Chancellor & Dean David Faigman: Statement on Governor Signing AB 1936

Dear UC Law SF Community,

I write to you today with further updates on our name change journey since my last message on July 27th. In August, Assembly Bill 1936 successfully passed in both the California Senate and Assembly with resounding support. In fact, there were zero “no” votes in either house. This bill allows us to legally change the name of the College and reaffirm our commitment to restorative justice initiatives with the California tribes most impacted by the acts of our founder and first dean, Serranus Hastings.

Today, Governor Newsom signed the bill, with an effective date of January 1, 2023.

I have launched a Name Change Committee of key campus leaders to work with students, staff, and faculty to assess and recommend decisions that will operationally transition us from UC Hastings College of the Law to UC College of the Law, San Francisco. This work will range from detailed changes to our website, email addresses, building signs, journal names, student organization names, and much more. Additionally, we will prepare a suite of new logo designs and a comprehensive marketing plan to get the word out to alumni, employers, judges, law schools, prospective students, US News voters, etc.

Although the effective date of the new name is January 1, I have not yet made a decision as to the exact date when we will “go live” on the new name. I want to initially confirm that we have ample time and resources for us to make all of the above changes and will communicate accordingly throughout this semester. That said, the switch will likely happen sometime in 2023. Suffice it to say, a campus celebration will be in order to mark that moment. Until then, we remain UC Law SF.

Be on the lookout for more updates from me, as well as communications from my colleagues from the Name Change Committee about various name-change projects. You can also see the most updated information the name change, including FAQs, on our website.

This is an exciting time for the College, and I cannot wait for the new signs and banners to go up around our growing campus, and to see all of you wearing newly branded “UC Law SF” gear. I am thrilled to enter this new chapter with all of you!

Best regards,

David

David L. Faigman
Chancellor and Dean
John F. Digardi Distinguished Professor of Law
University of California Hastings College of the Law

Media contact:
Liz Moore