UA Law School Named for Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. in Recognition of $26.5 Million Donation

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
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UA Law School Named for Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. in Recognition of $26.5 Million Donation

The University of Alabama School of Law announced today a $26.5 million donation from prominent business executive and attorney Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr.

To honor Culverhouse’s impact and generosity, the UA School of Law will now bear his name, becoming the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at The University of Alabama.

The commitment includes a $25 million gift, the largest in the University’s 187-year history. The gift will be funded over four years; more than $11.5 million of the total donation has already been received.

The donation was announced today in a campus ceremony and includes a $1.5 million gift Culverhouse made in 2017 to establish the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Endowed Chair in Constitutional Law, which serves as a foundation for a program in constitutional studies.

A Coral Gables, Florida, resident, Culverhouse is the chief executive officer and owner of Palmer Ranch Holdings, a planned community encompassing some 10,000 acres in Sarasota County. He is also the principal in Culverhouse Limited Partnerships and invests in real estate, securities and hedge funds.

One of America’s leading public law schools and consistently ranked as one of the best values in legal education, the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at The University of Alabama offers a challenging curriculum with over 150 electives, several dual enrollment opportunities, Master of Laws degrees, and a J.S.D. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6.3:1, the law school offers students a rigorous, hands-on learning experience, with strong student engagement in clinical programs, legal journals, moot court teams and trial advocacy.

The full news release can be found at: https://www.ua.edu/news/news-media/

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This is such great news. UA Law has a very good reputation. And while I’m no slave to US News rankings, for law school, it’s something to consider. UA is ranked 27, tied with several other schools.

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?program=top-law-schools&specialty=law&_mode=table

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https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/university-of-alabama-donation-law-school-abortion-law.html

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And Mr. Culverhouse’s op Ed on it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-gave-the-university-of-alabama-265-million-they-gave-it-back-when-i-spoke-out-about-abortion/2019/06/07/5d1b7082-8961-11e9-98c1-e945ae5db8fb_story.html

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@treschicos: Mr. Culverhouse’s Opposite the Editorial Page (Op-Ed) piece would have been much more interesting if he referenced the Constitutional issue or issues involved rather than merely referring to “constitutional rights” without any further explanation.

Also, I think that Mr. Culverhouse may misunderstand why the donation was returned to him & as to why the University of Alabama School of Law removed his name. These actions were a result of Mr. Culverhouse’s call for a boycott of the University of Alabama, not due to his stance on abortion issues.

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In what sane world does anyone blame or cheer a university for the actions of a state legislature? This is beyond absurd. To top it off, Culverhouse never attended UA. His daddy did. This action by the Board to return the donation had nothing to do with the abortion issue, but the Board would have been right to return it as a result of Culverhouse’s asinine call for a boycott of Alabama and UA.

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https://www.al.com/news/2019/06/ua-emails-show-decision-to-return-funds-to-culverhouse-preceded-abortion-comments.html Emails prove that UA decided to return funds PRIOR to Culverhouse’s abortion comments.

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The university accepted the money and it appears it was ‘with restrictions.’ Too bad for both sides.

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This had nothing to do with abortion rights. Hugh Culverhouse was attempting to control faculty hiring and academic decisions which was totally improper.

President Bell and the University of Alabama returned Mr. Culverhouse’s donation because the academic integrity of the university cannot be bought. This is a refreshing change from the news we have seen elsewhere lately where money can buy access in higher education.

My admiration of President Bell, already high, has increased.

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Good summary of what happened here:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/06/10/why-did-university-alabama-return-millions-donor

And NPR interviewed Hugh Culverhouse. You can listen or read the transcript here:
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/10/731385461/university-of-alabama-returns-26-5-million-donation-to-hugh-culverhouse

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Another good summary, and this includes the emails UA released:
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/10/731358744/university-of-alabama-releases-emails-regarding-donors-rejected-gift

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The University of Alabama desires praise, respect & admiration for its handling of this matter.

If Mr. Culverhouse needs a project, why not consider donating to a school in dire need of funds & open to suggestions.

Does anyone have the address for Hampshire College in Massachusetts, or for any other educational institution which might be more willing to grant this generous donor direct involvement in school affairs ?

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@Publisher, I think he was pretty focused on increasing the number of middle-class Americans able to afford law school. I doubt Hampshire would hold much appeal. Given his claims, it would make more sense for him to donate to Planned Parenthood of Alabama.

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@LucieTheLakie : Seemed as though he was more focused on gaining control than on his publicly stated more admirable reason.

If I am right, than he needs & is seeking a project.

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Regardless of where you stand on the abortion issue, it was truly vile of him for dragging Alabama through the mud, and literally blaming UA for the actions of a state legislature. His father would be so ashamed of him. He literally let the national media think this was all about his views on abortion, which led to further demonization of the entire state of Alabama in social media.

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Hugh Culverhouse, Jr is a man who did not attend his own father’s funeral or visit his mother after his dad passed because he was meeting with lawyers scheming to get his piece of the estate.