June 17, 2005

MEMORANDUM 05-19

Subject: Amendment of Executive Committee Regulation 3.1 Establishing Membership Dues for Calendar Year 2006 and Executive Committee Regulation 7.1(c) Application Fee – Site Evaluation Expenses.

Late last month the Executive Committee adopted the Association's budget for FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006), and amended Executive Committee Regulation 3.1 to establish the membership dues for Calendar Year 2006. The Executive Committee concluded that the dues for Calendar Year 2006 should be increased by 3%. The actual dollar amount of the increase ranges from $160 to $675, depending on size of the student body. Member schools will be sent invoices in December.

Executive Committee Regulation 3.1 was revised to read as follows:

•  Annual Dues . Each year each member school shall pay membership dues to the Association. For the calendar year 2005 2006, the dues shall be $5,365 5,525 for a school whose enrollment does not exceed 250 students; $8,035 8,275 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 250 students but does not exceed 500 students; $10,725 11,050 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 500 students but does not exceed 800 students; $13,390 13,790 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 800 students but does not exceed 1100 students; $16,080 16,565 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1100 students but does not exceed 1400 students; $18,755 19,320 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1400 students but does not exceed 1700 students; and $21,440 22,085 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1700 students.

At that same meeting, the Executive Committee voted to revise the fee paid by law schools applying for membership in the AALS to reflect increases in related expenses from $15,000 to $20,000. The first sentence of Executive Committee Regulation 7.1(c) was revised to read:

          An applicant for membership in the Association shall upon making application pay
          an application fee of $15,000 $20,000.

In accordance with Bylaw 5-4, unless objection is received from at least ten member schools within 60 days of mailing a copy of these regulations, Executive Committee Regulations 3.1 and 7.1(c), as amended, will continue in effect.

Income and Expense Summary: Attached as Appendix A is a summary of income and expense for FY 2002-03 and FY 03-04; FY 04-05 estimated income and expense (based on projections from actual expenditures through February 28, 2005), and the operating budget for FY 2005-06. The operating budget adopted by the Executive Committee for Fiscal Year 2005-06 contemplates operating income of $4,361,761 and expenditures of $4,359,230, for a net gain from operating of $2,531.

Financial Statements: Attached as Appendix B are the AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2003-04.

Comment: As you know, the Association of American Law Schools is the learned society for law faculty and provides a number of services to its member schools and their faculty. These services include publications such as the Directory of Law Teachers, newsletters from both the national office and many of the 80+ sections of the AALS; an annual Faculty Appointments Register and Faculty Recruitment Conference; professional development programs for faculty and administrators; and representation of legal education to the larger world of higher education, the government, interdisciplinary societies, international law school/faculty associations, and the general public.

AALS' continuing priority is to expand services and improve those already being offered to law schools, deans, faculty and professional staff. The improved services include the already completed updating of the online Faculty Appointment Register in searchable fields for school recruiters and expanding services include publishing reports by AALS Committees and upgrading the Association website. AALS is currently redesigning and reorganizing its web site to create a better user experience. The new site will feature more intuitive navigation and an advanced search engine to help visitors find what they are looking for quickly and easily. The new www.aals.org will be launched in Fall 2005. This new website will allow us to add future enhancements to the website which will include an online Directory of Law Teachers and customized Section pages. Most of the cost of these upgrades and new services is being funded through spending a significant part of the Association's reserves, with a small portion being funded through this dues increase.

Enclosures: Appendix A: Income and Expense Summary
                  Appendix B: AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2003-04 [Not available on web site]

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