Academic Standing Rules

Signing Statement of Professionalism

STANDARD

Good Academic Standing
In order to enjoy continued enrollment at the law school and, ultimately, graduate, students must maintain good academic standing. To maintain good academic standing, each student must earn a first semester of the first-year grade point average of at least 1.7 and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 at the end of each semester thereafter.

Earning a Grade Below “C” in Legal Analysis & Writing I
A student must earn a grade of “C” or better to earn credit for the Legal Analysis & Writing I course. If a student earns a grade below “C” in Legal Analysis & Writing I, the student will be permitted to enroll in Legal Analysis & Writing II in the subsequent semester but must retake the Legal Analysis & Writing I course at the earliest possible time. A student required to retake Legal Analysis & Writing I may, with permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, enroll in experiential learning coursework prior to successful completion of the course.

Earning a Grade Below “C” in Legal Analysis & Writing II
A student must earn a grade of “C” or better to earn credit for the Legal Analysis and Writing II course. If a student earns a grade below “C” in Legal Analysis and Writing II, the student must retake the course at the earliest possible time. A student required to retake Legal Analysis and Writing II may, with permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, enroll in experiential learning course work prior to successful completion of the Legal Analysis and Writing II course.

Earning a Grade Below “C” in Legal Research I
A student must earn a passing grade of “C” or better to earn credit for the Legal Research I course. If a student earns a grade below “C” in Legal Research I, the student will not be permitted to enroll in Legal Research II in the subsequent semester but must retake the Legal Research I course at the earliest possible time. Once a student earns a passing grade of “C” or better in Legal Research I, they will be permitted to enroll in Legal Research II. A student required to retake Legal Research I may, with permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, enroll in experiential learning course work prior to successful completion of the Legal Research I course.

Earning a Grade Below “C” in Legal Research II
A student must earn a grade of “C” or better to earn credit for the Legal Research II course. If a student earns a grade below “C” in Legal Analysis and Writing II, the student must retake the course at the earliest possible time. A student required to retake Legal Research II may, with permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, enroll in experiential learning course work prior to successful completion of the Legal Research II course.

PROCEDURE

Notice to Student
As soon as practicable after grades are due each semester, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall notify a student in writing that they failed to meet the minimum standard of academic performance.

Academic Success Plan
Students who rank in the lowest quarter of their law school class after the first semester of law school will be notified by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs that they have the following additional requirements in order to maintain good standing: must meet with the Director of Academic Success at least three times in the second semester of law school; attend the Academic Success workshops and programs; and provide a certificate signed by the Director of Academic Success to the Registrar affirming completion of this requirement by April 1.

Petition for Reinstatement to Good Standing
The student may submit to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs a written petition seeking reinstatement to good standing within five business days after the student receives notice. A student may request an extension of the five-day period upon written request to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs delivered before expiration of the five-day period. A student may include as part of the petition a written personal statement and written statements from faculty members or other persons whose views may be relevant on the issue of grounds for reinstatement to good standing.

Effect of Failure to Submit a Petition
A student who does not submit a written petition seeking reinstatement within five business days (or an authorized longer period) will be dismissed from the Law School as of the last date for submission of a petition.

Right to Hearing
A student may request a hearing before the Academic Rules Committee in the petition. If so requested, the Academic Rules Committee shall schedule a hearing as soon as practicable following receipt of the student’s petition. The purpose of the hearing is to permit the student to make a statement based on issues raised in the written petition and to answer questions of the Academic Rules Committee. The student must appear alone. Counsel, witnesses, or other observers are not permitted.

PRESUMPTION BASED ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

To merit reinstatement to good standing, the student must present evidence sufficient to overcome the presumption that arises from the student’s academic performance that:

  • the student is unable or unwilling to undertake the discipline of study to succeed in law school and the legal profession; or
  • the student’s failure to meet the minimum standards of academic performance was substantially attributable to inability or unwillingness to meet minimum academic standards and not to disabling circumstances which the student reasonably could not have anticipated or rectified. In no case will employment during the semester be considered a disabling circumstance.

In addition to the student’s petition, the Academic Rules Committee must request information related to the student’s academic performance from all instructing faculty. Following this request, the faculty may choose whether or not to provide the requested information related to their course.

FINALITY

The decision of the Academic Rules Committee on a petition for reinstatement is final and not appealable to the Academic Rules Committee for reconsideration.

EFFECT OF DISMISSAL

The transcript of a student dismissed for failure to maintain minimum academic standards under this rule will show that the student was dismissed on academic grounds. ABA Standard 505 applies to students dismissed on academic grounds who subsequently seek admission to another law school.