Chapter 6:
Academic Eligibility & Changes of Enrollment

Academic Eligibility

Exclusion for Academic Reasons

Students will be academically ineligible to continue in law school if they fail to achieve the following required cumulative grade point averages:

Any student ineligible to continue in law school may petition for readmission through the process described later in this Chapter.


Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals

Voluntary Leave of Absence

The Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs may allow students to take a leave of absence for one or two semesters. In extraordinary circumstances, the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may grant a leave of more than two semesters. To take a leave of absence, students should notify either the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs of their request and should complete a Change of Enrollment Request form, which can be found below or on the Registrar's Office website.  A student requesting a leave of absence is responsible for any arrangements needed for financial aid or scholarships.

No more than five years may elapse between the commencement and completion of the requirements for the JD degree. No more than three years may elapse between the commencement and completion of the LLM degree. No more than five years may elapse between the commencement and completion of the SJD degree. No more than six years may lapse between the commencement and completion of the MSL degree. No more than two years may lapse between the commencement and the completion of the MSL certificate. 

The School of Law applies the University tuition refund policy where applicable. Tuition refund information can be found in Chapter 14.

Students, in any School of Law program, who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces – including reserve components and the National Guard – may be required to suspend their studies temporarily to fulfill certain service obligations. Provided that the student was making satisfactory academic progress prior to the suspension of their studies, the School of Law will accommodate short absences of this nature and will provide readmission to those who seek to resume enrollment in their academic program upon fulfillment of such obligations. 

Return from Leaves of Absence

Students who have received a leave of absence and who wish to re-enroll must notify the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at least one month prior to their projected date of re-enrollment by completing the Re-Enrollment Request Form linked below and available on the Registrar’s Office website. The Dean retains the right to deny re-enrollment to a student granted a leave of absence where re-enrollment will not be in the best interest of the student or the School of Law community.

Return from Second Medical Leave of Absence

A residential law student who voluntarily enters into a first Leave of Absence for medical reasons (all issues pertaining to physical or mental health) and wishes to return to the School of Law should follow the Return from Leaves of Absence procedure as outlined above.

Residential law students who have been granted a second Leave of Absence for medical reasons must complete the Re-Enrollment Request Form linked above and available on the Registrar's Office website, in addition to following the procedures outlined below. These criteria are designed to ensure that the student has overcome the medical condition(s) and is capable of functioning in a demanding, high-stress environment.

The final readmission decision will be made by the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If a student previously had a scholarship and is readmitted, the student’s scholarship will be renewed when readmitted. Should the student need to take a third medical leave, generally the scholarship will only be renewed upon return if the student has made adequate academic progress by completing at least one semester prior to the second leave.

All documentation from the treating physician(s) or therapist(s) must be submitted to the Student Health Service at least 2 months prior to the start of classes for the semester in which the student desires to re-enroll. Documentation of the student’s employment progress from the student’s supervisor must be submitted to either the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the same time.

Withdrawal

A withdrawal may be granted for students who are not subject to exclusion, dismissal, or suspension and who wish to withdraw permanently from the School of Law. To withdraw, students should notify either the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs of their intention to withdraw. To initiate the withdrawal, the student should complete the Change of Enrollment Request Form found below and available on the Registrar's Office website.   

The School of Law applies the University tuition refund policy where applicable. Tuition refund information can be found in Chapter 14.

Former students who wish to enroll at any time after their withdrawal is processed will be required to re-apply as a new student through the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid. 

Readmission for Academically Ineligible Students

A JD, LLM, or SJD student who becomes academically ineligible may petition the Academic Rules & Discipline Committee ("ARD"), and in extraordinary cases may be readmitted under the conditions determined by the ARD. Academically ineligible JD, LLM, or SJD students must remain ineligible for at least one academic year and may only petition once for readmission.

An MSL student who becomes academically ineligible may petition the ARD and may be readmitted under the conditions determined by the ARD so long as readmission is in the best interests of both the student and the School of Law.

The petition for readmission must clearly explain the reason(s) for academic failure and establish by clear and convincing evidence the causal link between the reason(s) and the failure and why the asserted reason(s) will not constitute a bar to success in the future.

ARD will investigate the petition and will have final decision-making authority. There is no appeal. ARD will notify the faculty regarding each pending petition coming before it and will invite interested faculty to provide pertinent information.

ARD will decide the terms and conditions of any readmission with the presumption that any JD student readmitted must repeat the entire first year of law school.

Students who withdraw from the School of Law before completing one semester of work must apply for readmission through the admissions office.

Students who withdraw from the School of Law after completing one semester of work, with a grade point average of less than that required by their program must apply for readmission through the admissions office.