Student Resources

Policies & Rules — Dismissal and Probation

Updated Sept. 5, 2012

A. Rules for Dismissal and Probation

1. For purposes of this section (Policies & Rules – Dismissal and Probation)
1. "First year" consists of that series of semesters or summer sessions, or both, at the end of which a student first receives grades in courses aggregating to not less than 24 hours.
2. "Semester" means either the fall or spring semester. The summer session is considered to be part of the next succeeding semester for the purpose of computing semester grade point averages.
2. A student is dismissed:
1. at the end of the student's
1. first semester if the student’s cumulative grade point average is equal  to or less than 76.399 ; or
2. second semester if the student’s grade point average for that semester is equal to or less than 76.399
3. first year if the student’s cumulative grade point average is equal to or less than 76.399; or
2. at the end of any semester after the student's first year if the student’s grade point average for that semester is equal to or less than 76.399 ; or
3. at the end of any semester during which the student has been on probation if  the student’s grade point average for that semester is equal to or less than 77.499; or
4. at the end of any semester during which the student has been on probation if the student’s grade point average for that semester is
1. not sufficient to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to an average greater that 77.499 if continued in future semesters until the remaining requirements for graduation have been satisfied; or
2. is less than the semester or cumulative grade point average which was imposed upon the student  as a condition of probation or readmission;
5. at the end of any  semester prior to the completion of the student's first year if
1. the student has received grades in at least two sessions and
2. has received grades in  at least 12 hours of coursework; and
3. has a cumulative grade point average of equal to or less than 76.399 ;
6.     at the end of that semester where the student has a cumulative grade point average equal to or less than 77.499 after completing  89 or more hours of course work. .

3. A student is placed or continued on probation:
1. at the end of the student's first year if the student’s cumulative grade point average is greater than 76.399 but equal to or less than 77.399 ; or
2. at the end of any semester after the student's first year, if the student’s grade point average for that semester is greater than 76.399 but equal to or less than 77.399 ; or
3. a student who is on probation will be continued on probation if the student’s cumulative grade point average is equal to or less than 77.499 , but the semester grade point average is sufficient to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to a cumulative grade point average greater than 77.499  if continued in future semesters until the remaining requirements for graduation have been satisfied.
4. Any first year student who does not achieve a grade point average greater than 77.499 in the fall semester will be required to take the course in Legal Reasoning (5090) during the second semester. Students who are required to take the course in Legal Reasoning under this provision will drop one of their courses.  The course to be dropped will be decided in consultation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  
5. A student ceases to be on probation at the end of a semester when the student’s cumulative grade point average and grade point average for that semester are both greater than 77.499  
6. After the first semester of the first year, a student is in "good standing" at the School of Law if the student’s cumulative GPA is greater than 76.399.  Thereafter, a student is in good standing when both the student's current semester and overall GPA are greater than 77.499.

B. Rights of Students Petitioning for Readmission

Students who petition the Law School for readmission following academic dismissal have the following rights:

1. Fair notice of the time and place of the meeting.
2. To submit any supporting written material to the Faculty Readmissions Committee and/or to the Faculty at large in advance of the meeting, or to present such material at the meeting.
3. To appear personally at the meeting and make a presentation of reasonable duration.
4. To be accompanied by a person of their own choosing.
5. To be informed promptly following the meeting of the Committee's recommendation or decision, or the Faculty's decision.

C. Readmission Procedures

1. Readmission Procedures for students dismissed at the end of the first semester under Rule 2.a.1
a. A student dismissed at the end of the student's first semester whose grade point average for the first semester is equal to or less than 75.299 will not be permitted to attend law school for the succeeding spring semester. Such student will be permitted to enroll for the next fall semester provided the student gives notice of his or her intention to enroll by April 15 of the semester following the student’s dismissal. A student so re-enrolling will retake all the first year courses, and will be required to obtain a grade point average greater than 77.499 for the repeated semester. If the student fails to obtain this grade point average, the student will be dismissed. At its discretion, the Faculty Readmissions Committee may require readmitted students or students on probation to drop one or more of their courses.
b. A student dismissed at the end of the student's first semester whose grade point average is greater than 75.299 and equal to or less than 76.399 may apply for readmission for the spring semester. Such student may not attend classes unless he or she has filed a written petition for readmission within the time limits indicated in the letter of dismissal issued by the School of Law. To qualify for readmission, an applicant for readmission must show that the applicant's poor academic performance was the result of facts other than intellectual inability to perform satisfactory law school work and that these factors will not continue to impair the applicant's performance in the future. If the Faculty Readmissions Committee denies readmission for the spring semester, or if the student requests readmission as of the next fall semester, the student shall be readmitted for the following fall semester subject to the same conditions described in paragraph C.1.a above, or under such conditions as the Readmissions Committee may determine. If the student is readmitted for the spring semester, the student will be subject to the dismissal rules under paragraph A.2.a.2 and A.2.a.3 above, but shall not be subject to dismissal under paragraph A.2.c or A.2.d above.
2. Readmission Procedures for students dismissed at any time after the first semester
a. A student who has been dismissed may not attend classes unless the student has filed a written petition within the time limits indicated in the letter of dismissal issued by the School of Law.
b. To qualify for readmission, an applicant for readmission must show: (1) that the applicant's poor academic performance was the result of facts other than intellectual inability to perform satisfactory law school work; (2) that these factors will not continue to impair the applicant's performance in the future; and (3) that there is reasonable probability that the applicant’s grade point average can be raised to the graduation level by the time 89 credits have been accumulated.
c. A petition for readmission by a student who has been dismissed shall be heard by the Faculty Readmissions Committee. A quorum of the Faculty Readmissions Committee, for purposes of deciding petitions for readmission, shall consist of one less than all voting members. If the Committee's decision is favorable for readmission, or is unanimous against readmission, that decision shall be final and the student shall have no right of appeal to the faculty at large. If the Committee's decision is unfavorable against readmission, but not unanimous, the petition shall be referred to the faculty at large for decision.
d. A student who petitions for readmission has the right to appear personally before the Faculty Readmissions Committee and, if allowed under these rules, the Faculty at large. The student may be summoned to appear before either group by making a personal appearance or by supplying answers to written questions. (See above for a full statement of rights of petitioners.)
e. A student who has been dismissed for scholastic reasons and whose readmission is approved will be on probation and subject to such conditions as may be imposed. The conditions below will apply unless varied by the Faculty or Faculty Readmissions Committee.
f. It is the policy of the Faculty Readmissions Committee to make decisions on readmission prior to the end of the summer term for those students who are dismissed at the end of the spring semester and who may be enrolled in the summer term. Therefore, the readmission decision will not be delayed until summer grades are received.
D. Standard Conditions for Law Students Readmitted after Scholastic Dismissal, and for Law Students on Probation
1. Students who are readmitted or are on probation are subject to the following conditions as well as any specific conditions stated in the readmission action:

1. they will continue on academic probation until achieving academic good standing, which requires a cumulative grade point average greater than 77.499.
2. students placed on probation at the end of the Fall semester of their first year, will be required to take the course in Legal Reasoning (5090) during the second semester. At its discretion, the Faculty Readmissions Committee may require such students to drop one or more of their courses.
3. until such time as they achieve a cumulative grade point average greater than 77.499, they must maintain a semester grade point average as set out in the readmission action. If no semester grade point average was specified, the student must maintain a semester grade point average sufficient to raise the student’s  grade point average to a cumulative grade point average greater than 77.499  by the time the other requirements for graduation are completed.
4. their schedule of courses must be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the dropping of any course during the semester must also be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In general, students will be required to take required courses before electives and take graded courses rather than pass-fail courses.
5. during any session in which they are enrolled, they will not engage in any employment for compensation or spend a substantial amount of time on extra-curricular activities without the prior written approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. "Substantial amount of time on extra-curricular activities" is interpreted by the Standards and Readmissions committee to include participation in any internal or external competition sponsored by the Board of Advocates as well as any position of leadership on any student board or organization.
6. Unless exempted by the Faculty Readmissions Committee, they are not allowed to take the following courses:
1. Externship (5570)
2. Independent Research
3. Courses taught outside Law School for Law School credit (e.g. graduate courses)
4. Courses taught by  adjuncts
5. Seminars (5895), except students classified as third-year students.
6. Participate in any Study-Abroad Programs
7. Clinics or Clinic related courses including
1. Criminal Clinic (6570)
2. Family Violence Clinic: Individual & Social Justice (5580)
3. Mediation Clinic (5770)
4. Clinical Skills (5425)
5. Legislative Practicum (5746)
6. Innocence Project Clinic