Villanova Admits "Knowlingly" Reporting Bad Data to the ABA

What's up with Villanova Law?  Both the ABA Journal and Above The Law are reporting that the school disclosed that it "knowingly reported" inaccurate GPA and LSAT scores to the ABA for years.  I know from my own experience with law school administrations how Admissions Committees work the admissions pools to produce the highest averages of those two scores.  It looks good when potential students check out the school, and it helps faculty and administrators when it comes to predicting bar passage.  A bright and motivated student body is more likely to make that final push to success when it comes to taking the bar.  At least that's how the theory goes.

The ABA Journal report notes that incorrect data can be retroactively changed online, but old copies of the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools will still be out there with bad data.  Then there is the issue of the U.S. News past rankings, which the article states will not be revised per U.S. News policy.  All well and good.

What no one is saying whether this will be a problem (or not) for the ABA in how it manages its relations with a law school that lied to it on its surveys.  The ABA is poised out there as a form of control on law schools, or so it seems.  I suspect with Villanova coming clean on its own that nothing will happen to it.  There have been irregularities at other law schools - cough, cough - and nothing of consequence happened there.  I don't think this will be any different.  Old statistics will be updated and the status quo will be maintained.  Who would want it to be any different?  [MG]