2024-2025 Student Handbook

(All other students are subject to the provisions of section 2 – Upper-class Students.)

a. First-Semester Academic Standing

i. A student who receives final grades that are unsatisfactory in three or more first semester courses or final grades of D+ or lower in two first semester courses is not in good academic standing and will be reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee. Such a student will be dismissed unless the committee finds that the student’s first semester performance does not provide an accurate representation of the student’s ability to succeed in the study of law, and the student has a likelihood of succeeding if permitted to continue. Considerations relevant to the committee’s review include, but are not limited to, the following: a. Whether the student experienced extraordinary circumstances during the first semester that affected the student’s academic performance and are no longer an impediment to the student’s success;

b. The presence of one or more grades of B- or better in the student’s first semester record;

c. Evidence of demonstrated improvement during the semester in one or more of the courses in which the student received an unsatisfactory grade (such as a final exam grade that was significantly higher than a midterm grade);

d. Whether the student actively participated in the Academic Support Program;

e. St atements of support from faculty course instructors familiar with the student’s work;

f. Statements of support from Academic Support faculty who worked with the student.

If the Committee votes to dismiss the student, that dismissal is final and unappealable.

ii. The Academic Standing Committee will review a student who has unsatisfactory final grades in two courses or who has a grade point average below 2.000 for the first semester but who does not fall under II.C.1.a.i. Such a student is not in good academic standing and may be dismissed. In determining if a student may continue, the Committee will take into account the following:

a. whether the student experienced extraordinary circumstances during the first semester that affected the student’s academic performa nce or

b. whether the student is likely to succeed in the study of law.

If the Committee votes to dismiss the student, that dismissal is final and unappealable.

iii. a. Students who are not in good academic standing after the first semester but are permitted by the Academic Standing Academic Standing Committee to continue will be placed on academic probation and Academic Warning. The Committee may also set other conditio ns of the student’s continued enrollment, including but not limited to a reduction in course load for the second semester, participation in academic and other student support programs or courses, repeat of certain courses (whether or not required by paragraph II.C.1.c. below), or a leave of absence from the school. b. For students not in good standing under II.C.1.a.i. who are permitted to continue, the Committee may set conditions which, if satisfied by the student, would result in exclusion of one or more of the student’s first semester unsatisfactory grades from the student’s grade point average for purposes of second semester academic standing and/or from the minimum number of unsatisfactory grades that would otherwise result in dismissal under II.C.1.b.i. below,

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