History and General Information

History

The National Association of College and University Attorneys was founded in 1960-61 by a small group of attorneys who regularly provided legal services to colleges and universities; they were the first such specialists in the United States. The University of Michigan played a key part in this early development, along with the University of Alabama, Northwestern University, and several Ivy League institutions. More than 1500 campuses (about 700 institutions), represented by over 3600 attorneys, comprise the membership today. NACUA experienced its greatest growth in the 1970's, with the surge of federal regulation in that decade. It continues to welcome several dozen new member institutions each year.

Purpose

The Association's purpose is to enhance legal assistance to colleges and universities by educating attorneys and administrators to the nature of campus legal issues. It has an equally important role to play in the continuing legal education of university counsel. In addition, NACUA produces publications, sponsors seminars, maintains its own bulletin board (NACUANET) and home page (www.nacua.org) on the world wide web, and operates a clearinghouse through which attorneys on campuses are able to share resources, knowledge and work products on current legal concerns and interests.

Who Are NACUA Members?

Primarily, NACUA's members are non-profit, accredited institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada, and further abroad. Approximately 1/3 of NACUA members are private institutions with enrollments below 5,000 students and current fund expenditures below $50 million per year. NACUA's remaining member institutions are generally public and private colleges and universities with enrollments above 5,000 students and budgets ranging from $50 million to $4 billion annually. Each member institution is represented by a primary attorney, as well as additional attorney members. All representatives may attend NACUA meetings and workshops, as well as serve on NACUA committees or the Board of Directors.

While only colleges and universities are eligible for full institutional membership, NACUA also offers Associate Institutional membership to non-profit organizations with educational missions and purposes, as well as Associate Individual membership to attorneys who are not eligible to be an institutional representative, but are determined by NACUA to have a "commonality of interest" with NACUA member institutions.

Higher Education Law at a Glance

List of NACUA Member Institutions

Frequently Asked Questions about NACUA Membership