The accompanying academic standards, adopted by the faculty, apply to all J.D. students unless otherwise indicated. They provide for a progressive standard of evaluation of a student's performance based upon the number of credits completed. Students' records are reviewed at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters to determine compliance with these standards.

The faculty reserves the right to change the provisions of these standards. Notice of changes will be posted, and all changes, unless otherwise provided, will be binding on all students.

Each student is required to maintain satisfactory academic standing, defined in terms of both the minimum GPA required and the maximum number of D, D+, or F grades permitted. Both of these requirements are reflected in the Table of Academic Standards Based on Credits Completed. A student may have a GPA in excess of 2.0 and still be dismissed for excessive unsatisfactory grades.  A student who has a GPA (cumulative) of below 2.0 at the end of his/her 1st year of law school will be automatically dismissed.  Further, while a 2.0 is sufficient for graduation, it is not sufficient to avoid being placed on "academic probation", since that term refers to those students who may be in need of greater than normal academic supervision. The Table reflects that, at the completion of the first year of studies and every semester thereafter, a student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.33 (or whose GPA for the most recent semester is below 2.0) is placed on academic probation. Finally, students who, at any time after their first semester, attain a GPA of between 2.33 and 2.5 may be declared " at risk" academically. Students at academic risk may be warned of their status by the Dean of Students, and may be required to take specific courses in addition to the requirements for graduation.

For further information please contact the Registrar's Office.

1. A student placed on academic probation or warned of academic risk without requirements other than mandatory course counseling and writing evaluation and remedial work has no right to review.
   

2. A student placed on academic probation subject to suspension or dismissal or to any other requirements, such as refraining from extracurricular activities, summer study abroad or clinics or, in the case of a full-time student, from engaging in any outside employment, may petition the Academic Credentials Committee for relief.
   

3. A petition for review must be filed in writing with the Associate Dean within 10 days of receipt of the notice of imposition of sanctions. At the discretion of the Dean of Students, the time for such filing may be extended for up to one year from the date of notice if a petition for extension is filed in writing with the Dean of Students stating good cause for any delay. For purpose of this rule, a student is responsible for notifying the Registrar in writing of any change of address.

The Academic Credentials Committee consists of four or more faculty members, appointed by the Associate Dean, and the president of the Student Bar Association or his/her designee. Appointments are for one year, commencing July 1.

Any person appearing before the committee may elect to exclude the student member or any one faculty member from sitting without any showing of good cause. In such cases the committee sits with a reduced number of members.

A student appearing before the committee has the right to counsel. This counsel need not be an attorney.

The Probation and Grievance Committee is made up of five faculty members and two students. The jurisdiction of the committee is invoked only by the filing of a complaint with the Chair.

The Probation and Grievance Committee has jurisdiction:

1. to hear student allegations of arbitrary, capricious, substantially unfair or discriminatory application of any rule or regulation of the law school;
   

2. to hear student allegations of arbitrary, capricious or bad-faith grading procedures.
   

Click here for a copy of the Probation and Grievance Rules.