ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021-2022 Revised on 08/30/2021 INTRODUCTION The Roger Williams University School of Law Student Handbook is a compilation of documents relevant to the student's career at the law school. The materials in the Student Handbook will be supplemented from time to time on-line in order to improve it, provide more complete coverage, and keep it current. The current version is available online. The Student Handbook is both notice to you of the regulations and interpretations included therein and a guide to the operating rules of the law school. i TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. ii MISSION AND GOALS OF THE SCHOOL OF LAW .............................................................................. 1 DISCLAIMER .............................................................................................................................................. 1 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION ........................................................................... 1 ACADEMIC FREEDOM ............................................................................................................................. 1 PART ONE. UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL OF LAW REGULATIONS ...................................2 I. COVID-19 STUDENT COMMUNITY PLEDGE .......................................................................... 2 II. NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY ............................................................................................... 6 III. SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY .............................................................................................. 7 IV. POLICY PERTAINING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS & ANNUAL NOTICE TO STUDENTS REGARDING EDUCATION RECORDS ................... 14 V. ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOL AND WORKPLACE POLICY ................................ 17 VI. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES POLICY......................................................................................... 22 VII. STATEMENT ON MARIJUANA ................................................................................................ 25 VIII. WEAPON-FREE CAMPUS POLICY .......................................................................................... 26 IX. LICENSURE AND ACCREDITATION INFORMATION AND COMPLAINT PROCESS…... 27 X. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT POLICY FOR THE UNIVERSITY’S COMPUTER NETWORK ............................................................................................................. 30 XI. BULLETIN BOARD POLICY ...................................................................................................... 34 ii PART TWO. ACADEMIC CODE OF ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW .......... 36 ARTICLE ONE. DEFINITIONS AND COURSE LOAD REQUIREMENTS ............................ 36 Section 101. Definitions................................................................................................................. 36 Section 102. Course Load .............................................................................................................. 36 Section 103. Other Academic Programs ........................................................................................ 36 Section 104. Employment .............................................................................................................. 36 Section 105. Years Allowed for Completion of Degree Requirements ......................................... 37 Section 106. Credit Hours Required for Graduation ..................................................................... 37 Section 107. Summer School ........................................................................................................ 37 ARTICLE TWO. WITHDRAWALS, LEAVES OF ABSENCE, SUSPENSIONS ..................... 37 Section 201. Withdrawal from School and Tuition Refund Policy ............................................... 37 Section 202. Leave of Absence ..................................................................................................... 38 Section 203. Emergency Suspension from the School of Law ..................................................... 38 Section 204. Reactivation of Enrollment ...................................................................................... 39 ARTICLE THREE. ADVANCEMENT, DISMISSAL AND REINSTATEMENT .................... 39 Section 301. Reporting of Grades ................................................................................................. 39 Section 302. Academic Suspension and Probation ....................................................................... 40 Section 303. Period of Review ...................................................................................................... 41 Section 304. Advancement Standards: Required Courses ............................................................ 41 Section 305. Advancement Standards: Cumulative GPA ............................................................. 41 Section 306. Annual GPA ............................................................................................................. 41 Section 307. Advancement Standards: Annual GPA .................................................................... 42 Section 308. Graduation GPA ....................................................................................................... 42 Section 309. Notice of Automatic Dismissal ................................................................................ 42 Section 310. Definition of Notice ................................................................................................. 42 Section 311. Effect of Academic Dismissal.................................................................................. 42 Section 312. Procedure Relating to Petition for Reinstatement After Academic Failure At the End of the First Year ........................................................................................................... 42 Section 313. Procedure Relating to Petition of Reinstatement After Academic Failure Beyond the First Year .................................................................................................................... 43 Section 314. Guidelines for Review ............................................................................................. 43 Section 315. Scope of Relief ......................................................................................................... 43 Section 316. Reinstatement on Condition That the Student Repeat All First Year Courses ........................................................................................................................................... 44 Section 317. Reinstatement on Condition That the Student Repeat Some But Not All First Year Courses ................................................................................................................... 44 Section 318. Reinstatement on Condition Beyond the First Year ................................................ 45 Section 319. Results of Petition .................................................................................................... 45 Section 320. Appeal To The Dean ................................................................................................ 45 Section 321. Readmission after Disqualification for Academic Reasons ..................................... 46 iii ARTICLE FOUR. VISITING STUDENTS .................................................................................. 46 Section 401. Permission to Visit ................................................................................................... 46 Section 402. Approval of Visitation ............................................................................................. 46 Section 403. Visiting Status .......................................................................................................... 46 ARTICLE FIVE. EXAMINATION AND GRADING ................................................................. 47 Section 501. Grading System – J.D. Program ............................................................................... 47 Section 502. Grading System – M.S.L. Program .......................................................................... 48 Section 503. Withdrawal from Courses ........................................................................................ 48 Section 504. Auditing Courses ..................................................................................................... 49 Section 505. Examination Process and Grading Policies ............................................................. 49 Section 506. Conflict in Examination Schedule ........................................................................... 51 Section 507. Rescheduled Examinations ...................................................................................... 51 Section 508. Regulations Concerning Examinations .................................................................... 52 Section 509. Grading of Retaken Required Courses Due to Grade of “F” ................................... 52 Section 510. Retention of Examinations ....................................................................................... 52 ARTICLE