Emporia State and Washburn universities are bitter rivals in any competition, but they have found a way to develop a significant academic partnership.
ESU and Washburn have announced a new 3+3 partnership for students interested in obtaining a law degree as part of a special event at ESU on Friday. Emporia State students interested in becoming attorneys can achieve two degrees in six years with this new program, spending the first three years at ESU and the second three years at Washburn. Students can get a bachelor’s degree from Emporia State and their law degree from Washburn — and eliminate a year from the traditional timeline in the process.
Washburn Law Dean Jeffrey Jackson tells KVOE News this reflects about 18 months of work and follows similar partnerships Washburn has with Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State.
Emporia State Associate Dean of the Honors College Mary Shivley will lead the ESU program. She says it’s a game-changer for ESU students.
Emporia State and Washburn Law graduate Angel Zimmerman says this will build connections even before potential lawyers begin their practices.
The new program begins this upcoming fall. Noting the ongoing and well-publicized Turnpike Tussle athletics rivalry between the two universities, ESU Provost Brent Thomas says this program could serve as the foundation for a “Turnpike Alliance” between ESU and Washburn.
