Rule 22. Closure of Law School.

(a) An approved law school and its parent institution, if any, agree to provide, in the event of closure or cessation of operation, an opportunity for currently enrolled students to complete their degrees under the terms of a closure plan which meets at least the conditions set out below and is found acceptable by the Accreditation Committee and the Council. As soon as the decision to close an approved law school is made, the institution shall make a public announcement of the decision and shall notify the Consultant of the decision.

(b) The law school shall promptly submit a closure plan, which shall be reviewed and approved by the Committee and the Council.

(c) The conditions to be met by a closure plan shall include the following:

(1) The law school shall not thereafter admit or enroll any student (including a transfer or non-degree candidate) who was not a student at the time when the decision to close is announced.

(2) The governing body of the institution shall take all necessary steps to retain degree-granting authority for sufficient time to allow completion of degrees by those students who are degree candidates at the time the decision to close is announced and who complete degree requirements either at the law school or at another ABA approved law school in the normal period of time required for that student's course of study.

(3) The law school shall use its best efforts to assist students in transferring to, or acquiring visiting status at, another ABA approved law school for completion of their degree requirements.

(4) Until the date of closing the law school shall maintain:

(i) an educational program that is designed to qualify its graduates for admission to the bar;

(ii) library collection and services adequate to support the curriculum, either on-site or through arrangements with other law libraries in the immediate vicinity;

(iii) a faculty adequate to maintain a sound educational program;

(iv) an adequate administrative staff to handle student problems and record-keeping along with support of the academic program; and

(v) the law school shall maintain its existing physical facilities unless prior approval of the Accreditation Committee is obtained.

(5) In the event that the school enters into a teach-out agreement with another law school, the school shall submit the teach-out agreement to the Accreditation Committee for its approval. As a condition for approval of the closure plan, the teach-out agreement must comply with applicable regulations of the Department of Education.

(d) If the school discontinues instruction or makes a decision to do so prior to the end of the normal period for completion of degrees by current students, then:

(1) The school shall take all reasonable steps to avoid closing during an academic year. If the closing occurs during an academic year, then the school shall make adequate arrangements for students to enroll in other law schools for that current year at no additional cost to the student.

(2) The school shall permit currently enrolled students to complete their degree requirements at other ABA approved law schools. Credit earned at other law schools shall be received as transfer credit toward the degree of the closing school.

(3) Students transferring credit back to the law school shall not be charged fees beyond a reasonable administrative fee for processing of records.

(4) The Consultant shall notify the Council of the school's decision and the date at which the school intends to cease operations.

(e) The law school or the governing body of the institution shall make satisfactory arrangements for the continuation of legal representation undertaken during the operation of a law school skills training program.

(f) The governing body of the institution shall make arrangements for permanent retention and availability of student records.