Academic Resources

Your academic success at Penn State Dickinson Law is our top priority. It begins during orientation with your faculty advisor and continues throughout your three years at Penn State Dickinson Law with a wide range of resources including but not limited to peer tutoring, individualized writing assistance, and workshops on effective outlining and exam preparation.

Descriptions of our course offerings are posted and updated in the University Bulletin.

Resource Spotlight:

Online Legal Writing Center

Penn State Dickinson Law offers an Online Legal Writing Center to all law students. The Center includes writing resources to assist law students with various aspects of their writing.

: The Office of the Registrar maintains student records, manages course registration, oversees student notification of grades, monitors graduation eligibility requirements, and assists with bar registration procedures.

Office of the Registrar
Penn State Dickinson Law
150 S. College Street
Carlisle, PA 17013

14 Lewis Katz Building
University Park, PA 16802

Rachel Arnold, Registrar
Email: rxf25@psu.edu

Alex Dunn, Assistant Registrar
Email: afd5093@psu.edu

: The Office of Academic Affairs administers the academic program and policies. Questions regarding the Dickinson Law academic program or any academic policy should be addressed to:

Jeffrey A. Dodge, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assistant Professor of Law and Joseph H. Goldstein Faculty Scholar
Email: jad6742@psu.edu
Telephone: 717-240-5247
Carlisle, Suite 127

Michele Vollmer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Clinical Professor of Law, and Director of the Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic
Email: mrv3@psu.edu
Telephone: 814-867-2805
University Park, Suite 252

Melissa Walters, Academic Affairs Coordinator
Email: mbw5955@psu.edu

Penn State Dickinson Law Academic Calendars

	Date(s)
Intent to Graduate — Activation Period	Monday, August 18 through Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Orientation	Monday, August 18 through Saturday, August 23, 2025
First Day of Classes	Monday, August 25, 2025
Last Day to Drop	Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Last Day to Add	Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Pass/Fail Request Period	Monday, August 25 through Monday, September 15, 2025
Labor Day — No classes	Monday, September 1, 2025
Classes follow a Friday Schedule	Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Thanksgiving Holiday — No classes	Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28, 2025 (University closed November 27-28)
Last Day of Classes	Thursday, December 4, 2025
Study Days	Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, 2025
Final Exams	Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 19, 2025
Grades Due	Thursday, January 8, 2026

	Date(s)
Intent to Graduate — Activation Period	Friday, January 2 through Monday, January 26, 2026
First Day of Classes	Monday, January 12, 2026
Last Day to Drop	Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Last Day to Add	Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Pass/Fail Request Period	Monday, January 12 through Monday, February 2, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No classes	Monday, January 19, 2026
Spring Break — No classes	Monday, March 9 through Friday, March 13, 2026
Last Day of Classes	Monday, April 27, 2026
Study Days	Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Final Exams	Thursday, April 30 through Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Commencement, University Park	Friday, May 15, 2026
Commencement, Carlisle	Saturday, May 16, 2026
Grades Due	Tuesday, June 2, 2026

	Date(s)
Intent to Graduate — Activation Period	Monday, August 17 through Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Orientation	Monday, August 17 through Friday, August 21, 2026
First Day of Classes	Monday, August 24, 2026
Last Day to Drop	Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Last Day to Add	Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Pass/Fail Request Period	Monday, August 24 through Monday, September 14, 2026
Labor Day — No classes	Monday, September 7, 2026
Classes follow a Friday Schedule	Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Thanksgiving Holiday — No classes	Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27, 2026 (University closed November 26-27)
Last Day of Classes	Thursday, December 3, 2026
Study Days	Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026
Final Exams	Monday, December 7 through Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Grades Due	Thursday, January 7, 2027

	Date(s)
Intent to Graduate — Activation Period	Friday, January 2 through Monday, January 25, 2027
First Day of Classes	Monday, January 11, 2027
Last Day to Drop	Saturday, January 16, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Last Day to Add	Sunday, January 17, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Pass/Fail Request Period	Monday, January 11 through Monday, February 1, 2027
Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No classes	Monday, January 18, 2027
Spring Break — No classes	Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, 2027
Last Day of Classes	Monday, April 26, 2027
Study Days	Tuesday, April 27 and Wednesday, April 28, 2027
Final Exams	Thursday, April 29 through Thursday, May 13, 2027
Commencement Activities	Friday, May 14-Saturday, May 15, 2027
Grades Due	Tuesday, June 1, 2027

Academic Handbooks

Student Academic Handbook (updated December 10, 2025)
LL.M. Student Academic Handbook, Supplemental (updated August 5, 2025)
S.J.D. Student Academic Handbook, Supplemental (updated July 14, 2025)

More Academic Resources for Current Students

All current students have access to the Penn State Dickinson Law Intranet, which contains many helpful academic resources, including:

Student Academic Handbook
Supplemental Academic Handbooks (LL.M. and S.J.D.)
Externship Handbook
Online Legal Writing Center
Information on Student Travel and Competitions
University and Law School Policies
Course Registration Information
Advising Resources

Go to Intranet