With Professor Peter Lake at its helm, Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy is a hub for professionals working in the higher ed sector.

From expert-led webinars on national policy shifts to a national conference on Clearwater Beach every spring, the Center brings together industry leaders to speak openly about work and life in a dynamic law and policy landscape.

Now, the Center is poised to launch a cutting-edge Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) in Higher Education Law and Policy that will begin taking applications in late 2026. Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, this new degree program will invite higher ed professionals to deepen their knowledge of law and policy via a curriculum designed with keen sensitivity to operational realities in the field.

“Demand for training opportunities in the field related to law and regulatory compliance, such as compliance with Title VI and Title IX requirements, is currently at an all-time high,” said Lake. “Here at the Center, we can offer the tools and expertise to meet that demand with this new degree program.”

Nimble, innovative curriculum

Ideal for higher education administrators who seek greater command of the legal, regulatory, and policy issues that shape colleges and universities, the program does not require students to hold or seek a JD, nor does it require the commitment of time and resources associated with a conventional JD program.

The program consists of almost entirely online courses, some of which will have asynchronous elements, and is structured to allow higher education professionals to continue working in the field while attaining the degree.  There is just one live, in-person attendance requirement: the annual national conference, where students will interact with presenters and attendees on Clearwater Beach.

Students will learn from and work with an established network of scholars and experts in the legal field related to higher education law and policy, including Lake.

Courses will take deep dives on subjects like the foundations of higher education law and policy, the legal/regulatory system that governs the field, and others.

Built-in flexibility for a changing landscape

Selective and challenging, the program is designed to be completed in as little as two years, but participants whose schedules do not allow for completion of the program in its ordinary course may revisit the degree within up to six years.

Successful completion of the program will result in the ability to better navigate areas such as federal regulatory compliance, governance, risk management, student and employee rights, and institutional policy development.

To support professional development within the broader higher ed community, some course offerings will also be available as a la carte, certificate of completion granting trainings on topics such as Title IX compliance.

“This program is tailor-made to suit the needs of higher education administrators working in what has become a legal and regulatory compliance-focused field,” Lake said. “We are thrilled to now offer this one-of-a-kind program to ambitious professionals who aspire to lead their institutions into the future.”

Learn more about the MJur in Higher Education Law and Policy program.