2024-2025 Student Handbook

4. Reporting Absences to the Instructor, Dean of Law Student Affairs Any absences within the Applicable Absence Limitation should be reported directly to the instructor by the student. Any absences in excess of the Applicable Absence Limitation shall be reported to the Dean of Law Student Affairs by the student as soon as practicable. 5. Reporting of Excess Absences In any course in which a student has been absent for more than the Applicable Absence Limitation, the instructor of that course shall notify the Dean of Law Student Affairs, indicating the dates or number of class absences. It is unnecessary to request an excuse for absences within the Acceptable Absence Limitation. However, if a student exceeds the Acceptable Absence Limitation in a class due to extraordinary circumstances, the Dean of Law Student Affairs has discretion to excuse the student from attending the class for a limited amount of time beyond the Applicable Absence Limitation. Such excusal may include a requirement that a student watch recorded classes, if available, within a certain amount of time, complete additional assignments, or take other action to review course material (as determined by the Dean of Law Student Affairs in consultation with the instructor of the course). 6. Excused Absences Beyond the Applicable Absence Limitation

If a student fails or is unable to comply with requirements set forth as part of an extended excusal, the student will be subject to exclusion from the course as per Paragraph 8.

7. Student Responsibilities Regarding Absences and Attendance Records

Students are advised to keep a personal record of all absences and are responsible for notifying faculty if they need to be absent. Students are also responsible for notifying the Dean of Law Student Affairs if they exceed the Acceptable Absence Limitation.

8. Exclusion Determination

If the student is subject to exclusion from a course under Paragraph 2, an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall determine, in light of applicable circumstances and upon consultation with the reporting instructor and the Dean of Students, if the student shall be withdrawn from the course.

9. Inter-session and Intensive Courses

Because inter-session and intensive courses normally are designed to have a limited number of class meetings, there is no Applicable Absence Limitation available for these courses. Students are expected to attend all class meetings of inter-session and intensive courses. An absence or significant tardiness to an inter-session or an intensive class will result in the student being excluded from the course. To obtain a waiver to this rule, a student must submit a petition to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Law Student Affairs will only grant the petition if 1) the petition shows an extraordinary and unavoidable circumstance, and 2) the instructor believes that the amount of absence will not unreasonably alter the level of engagement expected of all students in the course.

10. Religious Observances

Absences on any particular day for religious observances are permitted in accordance with Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 151C, §2B.

C. Academic Standing Requirements

1. First-year students

The provisions of section 1 apply to all first-year students, except that application of these provisions to students in the Accelerated JD Program shall be subject to the modifications set forth in section 1.d.

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