Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Roanoke College has confirmed it is in discussions with the Appalachian School of Law as the Grundy-based institution explores options to address declining enrollment and financial strain.
The potential merger surfaced publicly during an emergency meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors on Friday, called with roughly a day’s notice. Board Chair Craig Stiltner said the meeting was intended to determine whether the county would allow the private law school to merge with Roanoke College in Salem, as reported by another area news outlet. Any such move would require approval from both the board of supervisors and the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority, he said.
In a statement provided Monday to the Salem Times-Register, a Roanoke College communications official said the college has been engaged in confidential conversations with the Appalachian School of Law and expressed interest in what a partnership could bring. The statement emphasized that no formal agreement has been reached and that many details remain under consideration.
Founded in 1994, the Appalachian School of Law was created in part to support economic development in Buchanan County. The meeting resulted in the topic being tabled.
