The Samuel D. Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice | GSE | Rutgers

Professionals in Legal Education Developing Greater Equity

    Professionals in Legal Education Developing Greater Equity (PLEDGE) Initiative

    The PLEDGE Initiative is designed to enhance knowledge and skills related to using empirical research methods to design, administer, and assess student success programs within legal education. The initiative supports efforts to create inclusive and effective learning environments that benefit all law students.

    Launched in 2022 as a partnership between AccessLex Institute and the Southern Education Foundation, PLEDGE is guided by a curriculum developed and executed by the Proctor Institute.

    PLEDGE Fellowship

    The PLEDGE Fellowship is a 14-month professional development program designed for experienced law school administrators, faculty members, and other professionals who oversee or assess student success initiatives. Fellows will complete a Capstone project, an empirical assessment of a law student-facing program aimed at fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments.

    Each Fellowship team—comprised of two Fellows—will focus on one of three key areas in legal education:

    • Admission and Access
    • Academic Performance
    • Bar Exam Performance

    Funding and Support

    Fellowship teams will receive the following resources to support the feasibility and quality of their work:

    • Capstone budget: Up to $25,000 for research activities
    • Stipend: $4,000 per Fellow
    • Access to Capstone design expertise
    • Access to professional development coaching

    The PLEDGE Initiative is committed to expanding knowledge and evidence-based practices in legal education, ensuring all students have access to effective programs supporting their success.

    APPLY FOR THE PLEDGE FELLOWSHIP 

    PLEDGE Fellowship

    The PLEDGE Fellowship is a 14-month professional development program in which Fellows complete a Capstone, taking the form of an empirical assessment of a law student-facing program. The program should be premised on fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environments. The Fellowship targets experienced law school administrators, faculty members, and other similarly situated professionals.

    Teams of two Fellows will undertake program assessments, called Capstones, using empirical research methods focusing on one of the following three topical strands: 

    • Admission and Access
    • Academic Performance
    • Bar Exam Performance

    Fellowship teams will receive the following funding and support premised on enhancing the feasibility and quality of their work:

    • Capstone budget: up to $25,000 for research activities
    • Stipend: $4,000 per Fellow
    • Access to Capstone design expertise
    • Access to professional development coaching

    Important Dates:

    • Fellowship Application:
      • Launch: June 3, 2024
      • Submission deadline: July 14, 2024
    • Fellowship teams announced: August 9, 2024
    • Fellowship:
      • Begins: September 25-27, 2024 (Southern Education Foundation headquarters — Atlanta, GA)
      • Ends: November 2025

    Please feel free to send questions about the Fellowship to PLEDGE@accesslex.org.

    MEET CURRENT AND PAST PLEDGE FELLOWS