Grading Policy
Class Attendance
Law students take their first steps toward becoming members of an ancient and honorable profession when they enter law school, and are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. The practice, as well as the study of law, demands motivation, discipline, and hard work. Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Each professor may impose sanctions for poor attendance.
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Grading and Examinations
The Emory University School of Law uses a letter grading system, with grades ranging from A+ to F. In the J.D. program, a student must make a grade of at least D- to receive credit for the course. A student must repeat a required course in which that student has received a grade below D-.
Once a student has received an exam, he or she must complete the exam. If a student does not submit any answers, that student will receive an automatic grade of F. Partial credit may be given if a student begins the exam but does not complete it.
When a student, without permission or a valid excuse, fails to appear for an examination, or appears for an examination and fails to turn in the examination, that student will receive a course grade of F. Before the time indicated in the Academic Calendar for final examinations, a schedule of examinations will be published. Special scheduling or deferral of a final examination is permitted only when the cause is beyond the control of the student and only with approval of the dean or dean's designate. A grade of I (incomplete) is given to indicate an authorized deferral of an examination or required course work. Required course work or deferred examination must be completed by the close of the term in which the course is next offered or the grade of I (incomplete) will automatically be converted to a final grade of F. Examination papers are identified solely by randomly selected student examination numbers and not by student names. New numbers are issued each semester.
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Good Standing Requirements
J.D. Program
To be in good academic standing, a student in the J.D. program must, based on all course work completed at the conclusion of the second term (the term in which the student completes at least twenty-five semester hours), have a cumulative average of at least 2.25. In each term beyond the second, a student must also have a cumulative average of at least 2.25.Any student not in good standing is automatically ineligible to continue in the J.D. program. Such a student may petition the School of Law Faculty through the Academic Standings Committee for readmission on probation. Probationary status is not normally granted beyond the fourth term. It is the obligation of the student to obtain probationary status.
A student on probationary status must complete course work that constitutes "full residence" during the probationary term. Students on probation may not take clinical courses, participate in Moot Court, or participate in any of the Law School's three journals. No student who has a cumulative average less than 2.25 shall be granted a J.D. degree.
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Cancellation or Withdrawal
Students who withdraw from or fail to return to school during the regular academic year must notify the office of the dean in advance to be eligible to return. To withdraw from school during a term, a student must receive permission from the Office of the Dean. When withdrawal from school is approved, a grade of W is recorded in all courses for which the student is registered. Failure to obtain such permission results in a grade of WF in all courses for which the student is registered.
No first-year student may drop a course without approval from the Office of the Dean.
After the period designated in the Academic Calendar for approved course changes, a second- or third-year student may withdraw from a course only with the permission of the instructor and approval from the dean or the dean's designate. Such permission is granted only for cause, and the rules governing requirements for residency credit are applied. When withdrawal from a course is approved, a grade of W is recorded for the course or courses in which the student is registered. Failure to obtain such permission shall result in a grade of WF in the course.
Medical Withdrawal
Readmission of students following withdrawal for medical reasons requires medical clearance by designated university health officials.
If, in the opinion of the dean ('dean' as used in this statement always refers to the dean or dean's designate) of the student's school or college, a student demonstrates evidence of an emotional disorder and has engaged in, or threatened to engage in, conduct that poses a threat to the mental, emotional, or physical well-being of self or others, or to property, and/or impedes the lawful activity of others, the student may be referred to the University Student Health Service for psychiatric evaluation. Refusal to obtain a psychiatric evaluation when properly requested to do so, or determination by the University Health Service that withdrawal would be in the best interest of the student and the university, shall be cause for involuntary withdrawal of the student from the university by the dean. Withdrawal in such cases shall normally incur no academic penalty for the term in which the student is enrolled, and tuition refund, if any, shall be based on the schedule established for voluntary withdrawal. The dean shall inform the student in writing of the effective date of the involuntary withdrawal, and shall explain, in writing, the procedure for application for readmission to Emory University. Application for readmission after withdrawal for psychiatric reasons will require evaluation by the university psychiatrist. Persons seeking readmission may choose to submit a written report from their own psychiatrists at their own expense. In no case shall readmission be granted after psychiatric withdrawal without the approval of the University Student Health Service.
Policy Statement on Refunds
Law students who withdraw from school may qualify for a prorated tuition refund. All refunds must be authorized by the Office of the University Registrar. Refunds for first-time matriculants who are federal (Title IV) aid recipients will be prorated in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 and any related regulations. The initial $750 deposit is not refundable. Law students may cancel registration through the last day of the law school schedule change period for a full refund. After the last day for cancellation of registration, the schedule of refunds is as follows: during the second week of the term, eighty percent; during the third week, sixty percent; during the fourth week, forty percent; and during the fifth week, twenty percent. There will be no refunds after the fifth week. No refund is given if a part of the load is dropped after the last day for approved schedule changes as specified in the School of Law calendar.
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Official Transcripts
On written request to the university registrar, students may receive unofficial copies of their academic transcripts or have official transcripts mailed to agencies or institutions, for a fee, provided a student's record shows no financial indebtedness tothe university.
Official transcripts, bearing the university seal and validating signatures, are not issued to individuals but are mailed as directed to agencies or institutions as confidential information. All transcripts include each student's entire academic record. No partial or incomplete statements are issued as transcripts. For prompt receipt, students should request transcripts at a reasonable time prior to need. Delays in issuing transcripts may occur immediately before or after a term break.
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Vehicles on Campus
Registration
All students operating motor vehicles on the Emory Campus must register with the Parking Office prior to operating the vehicle on campus. Motorcycles and other two-wheeled motor vehicles require no registration, but must be operated and parked in accordance with the university's parking rules and regulations. For 2004-2005 (Sept. 1-Aug. 31), the fee for parking registration is $353, payable in full at fall registration or by mail through the parking office.
Parking and Traffic Regulations
University regulations, strictly enforced in housing areas and on campus, are specified in a regulation booklet furnished at the time of parking registration. Persons operating vehicles on campus are expected to know and abide by these regulations. Failure to do so may result in fines and/or removal of vehicle from campus. Deck access is furnished to commuting students. The Lowergate South Deck is available on a first-come basis. Other parking decks are available as space permits. Contact the Office of Parking and Community Services for further details at (404) 727-PARK.
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University-Student Relationships
The Board of Trustees of Emory University has adopted a statement of policy dealing with university-student relationships, a digest of which follows.
- Emory University was founded on Christian principles by the Methodist Church and proudly continues its church relationship as an agency dedicated to seeking and imparting truth.
- Emory University admits qualified students of any sex, race, religion, color, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, or veteran status to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at Emory University. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or veteran status in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other Emory University-administered programs.
- Attendance at Emory University is a privilege and not a right. However, no student will be dismissed except in accordance with prescribed procedures. Students applying for admission do so voluntarily and are free to withdraw at their pleasure, subject to compliance with the regulations of their school or college governing withdrawal and to the fulfillment of their financial obligations to the university.
- Upon matriculation at Emory, each student agrees to be bound by the rules, policies, procedures, and administrative regulations as the regulations exist at the time of admission and as the regulations may be changed by duly constituted authority.
- By admission as a student at Emory University, a person acquires the right to pursue the course of study to which he or she is admitted, and to be treated with the dignity appropriate to an adult person in all matters relating to the university. In the same spirit, the student shall comply with the rules and regulations of Emory University.
- Students will be provided the opportunity to participate in the development of rules and procedures pertaining to university affairs to the extent that such participation and the results thereof, as determined by the board of trustees or its designated agent, are consistent with orderly processes and with the policies and administrative responsibilities of the board of trustees and the administration.
- The university expects students to conduct themselves with dignity, courtesy, responsibility, and integrity, and with due respect for the rights of others, realizing that sobriety and morality are not only characteristics of a mature and responsible person, but are also essential to the maintenance of a free and orderly society.
- Membership in and rules governing admission to student organizations shall be determined by the organizations themselves, and such rules are not required to be uniform so long as these rules do not contravene any policy established by the board of trustees.
Emory University is an educational institution, not a vehicle for political or social action. It endorses the right of dissent and protects and encourages reasonable exercise of this right by individuals within the university. Because the right of dissent is subject to abuse, the board of trustees and the president have published a statement to clarify policy concerning such abuse, a digest of which follows.
- Individuals associated with Emory represent a variety of viewpoints. The university fosters the free expression and interchange of differing views through oral and written discourse and logical persuasion.
- Dissent, to be acceptable, must be orderly and peaceful and represent constructive alternatives reasonably presented.
- Coercion, threats, demands, obscenity, vulgarity, obstructionism, and violence are not acceptable.
- Demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, or noisy protests that are designed or intended to or do disrupt normal institutional pursuits will not be permitted.
- Classes and routine operations will not be suspended except for reasonable cause as determined by the president.
- Administrators, faculty, other employees, and students are expected to abide by these standards of conduct in promoting their views, particularly dissent.
- Persons who are not so inclined should not become associated with Emory nor continue to be associated with Emory.
- Academic and administrative procedures will protect individuals in the right of free expression and provide for prompt and appropriate action against those individuals who abuse such right.
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Student Conduct
As a condition of admission and continuation, each student in the School of Law agrees to abide by the rules, regulations, practices, and policies of the university as they exist at the time of admission, and as they may be changed during the student's continuation. Each student also agrees to pay all fines, penalties, assessments, and charges made by university authority against the student for violations of rules or regulations of the university or of the law school, including campus parking, traffic, and safety regulations. Such charges, if not paid, will be added to the student's financial accounts with the university and dealt with on the same basis as unpaid tuition or rent charges.
Student conduct and misconduct proceedings are dealt with under the law school's professional conduct code. A copy of this code is furnished to all students. The code promotes an intellectual and educational environment throughout the university community in which all members have maximum opportunities to attain their educational objectives. As a professional school, the law school is also interested in the character and fitness of its students for participation in the legal profession. The code also provides a measure of protection for the activity, safety, welfare, and property of all members of the university community and of the university itself. Fair treatment is assured to those charged with code violations. All law students are members of the university community and are presumed to know that:
- the requirements of student conduct expressed and implied in the code are in effect and applicable to all law students;
- each student is individually responsible for violations of these requirements;
- continuation as law students is conditioned on compliance with these requirements;
- violations of these requirements will meet with appropriate sanctions; and
- as student members of the university community, law students are subject to the jurisdiction of its officers, agencies, and authorities with respect to any violation of professional conduct code requirements.
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Specific Policies
Students are expected to be aware of and abide by specific policies formulated by Emory University concerning confidentiality, discrimination and harassment, and sexual assault. What follows is a brief summary; the full statements of these policies, as well as those of other university policies, are published annually in the Campus Life Handbook.
Emory University recognizes the student's right of privacy and is committed to protecting students from improper disclosure of private information. Regarding the confidentiality of the information which becomes a part of the student's permanent records and the conditions of its disclosure, the university has adopted a policy that reflects a reasonable balance between its obligations for the protection of the rights and privacy of the students and its responsibility to society.
It is the policy of Emory University that all employees and students should be able to enjoy and work in an educational environment free from discriminatory harassment. Harassment of any person or group of persons on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran's status is a form of discrimination specifically prohibited in the Emory University community. Any employee, student, student organization, or person privileged to work or study in the Emory University community who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including permanent exclusion from the university. The scholarly, educational, or artistic content of any written, oral, or other presentation or inquiry shall not be limited by this policy. The preceding provision is liberally construed with the intent that academic freedom shall be allowed to all members of the academic community; however, this provision shall not be used as a pretextual basis for violation of the policy.
The Emory University community expects all of its members to treat other persons with respect and dignity and will not tolerate any form of sexual assault. Sexual activity should be explicitly agreed upon by both parties. The university shall proceed with disciplinary and/or remedial actions as needed when it appears that the university's prohibition against any form of sexual abuse has been violated. A student charged with sexual assault may be disciplined under the university's code of student conduct as well as prosecuted under Georgia's criminal statutes. The university also has in place procedures to provide emotional and medical support to a victim of sexual assault within the Emory community.
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Financial Requirements for Graduation
All financial obligations to the university must be satisfied before a student can graduate. Certifications to bar examining committees or potential employers will not be completed until all financial obligations to the university have been fulfilled. In case of outstanding loans not yet due and payable, satisfactory loan documents must have been executed and delivered to the university and all payments must be current.