CARLISLE -- After nearly a year and a half of discussions and failed proposals, the Dickinson School of Law's Board of Governors voted 17-14 Saturday to adopt a new dual-campus plan that would create a law school at University Park.

The vote came after about five hours of deliberation.

Under the agreement, Penn State will give $10 million to improve the Carlisle campus, and $25 million will be provided from non-Penn State sources, including the state.

In addition, a campus will be constructed at University Park.

The agreement also stated that Dickinson's Board of Governors will be dissolved and that Penn State President Graham Spanier and Board of Governors Chairman H. Laddie Montague Jr. will each appoint three members to a new Board of Directors.

About 75 people attended the meeting in Carlisle, including 33 board members and other members of the public.

Many board members expressed concern that the law school's Carlisle campus could close in 10 years because the new plan only requires Penn State to keep it open until June 30, 2015.

"If Penn State is so serious about keeping the Carlisle campus open, they should remove the June 2015 date from the MOU [memorandum of understanding]," board member Sandor Yelen said.

Wendell Courtney, a Penn State representative, said the new plan would keep the Carlisle campus a valuable asset to Penn State.

"Terms will ensure a very significant monetary disincentive if Penn State ever moves the law school out of Carlisle," he said.

Montague said he was "absolutely convinced" of Penn State's sincerity and interest in keeping the Carlisle campus open after 2015.

Board member Leslie Anne Miller said she opposed the plan because it was "unfair" to board members who would lose their positions.

"Our negotiating team has sold us out for seven seats in Beaver stadium," she said. "We have had 15 months of one scheme or another by Penn State in an effort to move the school to Happy Valley."

Board member Tom Miller agreed.

"This board will be committing suicide," he said.

"Are you willing to turn the future of this campus over to seven people who are pro-University Park?" Miller asked.

Penn State representative Gary Schultz read a letter from Gov. Ed Rendell promising that the state was still willing to give the $25 million to Dickinson.

"My administration remains committed to maintaining the vitality of Dickinson Law School," Rendell wrote. "I want [it] to have a long presence in Carlisle, long beyond 2015."

Maher cited the law school's prestige as a reason for Penn State's interest.

"We are only a pawn in the process to their getting accreditation," Maher said. "Penn State has been devious in these proceedings."

The vote almost did not occur Saturday because board members Tom Ridge and Lewis Katz were not present. Some on the board felt the vote's importance should require all members to be present.

But Montague said that under the board's constitution, only 11 members must be present to vote on an issue. Board member Jason Kutulakis contested Montague's decision, but an 18-13 vote allowed the meeting to continue as planned, with 33 members present.