Despite a reduction in applications and a national trend to reduce entering class size, UMKC welcomed 172 students to the Class of 2016. This represents an unexpected 15% increase in the size of our class.
Part of the reason for this increase was the inauguration of our Summer Start program. Thirty-one students began in May, taking courses in Torts, Civil Procedure and Introduction to Lawyering. Students participating in the program are now enrolled in Contracts I, Property I, Criminal Law, Introduction to Lawyering and one elective.
The school year began for 1L students on August 15th, when the new students joined the summer starters and 11 international LL.M. students from around the world for our annual matriculation ceremony, where the Honorable Melissa Taylor Standridge, alumna and judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals, addressed the incoming class. Following the ceremony, students participated in the annual two-day orientation, which included information sessions, a mock class, a picnic sponsored by the Student Bar Association and volunteer projects in the community.
Prior to the orientation, 89 students participated in the Summer Academic Enrichment Program. Held the week before Orientation and taught by Professors Dan Weddle, Leo Salinger and Judith Popper, the program teaches students to see the “big picture” of law school by focusing on skill development during key stages of law school learning — preparing for class, class, after-class review, preparing for exams and taking exams.
This year’s class represents 19 states, 72 undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools.
ENTERING CLASS OF 2016 PROFILE*
Ethnic Minorities: 16%
Average Age: 26
Students 30 and Older: 38
Average LSAT: 153
Top 5 States of Residence:
Top 5 Undergraduate Institutions:
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Kansas
Kansas State University
University of Central Missouri
Top 5 Undergraduate Majors:
*As of August 19, 2013