June 2, 1998

Dear ALSB Colleagues:

        As many of you know, a recent report from the Carnegie Foundation
concluded that undergraduate students are being shortchanged by major
research universities that put research ahead of teaching and treat students
as passive receivers of information rather than as active participants.  It
is fortuitous that in October 1997, the faculty of the NYU Stern School of
Business approved new curricular initiatives for the undergraduate college
that directly address and meet the teaching and curriculum concerns
discussed in the Carnegie Foundation Report.  Stern's new undergraduate
curricular initiatives also elevate the importance of business law by
transforming it from an elective to a core course required by all
undergraduates.

        Stern's business law faculty is in the process of revamping the
current courses.  Professors Rachel Kowal, Marissa Moran and I submitted a
paper to the ALSB for presentation at the August conference entitled
"Business Law's Heightened Role in the integrated undergraduate Business
Curriculum Initiative at the Stern School of Business (NYU)."  A section of
the paper is titled "Requirements and/or Prerequisites of Other Business
Schools."  In it, we briefly discuss what several other business schools
require of their undergraduates with respect to business law.  Several weeks
ago several of you responded to my request regarding your schools' required
undergraduate business law courses.  I included such information in the
paper.  If anyone else is willing to provide me with information about their
schools' programs, I would be very pleased to receive it.  Prior to the
August meeting, we intend to revise the paper.

        Also, in conjunction with the paper presentation at the August
conference, we would like to organize a panel dealing with the general issue
of curricular/pedagogical initiatives in undergraduate business law courses
since we are sure that many other schools are taking steps similar to Stern's.

        With respect to our paper, Part I generally describes Stern's new
undergraduate curricular iitiatives which embrace a four year integrated
liberal arts/business approach to undergraduate business education and
emphasize the development of critical thinking ad communication skills.
Part I also enumerates the role of business law as a core component in the
new four year integrated undergraduate business curriculum.  Part II
delineates the prior role played by business law in Stern's undergraduate
education.  Part III surveys the business law curricula at several other
undergraduate business schools.  In Part IV, the challenge of making
business law a core course is met by proposed recommendations for course
content and teaching initiatives.  If anyone is interested in receiving a
copy of the paper draft prior to the August meeting, please contact me.

        It's best to e-mail me at my home address: [log in to unmask] or fax
me at 914-234-3959 or call me at 914-234-7496.  My mailing address is P.O.
Box 256 Bedford, New York 10506.  Thanks so much.  I look forward to seeing
all of you in San Diego.

Jeanne Calderon
New York University
Stern School of Business