Interim Report of September 2002, MSUM hired
(in the fall of 2002) a full-time urban recruiter to focus on the Minneapolis-St. Paul,
Minnesota area, the Chicago, Illinois area and eastern Wisconsin. The recruiter’s
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duties include attending minority college fairs and focusing on students from diverse
high school populations.
The university’s non-discrimination and affirmative action policies are included in
Exhibit 8.
5. Complete Exhibit 10, showing the composition of the paralegal student body by
racial/ethnic classification and gender for each of the last three years, or if this is a
reapproval application, for each year since the last Interim Report.
The racial/ethnic and gender composition of the student body since the date of the last
Interim Report is shown as Exhibit 10.
6. Complete Exhibit 11, showing the composition of the faculty of the paralegal
program by racial/ethnic classification and gender for each of the last three years or,
if this is a reapproval application, for each year since the date of the last Interim
Report.
The racial/ethnic and gender composition of the program’s faculty since the date of
the last Interim Report is shown as Exhibit 11.
(G-204)
H. Provide information with regard to budgetary provisions for the paralegal program as
follows:
1. State the source(s) of financial support, i.e., state support, student tuition and fees,
community taxes, grants. Indicate the approximate percentage of financial support
from each source.
The following is a percentage breakdown of the budgeted revenues from Minnesota
State University Moorhead for fiscal year 2006:
State Appropriation
Student Tuition
Auxiliary Programs
Grants
Other
39%
27%
21%
12%
1%
2. Complete the chart provided as Exhibit 12, showing the amounts spent for each
category of expense for each of the past three years and showing the projected budget
for the current year and next year. Report this information by your institution’s fiscal
year and indicate on the exhibit the dates of that year, e.g., July 1 through June 30. If
exact amounts for actual or projected expenses are not available, estimate the amount
and indicate that the amount is an estimate.
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The Expenditures and Budget form is included as Exhibit 12.
3. Explain the institution’s budgetary process and identify any variations from budgetary
procedures utilized by other units within the institution.
The Paralegal Department has its own budget and the department chair is designated
as the budget supervisor. The budgetary process for the Paralegal Department is the
same as for all other units within the university. The Director for University Planning
and Budgeting is the unit at the university level with responsibility for the process.
Annual budgets are established by the Director for University Planning and
Budgeting and the deans for the various colleges are part of that process. The Dean
for the College of Business and Industry meets with department chairs including the
Paralegal department chair from 6 to 8 times a semester for one to two hours to
discuss department needs regarding budget, adjunct faculty, equipment, supplies,
support staff and the like.
(G-205)
SECTION III
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
G-301 through G-303
A. What methods are used to encourage students and graduates to achieve upward mobility in
education (i.e., to earn higher or additional degrees or certificates upon completion of the
program)?
1. For institutions awarding associate degrees:
a. what articulation agreements does your program have with four-year colleges,
including the names of each college and program;
b. what is the process for informing students about transfer opportunities;
c. indicate the percentage of program graduates who have transferred to an
institution offering a baccalaureate degree in each of the past three years, or if this
is a reapproval application, in each year since the date of the last Interim Report.
MSUM does not offer an associate degree in Paralegal, so this subsection is not
applicable.
2. For programs awarding baccalaureate degrees, what articulation agreements does
your program have with associate degree programs, including the name of each
institution and program?
(G-301C)
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The MSUM Paralegal Department has an articulation agreement with the North
Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, North Dakota, which recognizes
some of the credits in their Office Administration – Administrative Legal
Assistant program.
B.
If this is an application for initial approval, indicate what needs assessment was conducted
to determine the need for and interest in the program and attach as Exhibit 13 copies of
relevant surveys, assessment tools, research findings, and recommendations. Survey results
must show when the survey was conducted, to whom it was sent, and the number and
percentage of responses. (G-104B)
Not Applicable. This is not an application for initial approval, so this subsection is not
applicable. There is no Exhibit 13 included.
C.
Describe the program’s plan for evaluation, review, and improvement of the program, as
follows:
1. What is the overall assessment plan, i.e., how does the program determine the extent
to which it is meeting its stated objectives? Is there a plan and timeline for various
forms of assessment? Is the assessment plan part of an institutional plan? What is
done with the results of surveys and other assessment findings? (G-301E1)
The Paralegal department uses four survey instruments to determine if we are
meeting our stated objectives: The Internship Supervisor Evaluation; the Senior
Exit Survey; the Graduate Survey; and the Employer Survey. The Internship
Supervisor Evaluation instrument is used at the end of each student’s internship.
The department has tried to use the Senior Exit Survey consistently but has had a
poor response rate because the survey was voluntary. Because of this the
department has decided to integrate the Senior Exit Survey into the Advanced
Legal Research and Writing course which is a Capstone course in the curriculum.
The department sends out graduate surveys around a year after graduation. Once
a Graduate Survey is returned and we have information on employment, an
Employer Survey is sent to follow up. As part of the university’s campus-wide
emphasis on assessment, all departments were required to review their Student
Outcomes Assessment instruments and to revise them, if necessary, to relate more
closely to the desired student outcomes. The Paralegal Department has revised
the assessment instruments to state more narrow outcomes and to tailor specific
outcomes to specific courses. The department has revised the majority of its
Student Outcome assessment instruments. The department secretary integrates
the data from these surveys into reports which are discussed at department
meetings and shared with our Advisory Committee. This serves as starting point
for discussion on curriculum changes.
2. How does the program determine how paralegal services are being used in the
community? Are research, surveys, focus groups or other means used to ascertain the
state of paralegal utilization? How often is such assessment conducted? As Exhibit
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14, attach relevant documentation, such as survey instruments and a summary of the
results of surveys or other research conducted during the past three years, or if this is
a reapproval application, since the date of the last interim report. Survey results must
show when the survey was conducted, to whom it was sent, and the number and
percentage of responses. (G-301E2)
We have not conducted such surveys in the past three years. We use graduate
surveys, employer surveys, and senior exit surveys to provide information
regarding how paralegal services are used in the community. The narrative of
each survey is included at Exhibit 14. The employer responses indicate they feel
our graduates are well prepared to begin work as an entry-level paralegal and
several stated the graduates exceeded their expectations.
3. How does the program determine the extent to which graduates are securing suitable
positions? Is such information taken from graduate surveys, placement records, or
other sources? How is it compiled and used? (Note that placement records are
required as Exhibit 30 in Section V of this report.) (G-301E3)
The department does periodic surveys of graduates – usually around a year after
graduation to determine if the graduates are securing suitable employment. When
a faculty member hears from a graduate via phone call or email, the faculty
member gives any information gleaned to the department secretary to enter in the
graduate database. Once the graduate has established employment duration, the
department sends out an employer survey to follow up the graduate survey.
4. How does the program assess graduates’ perceptions of their preparation for
employment and of their educational experience in the program? Explain the plan for
graduate assessment, i.e., how often is it conducted, which group(s) of graduates are
surveyed, what kinds of instrument or other measures are used, who in the institution
is responsible for conducting the surveys, and how are the results used. As Exhibit
15, include a copy of the evaluation instrument(s) and the summary of results for the
past three years or, if this is a reapproval application, since the date of the last Interim
Report. Summaries of survey results must show the date conducted, number sent, and
number and percentage of responses received. (G-301E4)
To assess the graduates’ perceptions of their educational experience as a Paralegal
major at MSUM, the department does Graduate Surveys. The Graduate Surveys
the department has completed are part of Exhibit 15. The department tries to
survey graduates after they have been in place in their jobs and we aim for a date
about a year after graduation. The Graduate Surveys we have conducted since the
last Interim Report are also attached as part of Exhibit 15.
5. How does the program assess the satisfaction of employers and managers? Explain
the plan for employer assessment, i.e., how often is it conducted, which employers are
surveyed, what kind of survey instrument or other measures are used, who in the
institution is responsible for conducting the survey, and how are the results used. As
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Exhibit 16, include a copy of the evaluation instrument(s) and the summary of results
for the past three years or, if this is a reapproval application, since the date of the last
Interim Report. Summaries of survey results must show the date conducted, who was
surveyed, the number of surveys sent, and number and percentage of responses
received. (G-301E5)
Once the department has information from a graduate on employment and the
employment has been for some duration, the department follows up with an
Employer Survey. The department reviews the responses and shares the
responses with the Advisory Committee in discussions regarding curriculum
revision and improvement. A copy of the evaluation instrument and a
compilation of responses and a narrative since the last Interim Report are included
as Exhibit 16.
6. How does the program assess the satisfaction of students with curriculum, instruction,
services, and facilities? Describe the procedures for evaluation of faculty members
and of other aspects of the students’ educational experience. As Exhibit 17, include a
copy of the evaluation instrument(s). Do not include individual faculty member’s
evaluation results, but do include a summary of results of other matters that are
evaluated by students. (G-301E6)
(See G-301F for an explanation of how assessment plans and methods will be evaluated.)
For now, students evaluate instructors and courses on the same form. Copies of
the evaluation forms currently in use are attached as Exhibit 17. Most instructors
use the standard form while several instructors have tailored the evaluation forms
to fit specific classes. The Senior Exit Surveys are used to measure the student’s
satisfaction with curriculum, instruction, advising, services and facilities. The
most recent results and narrative are included as part of Exhibit 17.
D.
Provide the total curriculum for the paralegal program. Indicate each program option
offered (i.e. degree or certificate) as defined in G-103A. Include the total number of hours
or credits for each program option, using either semester units, quarter units, clock hours,
contact hours, or continuing education units using the definitions set forth in G-302D.
The University awards a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal. Students must
complete a minimum of 52 semester credits in the major. All students seeking a
bachelor’s degree at MSUM must complete a minimum of 45 semester credits in
liberal studies (or 42 credits if admitted to MSUM fall semester 2006 or later now
called the Dragon Core). The total minimum credits to earn a bachelor’s degree are
128 semester credits.
1. Provide a list of the suggested sequence of courses for each program option including
the following information:
See below
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a.
Semester hours or equivalent for each course/subject.
b.
Prerequisites and co-requisites. (G-302E5)
c.
Identify the legal specialty courses as defined in G-302I and, for each such
course, indicate whether it is required or elective. (Use the abbreviations LS-R
and LS-E.)
d. If general education is part of the required course work, identify the general
education courses as defined in G-302E1. (Use the abbreviation GE.)
Students must complete the following requirements to earn the B.S. in Paralegal from MSUM:
45 semester credits of Liberal Studies (GE)
52 semester credits from the Paralegal curriculum
31 semester credits of free electives
128 total semester credits
Required Core Courses for Paralegal Degree (at least 34 credits):
• Para 125: Introduction to Paralegal, LS-R, 3 credits. No prerequisites
• Para 250: Legal Research & Writing I, LS-R, 3 credits. No prerequisites
• Acct 304: Legal Environment of Business, GE-R, 3 credits. No prerequisites
• Acct 130: Fundamentals of Accounting, GE-R, 3 credits. No prerequisites
• Para 251: Legal Research & Writing II, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 310: Civil Procedure I, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 320: Family Law, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 325: Interviewing, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 375: Legal Ethics, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 425: Advanced Legal Research & Writing, LS-R, 3 credits. Para 251, 325 and 375 are
prerequisites
• Para 469: Internship, LS-R, Variable credits, 4-12. (1 credit equals 40 hours).
Prerequisites are 251, 310, 325, 375 and two courses from student’s Area of Emphasis.
• Acct 306: Contracts and Business Entities, LS-R, 3 credits. Prerequisite is Acct 304
Areas of Emphasis (from 12-15 credits): Students must complete at least one area of
emphasis. This requires 12 credits from either the Probate/Tax, Civil Litigation, Criminal
Litigation, or Commercial Law. In addition all majors must complete at least 3 credits from one
other Area of Emphasis.
The following are courses from the four Areas of Emphasis. The student must complete one
Area of Emphasis consisting of 12 semester credits and 3 semester credits from another Area of
Emphasis:
Probate/Tax (Minimum of 12 credits)
• Para 380: Real Property Law, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 405: Probate & Estate Planning, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 and 446 are prerequisites
• Para 446: Estate, Gift, & Trust Taxation, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
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• Para 416: Elder Law, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
Civil Litigation Area of Emphasis (Minimum of 12 credits)
• Para 340: Evidence, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 251 is prerequisite
• Para 346: Public Benefits, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 410: Civil Procedure II, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 & 310 are prerequisites
• Para 435: Personal Injury, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 & 310 are prerequisites
Criminal Litigation Area of Emphasis (Minimum of 12 credits)
• Para 340: Evidence, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 251 is prerequisite
• CJ 335: Criminal Law, LS-E, 3 credits. No prerequisite
(This is offered by Criminal Justice Dept.)
• CJ 337: Criminal Procedure, LS-E, 3 credits. No prerequisite
(This is offered by Criminal Justice Dept.)
• Para 420: Criminal Litigation, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 340 & CJ 335 are prerequisites
Commercial Law Area of Emphasis (Minimum of 12 credits)
• Para 331: Debtor-Creditor Bankruptcy, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisite
• Para 380: Real Property Law, LS-E, 3 credits. Para 250 is prerequisites
• Acct 307: Commercial Transactions, LS-E, 3 credits. Acct 304 is prerequisite
• Para 321: Employment Law, LS-E, 3 credits. Acct 304 is prerequisite
Note: Exhibit 20 contains a Projected Course Work Plan, including the Dragon Core (liberal
studies) classes, and paralegal major classes for a student desiring to complete the major with all
four areas of emphasis satisfied.
Note: Para 470 (previously 370) Government Benefits is a course designed, housed and taught
in the Paralegal Department but is only available to non-paralegal majors. It is a required course
for social work majors and is an elective course for gerontology and health service
administration majors. For purposes of this report this course is NOT a designated legal
specialty course.
Note: Para 497 is a special topics course available to paralegal majors who might arrange to
complete a special research project for 1-3 credits. Though infrequently utilized, this course is
designated as a legal specialty course.
2. How are the general education requirements met? Explain whether these
requirements are met by students upon admission to the program or through
coursework taken as part of the program. (G-302E and F)
Students admitted prior to fall 2006 and seeking a bachelor’s degree at MSUM
must complete a minimum of 45 semester credits in Liberal Studies courses. The
Liberal Studies requirements are divided into six categories as follows:
1. English Composition and Literature
2. Natural Sciences and Their Processes, including at least one course with an
experimental/observational component
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3. Behavioral and Social Sciences
4. Western Tradition: Humanities and Fine Arts, including at least one course
with an historical perspective
5. Communicative and Symbolic Processes, including at least one course in
communicative processes and at least one course in mathematics
6. Multicultural and Global Studies, including at least one course with a
multicultural emphasis
Students must earn a minimum of six credits of each of the first five divisions,
and a minimum of five credits from the sixth one. Students can elect the
remaining ten credits from among the various divisions, except that no more than
two courses from the multicultural division may be applied towards the total
requirement of 45 credits.
Those students entering MSUM after Fall of 2006 will follow the Dragon Core
program. The information detailing the Dragon Core is in Exhibit 20.
a. How is the distribution requirement for three disciplines within the general
education component met? (G-302E2)
The Liberal Studies requirements for students enrolling prior to fall 2006 require
the students to complete 45 credits from courses assigned to six different categories:
1. English Composition & Literature: minimum 6 credits
2. Natural Sciences: minimum of 6 credits and at least one course with lab
component
3. Behavioral & Social Sciences: minimum of 6 credits
4. Western Tradition: Humanities & Fine Arts: minimum of 6 credits and at
least one course must have historical perspective
5. Communicative & Symbolic Processes minimum of 6 credits and at least
one math course
6. Multicultural & Global Studies: minimum of 5 credits, including at least
one course with multicultural emphasis.
Exhibit 20 contains a Projected Course Work Plan, including the Dragon Core
(liberal studies) classes, and paralegal major classes for a student desiring
to complete the major with all four areas of emphasis satisfied.
b. What method(s) is/are used to determine whether students demonstrate writing
proficiency at the college level? (G-302E3)
All bachelor's degree candidates must complete a minimum of one year of
English composition and literature, usually during the freshman year. Within the
Paralegal major, proficiency in writing is one of the desired student outcomes in
almost every legal specialty course. The most intensive writing is done in Legal
Research & Writing II and Advanced Legal Research & Writing. In Research II
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students are required to do two legal memoranda, legal correspondence, and two
written essay-type tests. In Advanced Research the students are required to do
three complex legal memoranda and either a trial court brief or an appellate court
brief. In the other legal specialty courses the students are required to draft
pleadings, correspondence, research memoranda, interrogatories, motions,
affidavits, and such. The faculty uses checklists to grade the written projects and
students are given the checklist along with the projects so they know how they
will be evaluated.
Students who are in need of remedial writing assistance are directed to the Write
Site which is a central tutoring office on campus offering individual tutoring and
critiquing of written projects. It is staffed by upper level English majors and is
supervised by a faculty member.
c. What means are used to ensure that students demonstrate competence in oral
communication? (G-302E4)
Students are encouraged (prior to Fall 2006) and required (after Fall 2006) to
complete a Speech course as part of their Liberal Studies course-work. In the
Paralegal department, several legal specialty courses have strong oral
communications components. For example, in Para 325-Interviewing, students are
required to do three taped interviews along with affidavits and letters. In Para
416-Elder Law, students are required to participate in a service learning project
which entails developing a PowerPoint presentation to senior citizens on healthcare directives. The students then interview the senior citizens and draft healthcare directives for them based on the interviews. This is all done under the
supervision of the attorney who teaches the course and has proved to be a great
learning experience for the students as well as important community outreach tool
to raise the visibility of both MSUM and the Paralegal department.
d. If credit is given by examination or through other means for general education
courses, what methods are used to determine whether credit should be granted?
Indicate how evaluation for equivalence is conducted and whether there are limits
on the amount of credit that is earned through such means. (G-302E6)
According to the Admissions Office, credit by examination occurs most often in
advanced placement situations where a high school student will be tested and the
credits will be granted to that student. However, those credits will be allocated to
general electives and not in satisfaction of Liberal Studies requirements. For
example, if a student tested out of Spanish 101 (Beginning Spanish), the credits
would be allocated toward the student's electives and the student would have to
take Spanish 201 (Intermediate Spanish) to satisfy the Liberal Studies
requirements.
e. If general education credit is accepted in transfer, what policies govern the
acceptance of transfer of general education credits completed at other institutions?
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How are the courses evaluated to ensure that they meet the definition of general
education and the breadth contained in these Guidelines? (G-303E)
The acceptance of transfer of general education credits completed at other
institutions is determined by the university's Admissions Office, and not by
departments. The Admissions Office has articulation agreements with all the other
universities, community colleges, and technical colleges in the state that detail the
courses that are equivalent to MSUM's general education (Liberal Studies)
courses. Those agreements may be accessed through MSUM's home-page at:
http://www.mnstate.edu/home and then to "Links" and then to the Minnesota
Transfer Curriculum. The direct e-mail address of this site is:
http://www.mntransfer.org. There is also a listing of all transfer equivalencies at:
http://www.mntransfer.org/cas.
E.
How does the program ensure that students have technology skills that are appropriate for
employment as a paralegal? (Do not include electronic legal research in this section as this
information is requested below under Section III K.) Indicate whether students are required
to complete particular coursework that teaches technology skills, to take legal specialty
courses into which technology is integrated, to achieve passing scores on standardized tests
of this area, and/or to demonstrate competence in other ways. (G-302G)
Students are not required to complete a particular course in technology skills but the
department does require that all memos, legal briefs, and text assignments be wordprocessed in compliance with any applicable rule, statute, or regulation. Technology is
integrated into the legal specialty courses where available, appropriate, and not cost
prohibitive.
For example, in Para 416-Elder Law, students are required to prepare and present a
PowerPoint presentation on health-care directives in a seminar for senior citizens. In Para
310 & 410, students are required to prepare a variety of pleadings in accordance with
applicable jurisdiction rules. The rules on electronic filing are covered in depth and a
demonstration is provided. There is also a demonstration and discussion of case
management software available, such as Summation. In Para 320-Family Law, the students
are introduced to Child Support Calculators and Spousal Maintenance Calculators provided
by the various court web-sites. A demonstration of property division software is also
presented. In Para 331-Debtor-Creditor/Bankruptcy, students are introduced to and have a
demonstration on a bankruptcy software package. In Acct 130-Fundamentals of
Accounting, students are required to use the Peachtree software package in their weekly
assignments to set up accounts, do journal entries, create financial statements, and the like.
In Para 446-Gift, Estate, and Trust Taxation, students are introduced to and may use the
Pro-Series tax software (Intuit) to prepare gift tax returns, estate tax returns, and fiduciary
tax returns. Students are also introduced to and encouraged to use the Minnesota Estate Tax
Calculator (web version). In Para 340-Evidence, students are required to attend a session at
the federal courthouse where the entire period is focused on the use of technology in the
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courtroom. A paralegal specialist for the US Attorney's Office demonstrates all the
technology currently used in federal trials.
F.
If the program admits and graduates students who have not met the general education or
total unit requirement of G-302H, complete the chart provided as Exhibit 18, showing
information about students receiving exemptions from the general education and/or total
unit requirements for each of the last three academic years or, if this is a reapproval
application, for each year since the date of the last Interim Report.
Not Applicable. There is no Exhibit 18 included.
G.
Complete the chart provided as Exhibit 19, showing the legal specialty courses offered for
each of the past three years, or if this is a reapproval application, for each year since the date
of the last Interim Report. (G-303)
Exhibit 19 lists the legal specialty courses offered for each semester since the last Interim
Report including Spring 2004 through Fall 2007.
H.
Provide a complete set of materials for each legal specialty course showing all of the
following information, which must be current and up-to-date as of the date of the report.
Include as Exhibit 20.
1. Title and course description.
2. Semester hours or their equivalent in clock hours, contact hours, quarter hours, or
continuing education units.
3. Required textbook(s) and other material.
4. Course objectives including paralegal skills to be developed.
5. Instructional methods, including processes for faculty-student and student-student
interaction and feedback to students on tests, assignments and other matters.
6. Methods of evaluation of student performance, including the formula for calculating
student’s grades from tests, assignments, and other factors.
7. A list of specific practical assignments in each course that develop paralegal
competencies.
8. A detailed outline of subject area with a breakdown of time devoted to each major
topic in increments of no more than three hours. Textbook chapter titles are not
sufficient.
(G-303I)
Exhibit 20 includes a list of the textbooks required and a course outline for each course
offered as listed in the Course Outline Index.
I.
Does the paralegal program include an internship as a legal specialty course? If yes,
provide the following information:
1. the systematic plan for developing, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating internships;
2. the number of hours on the job needed to earn credit;
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3. how the program ensures that students and sponsors understand expectations;
4. how the student, sponsors, and program faculty communicate during the course of the
internship;
5. how the program ensures that the work emphasizes paralegal skills and competencies.
(G-302I1d)
The program does include a mandatory internship as one of its legal specialty courses.
There are varying numbers of students interning throughout the year, including the
summer months. Over the years, students have interned in a broad variety of settings,
including traditional private law firms, legal aid, federal and state prosecutors’ offices,
state trial and appellate courts, corporation law departments, public defenders’ offices,
domestic violence and crime victims’ advocates programs, legislative and congressional
offices, state attorney general’s offices, real estate and abstract/title offices, and others.
Students have interned in locations throughout the United States, including Hawaii,
Colorado, West Virginia, Florida, and Missouri as well as Minnesota and North Dakota.
The internship faculty supervisor conducts an orientation meeting at the beginning of
each semester, which is required for students who are anticipating an internship in the
following semester or summer months. Students are directed to meet with a
representative of the campus’s Career Services office on the topic of effective resume
writing. Included in the orientation meeting are informal presentations by former interns,
offering insight and practical considerations to the new interns.
Students are required to secure their own internship sponsor, including sending resumes
and being interviewed. The program maintains a running list of past internship sites and
addresses. The students usually use that list as a starting point for their search, but they
are not limited to the names on that list.
The student and the supervising attorney or paralegal complete an agreement form, which
contains a plan for projected tasks and a work schedule. The form is then presented for
approval by the internship faculty supervisor, which has traditionally been the department
chair.
The intern maintains time sheets, provided by the department, which are signed by the
supervising attorney and submitted along with a narrative summary by the student to the
faculty supervisor on a weekly basis.
Approximately midway through the internship, the faculty supervisor conducts an on-site
visit and evaluation with the intern, the supervising attorney, and anyone else in the office
who is working closely with the student, such as a paralegal or law clerk.
At the conclusion of the internship, the student submits to the faculty supervisor a written
report summarizing the entire experience. The student is asked to include a selfevaluation and an assessment of the level of preparedness gained from courses already
taken. Students who return to campus for more course work in the semester after their
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internship are asked to attend the orientation meeting for new interns to share their
experiences, as noted above.
An evaluation form is also sent to the supervising attorney following the internship. The
rate of response has been excellent, and the comments are almost universally in the good
to excellent range.
J.
Which course or courses provide instruction in ethics and professional responsibility?
Reference may be made to course outlines included in Exhibit 20 by course name and
number. Approximately how many hours in each program option are devoted to teaching
this subject? (G-302I3)
The principal course providing instruction in ethics and professional responsibility is Para
375 – Legal Ethics, which is a 3-credit semester-long course which equates to 45 hours of
instruction on legal ethics. This course outline is included in Exhibit 20. Legal Ethics
and professional responsibility are introduced in a general fashion (about 3 hours) in Para
125 – Introduction to Paralegal. The emphasis in the latter course is in the unauthorized
practice of law and other limitations on non-lawyer’s activities in the legal system.
Ethical issues are discussed in many other courses as appropriate on a daily basis,
especially Interviewing, Civil Procedure I, Evidence, Family Law, and Estate, Gift and
Trust Taxation. It is estimated that each of the five listed classes probably adds an
additional 1-2 hours of instruction on legal ethics.
Comprehensively the total curriculum provides students with a minimum of between 5358 hours of instruction on legal ethics.
K.
Which course or courses provide instruction in legal research? In electronic research?
Reference may be made to course outlines included in Exhibit 20 by course name and
number. Approximately how many hours in each program option are devoted to teaching
this subject? (G-302I4, G-601I and J)
The principal courses providing instruction in legal research are Para 250 – Legal
Research and Writing I, Para 251 – Legal Research and Writing II, and Para 425 –
Advanced Legal Research and Writing. These three courses provide 45 hours of
instruction on legal research each for a total of 135 hours. The course descriptions for
each of these courses are included in Exhibit 20.
Legal research is incorporated into many other legal specialty courses through research
projects in those courses, especially in Family Law, Interviewing, Legal Ethics, Civil
Procedure I & II, Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy, Public Benefits, Elder Law, Criminal
Litigation, and Evidence. Previously learned legal research skills are honed and utilized
in these classes and the use of course specific legal research materials is required.
Estimated time spent teaching students how to access course-specific legal research
materials is 1-3 hours per class for a total of 1-30 additional hours of instruction on legal
research.
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Electronic legal research is covered in the three previously mentioned research courses,
Para 250, Para 251, and Para 425. In Para 250 – Legal Research and Writing I, two to
three weeks are spent on electronic legal research, focusing primarily on Westlaw and the
Internet. Each student is issued a Westlaw password in Para 250 and the password is
good during their academic tenure at MSUM. Students are encouraged to use Westlaw
and the Internet in their other classes where a research component is part of a particular
class project or assignment.
L.
What policies govern the acceptance of transfer of legal specialty credits completed at other
institutions? Include criteria for accepting courses in transfer, procedures for approving
award of credit, limits on the number of legal specialty courses that may be accepted in
transfer, and where these policies and procedures are published. (G-302I6)
At the time of this report, the department has few written policies on the acceptance of
legal specialty course credits from other institutions. There is an articulation agreement
in place with North Dakota State College of Science as referred to in Section III A.2 of
this report. Although there are no other written policies in place with other schools, the
department has always accepted such credits as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis. The
Chair of the department meets with all transfer students to review their transcripts, and, if
available, course descriptions, syllabi and materials from legal courses taken at other
schools. After meeting with transfer student, the Chair gets input from the instructors at
MSUM who teach equivalent courses and makes a decision on the acceptability of the
course form the other institution. A copy of the department’s transfer credit worksheet is
included in this report as Exhibit 21.
Additionally, MSUM policy limits the number of courses that may be accepted in transfer
by requiring that a student be registered and pay MSUM tuition for at least 30 of the last
60 credits, for at least 8 of the last 12 credits applied to the degree and at least 6 credits
must be from the MSUM department which awards the degree.
M. What policies govern the award of legal specialty credit by course challenge or
examination, if such credit is awarded? Include procedures to protect the academic quality
and integrity of the program, limits on the number of legal specialty credits that may be
earned through such means, procedures for evaluating and approving the award of such
credit, and where these policies and procedures are published. Submit as Exhibit 21 a list
showing the names of courses for which credit has been given under such policies and list
each instance in which such credit has been granted in each of the last three years or if this
is a reapproval application since the date of the last Interim Report. This list should indicate
the term in which credit was granted, the name of the student that was awarded such credit,
the name and number of the course for which such credit was awarded, and the basis on
which the credit was awarded. (G-302I6)
The department does not have policies to award legal specialty course credits by course
challenge or examination. Thus, there is no Exhibit 21.
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N.
If any legal specialty courses are offered through alternative delivery formats, such as
compressed, accelerated, or online instruction:
1. Indicate which course or courses are offered by alternative means and describe the
delivery method(s) or alternative means utilized. (Refer to G-302J for interpretations
relating to alternative formats.)
2. Explain how the program ensures that students take at least ten semester credits or the
equivalent of legal specialty courses through traditional classroom instruction or the
equivalent as defined in G-302J1.
3. List each course that is taught through an alternative method and provide as Exhibit
22 a detailed course outline for each course showing how the hours devoted to
classroom time and the structured instructional activity outside of class or in online
instruction are equivalent to the number of classroom hours that are normally required
to award credit for such a course.
4. Explain how courses were selected for delivery in the alternative format and how the
courses were developed.
5. Provide information on how students are screened to assess their ability to succeed in
the alternative format or otherwise trained or prepared to succeed in taking course
work in this format.
6. Provide information on the training and support for the development and instruction
of courses delivered in the alternative format.
7. Provide information on the assessment that is conducted to determine the
effectiveness of the alternative format and attach as Exhibit 23 a summary of the
results of such assessment of the last three years or if this is a reapproval application
since the date of the last Interim Report.
8. For online courses, provide the following additional information:
a. What means are used to ensure that there is interaction between faculty members
and students, and among students?
b. By what means are faculty members accessible to students?
c. How do faculty members respond to students who have questions? How is
feedback given to students on assignments and tests?
d. What technical support is provided to ensure proper functioning of the system and
back-up in the event of technical difficulties?
e. What system is used to verify the identity of students submitting work or taking a
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test at a distance?
(G-302J)
At the time of this report, our department does not offer any legal specialty courses
through alternative deliver formats. Thus, there is no Exhibit 22.
SECTION IV
FACULTY
G-401 through G-403
A. Identify the name and the title of the person who serves as program director. Indicate
whether this position is a full-time position. If the position is not full-time and the person
designated as program director does not serve the institution on a full-time basis, identify the
person responsible for the program who is full-time with the institution. If the person
identified as the program director has been in his/her position for fewer than three years,
provide the name or names of the person or persons who have served in this capacity for the
past three years with dates of services and status as full-time or part-time. (G-402)
The person responsible for the direction of the department is the Chair, Deborah Schaefer
Kukowski. She was elected Chair of the department since July 1, 2007. She has the rank of
Associate Professor and has full-time status. She has been a full-time professor at MSUM
since September, 1996.
B. Provide as Exhibit 24 a resume for the person designated as the program director and for
each other person having substantial responsibilities for program direction or administration.
Each resume must include the beginning date of service with the institution and the program,
relevant professional qualifications, and experience working with paralegals and/or as a
paralegal. If there is a new person with substantial responsibility for program direction
within the last three years, or if this is a reapproval application, since the date of the last
Interim Report, indicate the reason for the change. (G-401A-D)
Deborah Schaefer Kukowski’s resume is included as Exhibit 24.
C. For the program director and each person having some responsibility for program direction
and administration, indicate how much time is devoted to the program and to other duties,
using the three categories below. Be sure to show the approximate time allocation during the
year for each area, e.g., percentages of full-time or actual hour amounts for each person.
1. Program-related administrative and related duties.
2. Duties that are not related to the paralegal program.
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3. Teaching. (If the person teaches for the institution, specify the usual full-time
teaching load at the institution and the amount of release or reassigned time, if any,
that is given for direction of the program.)
(G-402)
Ms. Kukowski’s contract for each academic year includes a 75% teaching load, and 25%
release time for department-related administrative duties and non-program-related duties.
The 25% release time also includes coordination of the internship program during
throughout the year because internships are not included in the teaching load.
A full-time teaching load, pursuant to the faculty collective bargaining agreement, is 24
semester credits per academic year. Most faculty teach 12 credits per semester. The
Paralegal department chair usually teaches 18 credits per academic year, or 9 credits per
semester.
Ms. Kukowski’s contract also includes 28 extended duty days during the summer months.
Summer duties include coordination of the internship program, various administrative
tasks, and special projects.
The actual percentage of time teaching is 75%, with 20% department-related
administration and 5% for non-department related duties. The latter includes such things
as university committee work and professional development.
D. What measures are taken to support and encourage the professional growth of all faculty
members in the paralegal program with particular reference to their growth as teachers? (i.e.,
in-service training, attendance at continuing education programs and conferences.) Complete
Exhibit 25, listing each faculty member’s participation in such professional growth activities
during the past three years, or if this is a reapproval application, since the date of the last
Interim Report. (G-401F and G)
All three full-time faculty, as licensed attorneys, are required to complete a minimum of
45 CLE credits every three years. Each faculty member’s participation in CLE programs
and professional growth activities since the date of the last Interim Report is set forth in
Exhibit 25. Please note Larry Nordick retired in December 2006 and Tracy Gompf
joined the faculty in January 2007.
The Paralegal department is allocated $3,345.00 for the department faculty per fiscal year
for professional improvement and development. Those funds can be used for seminars,
conferences, and certain publications. Each department establishes its own policy for
allocation and use of those funds by its faculty members. Allocation of the funds for
Paralegal department is based on the faculty member’s required CLE reports to the state
bar board and licensing authority.
Faculty members also have the opportunity for in-service training on teaching skills and
methods from time to time as provided by the university.
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Two faculty members, Judy Streich and Deb Kukowski, attended the national AaFPE
conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October, 2004.
Since the last Interim Report, Deb Kukowski was granted a one-semester sabbatical (Fall
semester 2006) which included working with a local nursing home to improve resident
quality of life per the 1987 nursing home reform statute and conducting training sessions
for area employers/employees to familiarize them with the services and options available
for elderly family members so that employee productivity is maximized.
Adjunct faculty teach one class per academic year and are invited to attend University
professional growth trainings but due to their full time employment have rarely attended
such trainings as such there is no information to report for the adjunct faculty on Exhibit
25. The adjunct faculty who are licensed attorneys maintain their required CLE’s through
their own full time employment.
E. How frequently are meetings of the paralegal faculty held and what faculty members are
invited to participate in these meeting? As Exhibit 26, provide minutes of meetings held
during the past three years, or if this is a reapproval application, since the date of the last
Interim Report. Be sure that minutes include the date of the meeting, a list of those in
attendance, and a record of the discussion. (G-401H)
Full-time faculty hold a meeting once a month during each semester and the secretary
takes minutes. Adjunct faculty teach one class per academic year and are full-time
practicing attorneys and paralegals. The adjuncts are invited to department meetings but
most often are not able to or choose not to attend. The department will make additional
efforts to include adjunct faculty in the regular department meetings by offering to hold
meetings after the traditional work day. Minutes of the meetings of faculty since the last
Interim Report are included as Exhibit 26.
F. Complete Exhibit 27, showing all faculty members who are now teaching and who have
taught legal specialty courses for each of the last three years or, if this is a reapproval
application, for each year since the date of the last Interim Report, including the following
information: name of faculty member; status within the institution, i.e. full-time, part-time, or
adjunct; legal specialty courses taught and dates (by semester, quarter, etc.); and if no longer
teaching, the reason. (G-401, G-403A)
The List of Faculty Members form is included as Exhibit 27.
G. As Exhibit 28, provide a resume (not an employment application) for each faculty member
listed in Exhibit 27. Each resume must include a description of the faculty member’s
professional qualifications, including experience working with paralegals or as a paralegal.
(G-401A, C-E)
The Resumes of Faculty Members are included as Exhibit 28.
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H. What clerical, technical, and other support services are provided to faculty members?
(G-403B)
Since the Interim report dated 9/3/2004, the department’s secretary’s time was divided
between the Dean and Paralegal Department. After the department moved in summer
2005, the secretary was dedicated to the Paralegal Department as a half-time position and
the secretary shared the office with the adjunct faculty. Upon the retirement of that
secretary, a new position was created where an Office and Administrative Specialist (OAS)
at .50 FTE is assigned to the School of Business. This .50 FTE is no longer dedicated
specifically to the Paralegal Department although the department has access and is able to
utilize this person. The OAS desk is situated at the front of the office suite with the other
full-time lead worker for the School of Business and Paralegal Department administrative
staff.
A direct line with voice mail is dedicated to the OAS to handle any department inquiries.
She maintains the student database and provides computer input for any department
needs. She orders books for each semester and enters data in department records. She
will assist faculty members with any clerical support services as necessary.
The full-time Office and Administrative Specialist Senior (OASS) has a variety of
responsibilities. She schedules and arranges for meeting rooms as needed. She prepares
agendas and gathers information for departmental meetings. She prepares and processes
travel and leave request forms and travel expense forms. She coordinates the repair of
technical equipment in CB classrooms and computer labs. She maintains the department
budget and schedules, assists the faculty with various tasks and supervises the student and
part-time staff. She handles all Paralegal department administrative duties. There are
also 2 to 4 student workers who are available to the Paralegal faculty for projects
throughout the year.
In addition, the campus has a superb Instructional Technology Department which offers
help and advice to faculty members on integrating technology into course-work.
SECTION V
ADMISSIONS AND STUDENT SERVICES
G-501 through G-503
A. What are the admission requirements and procedures used to select students? Indicate what
printed or electronic publications of the program and institution contain admission
requirements and procedures. (G-501)
Admission as a freshman to Minnesota State University Moorhead requires high school
graduation or the GED and the following:
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1. high school rank in the upper one-half of the graduating class with a minimum of
17on the ACT or 830 on the SAT, or achieve the following score(s) on any one of
the standardized college admissions tests: ACT Composite Score of 21 or above,
or SAT Verbal and Math Combined Re-centered Score of 1000 or above, and
2. high school preparation standards: four years of English, three years of Math,
three years of Science, three years of Social Studies, two years of world language,
and one year world culture or the arts.
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria are reviewed on an individual basis. Some
applicants who do not meet the criteria may be considered for admission to MSUM’s
Corrick Center for General Education.
The admission requirements are published in the university’s bulletin (catalog) and are
included on the university’s website.
The Paralegal Department does not have specific requirements and procedures for
selecting students beyond those for general admission to the university. Students who
wish to be Paralegal majors visit with the chairperson or another Paralegal faculty
member for a brief introduction to the program and the career. They then declare the
major and are assigned an advisor.
B. If the program does not require a college degree for admission, explain how the program
meets the standards stated in G-501(a).
Persons who are enrolled in the Paralegal program must meet the general admission
requirements established by the university for freshmen, transfers, and other students.
Those requirements include high school graduation or the GED.
C. If any admission or advanced placement testing is done prior to admission, identify and
describe the test and how the results are used to determine eligibility for admission to or
advanced placement in the program. (G-501(d))
There is no admission or advanced placement testing prior to admission to the Paralegal
program.
D. What methods are used to recruit students? Provide as Exhibit 29 copies of all
advertisements, promotional materials, brochures, and flyers relating to the program
including the institution’s catalog and copies of the material that appears on all websites that
feature the paralegal program. Indicate on the catalog cover the numbers of the pages of the
catalog that refer to the paralegal program. Indicate on the first page of the website materials
the URL address. (G-501A and B)
Exhibit 29 includes the program brochure, fact sheet (flyer), and copies of department
website materials (www.mnstate.edu/paralegal) and the School of Business website
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materials (www.mnstate.edu/schoolofbusiness). These are the promotional materials we
use to recruit students.
Most prospective students learn about the Paralegal program by visiting the website and
following up with requests for more information from the department chairperson, either
by e-mail or by telephone.
The Admissions Office conducts regular outreach to regional high schools, community
colleges, and technical colleges. That office also holds on-campus open house and
“preview days” throughout the year. On those days, each department has representatives
at tables in the student union to visit with interested prospective students. Such events
are usually scheduled to coincide with days when the high schools are not in session,
such as statewide teachers’ conferences or other breaks.
The department chair periodically visits with career and guidance counselors from the
area high schools to present them with information on the Paralegal program and
profession for their use in advising students. Such visits are often a joint effort with other
department chairs within the College.
E. Indicate where statements are published in the institution’s and program’s literature that
explain that paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as
permitted by law. Indicate which of the documents provided in Exhibit 29 contain this
statement and the page number on which the statement appears in each such document. (G501A3)
Such statements appear in the department’s brochure and fact sheet.
F. What procedures are used to relay information to prospective students about the paralegal
program and the profession? Which members of the program faculty and staff are involved
in the process? (G-501A)
Inquiries for information are received in different ways. Some prospective students call
or e-mail after visiting the website, after hearing about the program through an outreach
visit or “preview day,” or from another source. Some prospective students contact the
program simply because they’re interested in a career in law.
Most inquiries are responded to by the department chairperson, either by e-mail or by
telephone. The curriculum, course of study, and other aspects of the program, are
explained in more detail. Many prospective students visit the campus for a general tour,
at which time the department chair or other faculty member will meet with them.
The chairperson is available throughout the year, including the summer, to respond to
requests for information from prospective students, and to meet with them.
G. What are the policies and procedures for permitting non-paralegal students to enroll in legal
specialty classes? If non-paralegal students are enrolled in any legal specialty classes,
provide information for each term for the last three years showing the name and number of
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course(s), the total number of students enrolled, and the number of non-paralegal students
enrolled. Also, explain the reason that non-paralegal students are permitted to enroll in each
course. (G-503)
Non-paralegal students are allowed to enroll in Paralegal legal specialty classes so long
as they meet the pre-requisites for the course. The Paralegal courses that most often tend
to attract non-Paralegal students are: Introduction to Paralegal, because some previously
declared majors are exploring a change to Paralegal; and Legal Research and Writing I
and II, because those two courses are required for Legal Studies majors. Other legal
specialty courses that occasionally attract non-Paralegal majors are: Civil Procedure I
and Evidence, which are electives in the Legal Studies program; and Elder Law, which is
an elective in the Health Services Administration major.
The following is information for legal specialty courses in which non-Paralegal majors
were enrolled in the past three years:
Course
Term
Total enrolled
Non-Paralegals
Introduction to Paralegal
Fall ’03
Spring ’04
Fall ’04
Spring ’05
Fall ’05
Spring ’06
Fall ’06
Spring ’07
Fall ’07
41
31
37
36
35
34
35
19
37
18
17
14
19
17
22
11
2
10
Legal Research & Writing I
Fall ’03
Fall ’04
Fall ’05
Fall ’06
Fall ’07
40
59
57
47
38
14
21
17
14
10
Legal Research & Writing II
Spring ’04
Spring ’05
Spring ’06
Spring ’07
34
40
42
35
9
11
6
5
Domestic Relations/Family Law
Fall ’04
Fall ’06
Fall ’07
13
33
23
1
3
1
Interviewing
Spring ’04
Spring ’05
Spring ’06
22
22
22
3
1
1
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Spring ’07
Fall ’07
24
8
0
0
Bankruptcy
Fall ’05
Fall ’06
Fall ’07
14
16
14
1
0
0
Evidence
Fall ’03
Fall ’04
Fall ’05
Fall ’06
Fall ’07
27
29
26
21
29
1
5
4
1
0
Legal Ethics
Spring ’04
Spring ’05
Spring ’06
Spring ’07
25
30
30
29
2
2
1
1
Real Property
Spring ’05
Spring ’06
Spring ’07
17
19
21
1
1
0
Elder Law
Spring ’04
Spring ’05
Spring ’06
Spring ’07
15
11
14
26
9
1
5
9
Advanced Research & Writing
Fall ’05
Spring ’06
Fall ’06
Spring ’07
Fall ’07
15
15
11
12
12
1
0
1
0
0
Personal Injury
Spring ’04
13
1
H. Provide information about the cost incurred by students for
1. Tuition and fees. Include per credit amount (if applicable) and total amount for the
program.
Annual estimate based on 30 credits:
Minnesota residents:
$5,721
Non-residents:
$same*
*MSUM has a reciprocity agreement providing for instate rates for residents of North
Dakota.
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2. Books and other materials.
The estimated cost of books and materials is $800 per year.
3. Placement (if any).
There are no separate fees for placement or job search services.
4. Lab fees for specific courses including the course title and number and amount.
The only extra cost that might be considered a lab fee for Paralegal courses is a
charge of $35 for students who register for the required Advanced Legal Research
and Writing class, PARA 425. The funds support the Westlaw subscription and
dedicated hardware.
5. Any other costs charged by the institution or program to paralegal students.
Incidental and personal expenses, such as supplies, clothing, laundry, recreation,
transportation, etc., are estimated by the university to be approximately $1,600 to
$2,600 per academic year.
On-campus housing and a full meal contract costs about $5,420 per academic year.
(G-501 and G-502)
I. Describe the orientation to the paralegal profession provided to new students. Include
information on materials provided, when the orientation takes place, and what persons are
involved in the process. (G-502A)
Orientation to the paralegal profession for new students takes place in our Introduction to
Paralegal course. This 3-credit course is part of the Paralegal core curriculum, and it’s
one of the first courses taken by Paralegal majors. Many students who take the course
are undecided on a major, or are tentatively in another major and are considering a
change. Introduction to Paralegal is offered during both fall and spring semester each
year. It’s taught by one of the full-time Paralegal faculty.
The textbook that is used currently, and has been used for most years in the recent past, is
Essentials of Paralegalism, by William Statsky. Students also receive direction to
pertinent internet sites and are presented with current information through such resources
as Legal Assistant Today, Paralegal Reporter, and Paralegal Educator.
J. Describe the student services provided in each of the following areas and the name and title
of the person(s) responsible for the following:
1. Course selection, advisement, and registration.
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Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who assists in the selection of courses and
registration. Students receive the information they need regarding general education
and major requirements and then prepare a class schedule. Students are given
freedom to develop their own plans within the curriculum guidelines. The advisor
reviews the schedule with the student before the student registers.
The university sets aside about three weeks after the middle of each semester for preregistration for the following semester. Prior to that three-week period, the Paralegal
faculty conduct several general advising sessions to review program requirements,
scheduling procedures, recent or upcoming changes, etc., so that all Paralegal majors
will receive consistent information in a more efficient fashion. Students are not
required, but are strongly encouraged, to attend one these sessions. In addition, each
of the Paralegal faculty are available for individual appointments with their advisees.
The university has a Peer Advisor program, in which students are available to assist
other students with general matters of concern, including the registration process.
There are at least two Paralegal majors serving as Peer Advisors each semesters.
These students supplement the advising activities of the faculty.
2. Career counseling.
Career counseling and testing are available to all students at the Counseling and
Personal Growth Center and the Career Services office. The current director of those
services is Cliff Schuette.
3. Support programs such as remediation and tutoring.
The Paralegal Department, through Judy Streich, coordinates tutoring services with
the Counseling and Personal Growth Center. The most common course in which
tutoring is requested and provided is Legal Research and Writing. Ms. Streich seeks
out upper level students who performed exceptionally well in those courses to
determine if they are interested in tutoring. Those who decide to be tutors register
with the Counseling Center and are paid a student worker wage for hours spent in
tutoring.
The most common need for remediation is in writing skills. Students who ask for
help, or who demonstrate a need for help, are referred to The Write Site, a campus
tutoring and support center for the development and refinement of writing skills.
The Counseling and Personal Growth Center provides assistance, advice, and
guidance for students who need to improve study habits, notetaking, test-taking, time
management, adjustment to university life, etc. The Center offers a course on
Academic Success. Paralegal faculty advise students of these services, and actively
refer those students who might benefit from such support.
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4. Student organizations and associations.
The student organization for Paralegal majors is the Minnesota State Paralegal
Association Moorhead. About one-third of the majors are members at any given
time. The organization elects officers and forms committees. They meet on a
monthly basis. The Paralegal faculty, Judy Streich and Tracy Gompf, serve in the
role of advisors to MSPAM. The organization has been very active throughout its
history of over 20 years. Activities include guest speakers, fundraisers for
scholarships to members, linking with local paralegal associations, social events, and
community service. The students have been increasingly involved in volunteer work
over the years, thus learning good citizenship and social responsibility in addition to
their academic learning. Community efforts have included Habitat for Humanity,
food pantry, homeless shelter, domestic violence victim assistance, nursing homes,
animal shelter, and children’s needs.
5. Other services or activities.
The Paralegal Department has a Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) chapter, which is part of
the national honor society for paralegals/legal assistants. Eligible students are
inducted each semester by invitation, based on GPA and progress toward completion
of the degree. Judy Streich is the advisor for LEX.
(G-502)
K. What is the completion rate for students entering the paralegal program? Describe the
procedure used to determine this rate and show the actual numbers used to determine the rate.
(G-501(c))
The university does not keep statistics on completion rates for students beginning a
major, nor does the program. The university does track the general retention rate for the
entire student body, e.g., the percentage of freshmen returning for their sophomore year.
It is the experience of the Paralegal program that most students who do not complete the
major make that decision during or just after the Legal Research and Writing I & II
sequence. It is rare that students who begin the upper level legal specialty courses, i.e.,
beyond Legal Research & Writing I & II, will leave the major.
L. Describe how graduates are assisted in securing suitable employment by answering the
following questions:
1. How and when does the program assist students in developing resume writing,
interviewing, and job search skills?
Paralegal students are first introduced to the fundamentals of effective resumes, job
interviewing, and job searches in the Introduction to Paralegal course. This is
generally the first course taken.
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Students are required to complete a resume and application letter, followed by an
interview, when applying for internship positions. (All Paralegal majors are required
to do an internship.)
The Paralegal faculty depend primarily on the university’s Career Services office to
provide instruction and individual assistance in the development of resumes,
interviewing, and job search skills. That office conducts periodic free workshops in
addition to individual critiques and guidance. A staff person from Career Services is
stationed in the Paralegal classroom building twice a week, for three hours each day,
throughout the academic year, so that students have easy access.
A relatively recent service available to students from Career Services is a computer
software program, called InterviewWare, which allows the student to use a webcam
to conduct a mock job interview. The program provides feedback and suggestions for
improvement.
2. How does the program provide information and resources about current paralegal
employment opportunities? Describe the means by which students and graduates are
provided access to this information and delineate all resources that are available to
students or graduates conducting job searches or seeking assistance with placement.
The Paralegal Department regularly receives notices of employment opportunities
from employers and private placement services. These are posted on the Paralegal
listserve and on the bulletin board. Students are alerted through classroom
announcements of recent postings.
Some of the employment opportunities that are posted for students come in a direct
contact (usually phone or e-mail) from the employer. The MSUM Paralegal program
has a visibility and reputation in the region such that employers are comfortable with
direct inquiries to the faculty.
Some employment opportunities come to the attention of faculty through professional
journals, paralegal association newsletters, local newspapers, etc. All of these are
posted for students.
3. What is the name and title of the person who has the chief responsibility for the
employment/placement services? If the person or persons responsible are not part of
the paralegal program staff, describe how the placement and program staff interact,
communicate, and coordinate their efforts to provide adequate placement assistance.
The director of MSUM’s Career Services Office is Cliff Schuette. His office does not
provide placement or “head hunter” services in the traditional sense of an
employment agency. Career Services offers an extensive range of support services to
students and recent graduates, such as resume preparation, interview skills, and tips
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for effective job searches. They also involve students in local and regional “job
fairs.”
The Career Services office maintains a web-based job search service, where students
and graduates can reply to postings by registered employers.
(G-502(a) and G-502C)
M. Complete the form provided as Exhibit 30, showing employment and related information for
all graduates for each of the past three years. (G-301E3, 502(a), C and D)
The Employment and Continuing Education Information on Graduates form is included
as Exhibit 30.
N. What methods are used to give students the opportunity to express their views and make
suggestions regarding the paralegal program? (G-502E)
Blank forms of senior exit surveys, employer evaluations, and graduate surveys are
included in Exhibits 15, 16, and 17. Students also express their views and suggestions in
final Internship reports.
O. If the program provides continuing education for its graduates and/or paralegals, list the
continuing education offerings for the past three years. Include any promotional flyers or
materials as Exhibit 31. (G-502F)
The Paralegal department does not currently offer continuing education for its graduates.
Thus, there is no Exhibit 31.
SECTION VI
LIBRARY
G-601
A. What kind(s) of law library facilities is/are available to students in the paralegal program?
Identify as a:
1. Law school library.
2. City, county, or bar library.
3. Section of the institution’s library.
4. A library collection and area set up specifically to serve the paralegal program.
5. A combination of two or more of the above.
(G-601A and E)
Paralegal students have available to them an extensive collection of legal reference
materials, which is part of the university’s campus library. There is a separate law
reference section on the main floor of the library. The university has a joint holdings
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agreement with the county bar association. Many resources which were formerly
located at the county courthouse in Moorhead are now housed and maintained at the
university’s library. The university’s law reference section is fully available not only to
students but to local law firms and the general public.
Students thus have access on campus to virtually all of the most commonly used legal
research tools, and they do not need to leave campus to complete their research
assignments. However, if they choose to, there are law libraries available at the county
courthouses in Moorhead and in neighboring Fargo, North Dakota. Each of those
locations is within two miles of campus.
B.
If the program relies on an external library, as described in 1, 2 or 5 above, provide the
following information:
1. Distance of the library or libraries from the institution’s facilities, including all
locations where paralegal classes are held.
2. Method of travel between the library and the locations where paralegal classes are
held and provide an estimate of the approximate travel time.
3. Understanding or written agreement between the library and the program regarding
student use, including accessibility and permission to provide onsite instruction. If
there is a written agreement, include as Exhibit 32.
(G-601F)
This section is not applicable to our program. Thus, there is no Exhibit 32.
C.
Provide the following information about library use and accessibility for each library listed
in A above:
1. What are the hours of library operation?
The library is open and staffed Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:45
p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and
Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Hours of operation vary during summer
sessions and holiday and semester breaks.
2. Is instruction in legal research permitted within the library facility? State
restrictions, if any.
Instruction is permitted within the library, and the department does so as part of Legal
Research and Writing I, when demonstrations are done prior to actual assigned projects.
(G-601C and D)
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D.
Describe the provisions that have been made for maintaining, updating, and adding to
library resources. Include a description of the process by which the program director and
advisory committee evaluate the adequacy of the library and information resources and by
which decisions are made about acquisitions and other changes to the collection and
services.
The university’s library allocates a certain amount of funds to each academic department
each year for purchases, subscriptions, and updates relevant to that department’s
curriculum and needs. The reference librarians communicate with the department chair
on a regular basis to determine those needs. The library staff also periodically consult
with the chair on which resources might be no longer needed or as widely used by
students, faculty, and the local legal community, especially when the budgetary means
become limited. This sometimes requires further consultation with other law faculty on
campus or with the county bar association’s law library board.
E.
Submit as Exhibit 33, an inventory of materials in the collection under each of the following
categories, noting the most recent update.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
(G-601G)
State code(s).
State or regional reporter(s).
State or regional digest(s).
A resource for checking validity and currency of primary source materials, e.g.,
Shepard’s Citations.
Legal encyclopedia(s).
Texts, practice manuals, and form books for all legal specialty courses. (Be sure to
include the materials for every legal specialty course.)
Local and state bar journals, legal newspapers, and periodicals devoted to the
paralegal profession.
Texts and other resources (not listed in #7 above) about the paralegal profession.
(Include name, author, edition, date of publication, and publisher.)
Law dictionaries.
The inventory of materials in the collection is included as Exhibit 33.
F.
If your program has decided to provide access to item 4, a resource for checking the validity
and currency of primary source materials, e.g., Shepard's Citations, or item 5, a legal
encyclopedia, exclusively in electronic format, pursuant to Section G-601H of the
Guidelines, provide the following information to demonstrate compliance with Guideline
interpretations:
1. Indicate what collection requirements noted above (E 4 or E 5) are met exclusively
through electronic access.
2. Indicate what electronic resources are used to meet the requirement(s).
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Both 1 & 2 – In addition to the Shepard’s Citations for the regional reporters, we
rely on Westlaw’s Key-Cite to check validity of federal cases, federal statues, and
regulations.
3. Provide the basis for the determination that access to these materials is appropriate for
the legal community served by your program. If your own program surveys are used,
be sure to show the date conducted, the number of surveys sent and received, and a
tally and analysis of results. Include any such survey materials as Exhibit 34.
There is a Westlaw access computer with a limited subscription located in the
campus library where the general public can access primary and some secondary
legal resources and also check their validity. In addition, the Clay County Law
Library has such access in its library and a librarian to assist the general public.
We have not conducted any surveys to determine general public use of these
computers, thus, there is no Exhibit 34.
4. State the number of students who can access these materials electronically
simultaneously and any other information that demonstrates that students have the
same degree of access electronically that they would have if the materials were in
hard copy format. Include information about on- and off-campus access and
passwords, if applicable.
The students in Legal Research and Writing I are issued individual Westlaw
passwords and those are good during their time at MSUM. The passwords are
deleted upon the student’s graduation – and also deleted if the student changes
majors. In summary, all paralegal students can access Westlaw 24/7 from any
internet connection, whether on campus or in their homes.
(G-601H)
G.
What access do students have to research materials and resources in electronic formats?
List and describe subscription services, Internet access, CD-ROM and the like, including
the number of passwords if applicable and the number of terminals at which students may
access materials in each format. It is not necessary to repeat information already provided
in III.K of this report. (G-601J)
Students are given the Loislaw password in the Advanced Research and Writing class in
addition to being issued a Westlaw password in Legal Research and Writing I. The
building where most of the paralegal classes are scheduled has 3 computer labs with full
internet access. There are several computer labs in the library with full internet access as
well as in many other locations across campus.
H.
What kind of assistance is provided to students when using library resources, including
staffing of the library. (G-601H)
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The campus library is fully staffed with librarians who are familiar with the legal resources
housed in the library was well as the electronic legal resources. In addition, the department
provides tutors (usually 2 to 3 a semester) for the Legal Research and Writing I students to
assist them with library assignments. The instructor for the legal research courses (Para
250, 251, and 425) is available to assist the students. The other full-time paralegal faculty
members are also available to assist students in using library resources. The Legal
Research and Writing I class is held in the library and the instructor takes the students into
the stacks, after the lecture, to show the students the legal resources for each weekly
assignment and to advise the students how to use the resources.
SECTION VII
PHYSICAL PLANT
G-701 through G-703
A. Describe the classrooms used for legal specialty classes. (G-701A)
The Paralegal Program is assigned several classrooms jointly in the Center for Business
building. The School of Business is also housed in the building and includes the
Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, International Business, Management, and
Marketing majors. The chair consults with the chairpersons of the School of Business at
the time of preparing class schedules to determine classroom assignments.
The classrooms are adequately furnished, comfortable, quiet, and conducive to student
learning. There is a variety of classroom types, including large lecture bowls, smaller
rooms with fixed tables and chairs, and some with movable desk chairs. There are
adequate writing surfaces for students and instructors.
Legal Research and Writing I is taught in a classroom in the main campus library, which
facilitates instruction in the law reference section of the library and in the computer
classrooms to demonstrate on-line and electronic research.
B. Describe the study areas used by paralegal students. (G-701B)
There is one small conference room available on second floor with some reference
materials. The building also has two study rooms available for any students to use. The
atrium of the building is a large open area with chairs and tables to accommodate group
study meetings or for individual study. The library is four floors with various study
rooms and study desks throughout the building available during library hours.
C. List equipment, technology resources, computer labs, and other resources that support the
instructional program that have not been described elsewhere in this report. (G-702A, B
and C)
Two classrooms in the building are fully equipped for distance education. Several others
are fully equipped for multi-media computer projection. The Center for Business also
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has a portable computerized project system available for checkout. Classrooms also have
overhead projectors.
The department has its own TV, VCR, and video equipment. These are used not only for
showing videotapes in the classroom, but also for taping and critiquing student projects,
especially in the Interviewing class.
The Center for Business has two computer instruction classrooms, each with 30 stations
and printers. All faculty have a laptop and most class rooms in the CB are equipped with
IT stations.
There is one open computer lab in the Center for Business, available for student use
generally from about 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., with more limited hours on weekends.
There are many other open labs in most buildings on campus, with similar hours of
accessibility. It is estimated that the university provides access to one computer for each
17 students.
D. Describe the office space that is assigned to the program director, staff, and faculty in the
program, including information on areas where students may meet privately with faculty
and staff. (G-703A and B)
Since the last Interim Report, the Paralegal Department moved from first floor to second
floor in the Center for Business building to share an office suite with the School of
Business faculty and staff. The department chair and the two other full-time faculty each
have a private office in the suite. The Adjunct faculty shares the use of an office space
which also serves as the printer and supply room. Sharing space with other faculty has
proven to be very beneficial.
Prior to the move in Summer of 2005, the program’s secretary’s time was divided
between the Dean and Paralegal Department. After the move, the secretary was
dedicated to the Paralegal Department as a half-time position who shared the office with
the adjunct faculty. Upon the retirement of that secretary, a new position was created
where a secretary at .75 FTE during the academic year is assigned to the Paralegal
Department. A portion of the secretary’s time is used to assist the School of Business.
The secretary’s desk is situated at the front of the office suite to be available to students
with questions. A direct line with voice mail is dedicated to the Paralegal secretary.
Private meetings with students for advising and counseling are held in the faculty offices.
Adjunct faculty can use the conference room for private meetings with students. The
adjunct teach in the late afternoon and evening when there are rarely conflicting times for
use of the conference room.
There are three conference rooms available for the department’s use in the building. One
of them, located within the department’s suite of faculty offices, includes supplemental
and periodicals reading space for student’s and faculty. This room is also used for
videotaping of mock client interviews, other student projects, and meetings of the
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paralegal student association. All three of the conference rooms are available to the
entire campus for scheduling through the Dean’s office. The Dean’s office, incidentally,
is located on the first floor near the classrooms which greatly enhances communication.
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