Since 1891 WE ARE NEW YORK’S LAW SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016 - 2017 There may be updates to the Student Handbook throughout the year. You should contact the Office of Student Life at 212.431.2851 or stop by the office if you have questions about any contents in the Student Handbook. The Office of Student Life is located on the 5th floor of the E building. PAGE SAFETY AND SECURITY 4 Fire Emergencies and Evacuations 4 Sexual Harassment, Misconduct, and Assault 6 Title IX Coordinator 7 GENERAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM INFORMATION 11 Acceleration of Graduation Date (see also Divisional Transfers) 11 Attendance Rules 11 Auditing a Course (Alumni and Upper-level Students) 12 Bar Admission 13 Bar Examination Information 13 Class Rosters and Confirmation of Class Enrollment 13 Credits (Minimum and Maximum Load) 14 Distance Education Courses 14 Divisional Transfers 14 Employment 15 Examinations and Paper Courses 15 Graduation Requirements 16 Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals from the Law School 16 Prerequisites/Corequisites 17 Recording of Classes 17 Registration 17 Required Courses 18 Residency Credit 19 Schedule Information 20 Summer Session 20 Summer School Abroad (Non-NYLS Programs) 20 Summer School Abroad (NYLS Programs) 21 Transcripts 21 Visiting at Another Law School 21 Visiting Students at New York Law School 21 Withdrawals and Additions – Elective Courses 22 Writing Requirement Rule 23 ACADEMIC STANDING RULES 26 Academic Status, Good Standing, Academic Warning and 26 Academic Probation – for students matriculating in Fall 2013 and later (Full-time Students and Part-time Students) 1 Automatic Dismissal and Application for Re-Admission (Full-time Students 27 and Part-time Students) – for students matriculating in Fall 2013 and later Dismissal and Referral to Academic Status Committee (Full-time Students 27 And Part-time Students) – for students matriculating in Fall 2013 and later Appearance Before the Academic Status Committee – for students matriculating 28 in Fall 2013 and later - (Full-time Students and Part-time Students) Academic Status, Good Standing, Academic Warning and Academic Probation 29 – for students matriculating in Fall 2012 and earlier (Full-time Students and Part-time Students) Automatic Dismissal and Application for Re-Admission (Full-time Students 29 and Part-time Students) – for students matriculating in Fall 2012 and earlier Dismissal and Referral to Academic Status Committee (Full-time Students 30 and Part-time Students) – for students matriculating in Fall 2012 and earlier Appearance Before the Academic Status Committee – for students matriculating 31 in Fall 2012 and earlier - (Full-time Students and Part-time Students) Procedures of the Academic Status Committee 31 Determination of the Academic Status Committee and Factors to be 32 Considered by the Academic Status Committee Effect of Summer Term Grades 33 Reconsideration of Student’s Status by the Academic Status Committee 33 Class Standing of Students 33 Dean’s List and Dean’s List-High Honors 34 The Grading System (Grades and Student Repetition of Failed Courses) 34 Grade Adjustments 36 Faculty Discussion of Examinations with Students 36 Grading Curves (Curve for 1L Large Sections; Curve for 1L Small Section; 36 Curve for Legal Practice I and II; Curve for Elective Courses over 20 and Constitutional Law: An Introduction, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility) Graduation Honors 39 UPDATING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: Name and Address 40 Name Change 40 Address Change 40 UPDATING YOUR CHARACTER AND FITNESS INFORMATION 41 Obligation to Update Character and Fitness Information 41 FINANCIAL AID 43 Financial Aid Information on Portal 43 Loan Counseling Requirements 43 Student Loan Ombudsman 43 Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid – Satisfactory Academic Progress 43 Scholarship/Grant Restrictions 44 2 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 45 Student Code of Conduct and Academic Responsibility: Rules and Procedures 45 Student Code of Conduct: Expectations and Guidelines 55 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 57 Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy 63 Drug and Alcohol Policy 73 Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy 75 Recycling Policy 80 Smoking Policy 81 Weapon Possession Policy 82 Lost and Found Policy 84 School Closing Policy 85 Whistle-Blower Policy 86 Tuition and Fees Schedule and Payment Policy 2016-2017 for First-Year Students 89 Tuition and Fees Schedule and Payment Policy 2016-2017 for Continuing Students 92 Tuition and Fees Schedule and Payment Policy 2016-2017 for Continuing Two-Year 96 Program Students Tuition and Fees Schedule and Payment Policy 2017 for Two-Year 100 Program Students entering in 2017 Fall 2016 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for First-year students 103 Fall 2016 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for Continuing students 105 Summer 2016 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for Two-year 107 program students Summer 2016 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for all students (excluding 108 Two-Year Program students) Spring 2017 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for all students (excluding 109 Two-year Program Students) Spring 2017 Tuition Refund Policy and Schedule for entering Spring 2017 111 Two-year program students Library Policies 113 Post Secondary Education Complaint System for Service Members 114 and their Families Formal Student Complaint Form 115 3 SAFETY AND SECURITY In accordance with federal and state law, New York Law School maintains information regarding campus crimes, security policies and procedures, and fire incidents. An annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report containing all campus crime statistics and fire incidents reported to the United States Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education website is made available annually to all members of the Law School community through the Law School's portal as well as in hard copy. To obtain a hard copy of this report you may contact The Office of Security and Safety located at 185 West Broadway, E building, Mezzanine Level Room EM100. Crime statistics are available at the U.S. Department of Education website at http://ope.ed.gov/campussafety. Mr. Paul Repetto is the Chief of Building Operations & Security. He can be reached at 212.431.2836. For more information, please refer to the Security and Safety section on the Portal. FIRE EMERGENCIES AND EVACUATIONS Knowing how to respond following the sound of the fire alarm will help assure an orderly and safe evacuation of the buildings. Know all the exits Posted on the wall near every elevator is an egress sign with a red circle and the words “You are here” written in white letters. The sign denotes your present location. Every stair and elevator (noted by the letter X enclosed in a square) is identified by a letter of the alphabet. A sign which notes the alphabet designation is mounted on the floor and stair side face of the stair door. (A sign which notes the floor is also mounted on the stair side face of this same stair door.) The stair is also identified by an illuminated sign above it with the word Exit in red letters. Please study this map while you are waiting for the elevator. During an evacuation you should use all available and nearest emergency stairs, not only the one you commonly use. Although some of the stair doors above lobby level and all emergency exits at the lobby level are equipped with panic alarm hardware and are not normally used, you may exit through these doors during a drill or emergency evacuation. When the evacuation alarm sounds, evacuate the alarm floors immediately. All other floors hearing the inquiry tone should await further instructions from the Fire Safety Director. When the evacuation alarm sounds on your floor, you should evacuate. The Fire Safety Director will report to the lobby command panel to determine which detection or suppression device, or pull station was activated. The floor fire wardens on the evacuation alarm floors only should notify the Fire Safety Director (using the floor warden station), if conditions permit, what actual conditions exist on their floors. The Fire Safety Director will dispatch a member of the fire brigade to the location where the device was activated. The Fire Safety Director will silence the inquiry tone alarm and inform you of the location and status of the problem by use of the public address system. She or he will also indicate to you if further evacuation of the campus buildings is necessary based on information provided by the fire organization teams who respond. 4 How to Respond Evacuation Drill An evacuation drill is an opportunity to test your knowledge of the evacuation plan and how to exit from the building during an emergency. It is important for you to respond when instructed by the Fire Safety Director or the evacuation tone activates. New York City Fire Department Fire Prevention Directive 9-64 requires that colleges and universities conduct three drills during the academic year. Evacuation drills will be conducted once during each fall and spring semester, and once during the summer semester. The Fire Safety Director begins the drill with an announcement over the public address system. She or he will then activate the evacuation tones. During the drill all stairs (not only a familiar stair) and all first floor doors (not only the main entrance doors) may be used to exit the building. Noted below are instructions which describe how you should respond. The Fire Wardens will be there to provide directional assistance. Emergency Evacuation Await instructions from the Fire Safety Director. If directed, all occupants must exit the building by using the nearest and all available stairs (not just a favorite stair) when instructed by the Fire Safety Director or the floor Fire Warden. Do not panic. Remain calm. Follow the instructions of the floor Fire Wardens and faculty members. Close all doors behind you. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Proceed to the nearest stair and exit the building.