Roger Williams University Paid Elorza to Teach a Cancelled Class

Roger Williams University Paid Elorza to Teach a Cancelled Class

Right in the thick of the highly contentious mayoral campaign in 2014, then Roger Williams University Law School Professor, and candidate for Mayor Jorge Elorza was scheduled to teach one class at the University during the fall semester.

It would have been an interesting dynamic given the fact that he found himself in smack in the middle of competitive Democratic mayoral primary against (at first) Brett Smiley and Michael Solomon and then an equally scrappy general election against former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci.

According to Rhode Island ethics filings, the non-profit Roger Williams University paid Elorza for teach a class that did not take place. Roger Williams University is in the midst of a major expansion in Providence, moving its law school to the city and moving to the former 38 Studios building. 

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Of the private colleges, universities, and hospitals in the City of Providence, Roger Williams is the only college not making a payment. Brown University pays about $4 million a year, of which $2.5 million is voluntary and about $1.5 million is in real estate and other taxes.  According to Evan England, Elorza's spokesperson, the City of Providence's Law Department claims there are no issues in which the city and Roger Williams interact -- thus no conflict.

 

Elorza Tells One Story and Roger Williams Tells Another

England told GoLocal that Roger Williams cancelled the class shortly before the the students were to begin their coursework and classes. The school had already begun paying Elorza for the work, prior to its decision to cancel the class, and therefore simply continued to pay him for the work anyhow.

While he was paid for the work, the school and Elorza basically had an agreement that he would later make it up to the school.

"While Mayor Elorza remains on an unpaid leave of absence from Roger Williams, he will teach a single class during the 2016-2017 academic year with no additional compensation," said England.

England said he wasn't sure why the class was cancelled. England declined to say how much Elorza was paid by the University in advance for his class being cancelled.

However, the school's Director of Public Affairs, Brian Clark, tells the story differently. Clark said that it was Elorza who requested he be placed on leave, and that request was granted.

"Per policy at Roger Williams University School of Law, faculty members can request a leave of absence for personal or professional reasons," Clark wrote in an email to Golocal.

"Tenured RWU Law faculty member Jorge Elorza requested and was granted a leave of absence for the Fall 2014 semester in accordance with that policy. He did not teach during that semester. Roger Williams University and the School of Law consider more detailed personnel matters to be confidential."

In any event, Elorza will be teaching a class one semester, while he's still the sitting Mayor of the city. It is expected to take place sometime during the 2016-2017 school year at Roger Williams Law School. England said that the Mayor will not be paid by the school since he's already been compensated for the work during the 2014 year.

"You can imagine there are going to be somewhere between 30-40 law students who are excited to have the opportunity to take a class taught by a sitting mayor," England said during a phone interview on Friday evening.

 

Roger Williams' Expansion

All of this takes place against the backdrop of the University planning a massive expansion into the capital city next spring. To much fanfare and with much ceremony, Roger Williams University announced the expansion of its law school into Providence last December. 

"When the new space opens in May 2016, following a complete renovation, it will replace the University’s existing Metro Center at 150 Washington Street, enabling RWU Law to further enhance its outstanding experiential learning opportunities in the very hub of the state’s legal culture," the school said in its release back in December of last year. 

"With its close proximity to the court houses, government offices, community service organizations and private law firms, the site will help the law school fulfill its explicit guarantee that every qualified student is afforded a substantial clinical experience, gaining the practical, skill-building opportunities needed to graduate job-ready and prepared to thrive in their early careers."

The announcement took place at the location of the school's new building, which is located at One Empire Plaza, where the school plans to lease 76,566 square feet of space, from owner Berkely Investments Inc. Elorza, who by then was the Mayor-elect, attended the announcement.

England said that the Mayor's relationship with the University would have no bearing on the decisions that the administration would make on behalf of the city if and when the University had any business come before the city. England said that the administration didn't foresee any situations arising "in the near future" that could would raise questions of any conflicts of interest. 

And if a situation did arise where the school had business before the city?

"Of course the administration will not provide preferential treatment," England said.