Texas Wesleyan University and Texas A&M University are one step closer to completing the law school sale after theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (SACSCOC) approved Texas A&M's planned acquisition of the law school last week.

This required approval is a major milestone for the transaction. SACSCOC is the regional accrediting body for both universities. The acquisition still requires approval by the American Bar Association (ABA), which is expected in August. Last January, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved Texas A&M’s request to offer a J.D.

Texas Wesleyan and Texas A&M will appear before the ABA Accreditation Committee on Friday, June 28. Texas A&M Provost Karan Watson, Texas Wesleyan School of Law Interim Dean Aric Short and Texas Wesleyan University President Frederick G. Slabach will be present to provide the committee with updates and answer any questions.

The law school has applied for acquiescence with the ABA under Standard 105 and Rules 20 & 21. Approval of this process by the ABA would mean that the new law school would maintain full accreditation from day one of its operations. If ABA approval is not obtained, the law school would not be acquired by Texas A&M and would remain a fully accredited law school as a part of Texas Wesleyan University.

The ABA accreditation committee will make a recommendation to the ABA Council for the Section on Legal Education, which meets Aug. 8-9. The ABA Council will make a formal decision on the law school sale at this time.

Both Texas A&M and Texas Wesleyan are working toward completing the acquisition before the start of the fall semester.