Alumnus bumps pledge to $50 million

The UA alumnus increased his recent gift to the University of Arizona College of Law to $50 million, setting a new national record in the process.

Rogers donated $20 million to the college in April, which was the largest single contribution made to an American law school. He increased that amount by $30 million to have an even larger impact on the UA's law program, he said yesterday.

"Fifty million dollars can do two and one-half times more than $20 million can," said Rogers, who is majority owner of Sunbelt Communications Company, which owns seven NBC stations and one Fox network affiliate.

The UA hasn't decided on specific uses for all of the additional money, but the law school will extensively investigate ways to use its new-found wealth, said Joel Seligman, Dean of the UA College of Law.

"We are going to decide as a (law school) faculty, over time, what will be the best use," Seligman said.

He said additional endowments, library improvements, financial aid and additional programs would all be considered.

Seligman added the only request he will make is to use some of the money to keep law school tuition reasonable.

"We will be able to put a cap on the tuition differentials during the term of the gift," Seligman said. "This is a big deal because the average tuition for the 50 leading law programs is $14,000 (a year)."

Surcharges, or differential tuition, have been added to the UA law school tuition since 1993. An increase is being phased in now that will bring the law school tuition up to about $4,900 during the 1999-2000 school year, compared to undergraduate 1998 tuition of about $2,100.

According to a 1998 US News and World Report ranking of the top 50 law schools, the UA had the 5th lowest in-state tuition.

In addition to helping with tuition costs and program improvements, Seligman said the original and expanded gift from Rogers has already improved the reputation of the UA law program.

"It shows that this is a good program," he said. "In our recruitment of faculty and students, they are already taking the school even more seriously."

The gift will be paid to the university during a 20-year period, beginning in 1999. Rogers will pay $1.3 million that year, and increase his contribution $100,000 each of the following nine years. Three million dollars will be paid to the university each year between 2009 and 2119.

Rogers said he did not have any specific wishes for financial disbursement, but had a clear vision of the end product.

"I think it is all one package - adequate facilities, a first-rate library, top-rated faculty and a visionary dean," Rogers said. "I think it has the chance to become a first-rate regional school that continues to be able to attract first-rate students."

Rogers earned his bachelor's degree in business from the UA in 1960, obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the UA College of Law two years later. He later earned his master's degree in law from the University of Southern California.

In honor of Rogers' gift, the UA will ask the Arizona Board of Regents to approve changing the law school name to the James E. Rogers College of Law, Seligman said.

Board President Judy Gignac said that she thought the name request would be approved.

"I don't see the approval as being a problem," Gignac said.

Gignac added that the contribution puts the UA in a good light.

"The gift speaks volumes about the people at the university - the students and the faculty - and where the school is going," she said.

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.