Student Rules & Regulations
Examinations
Detailed schedules and policies governing Law School
examinations are published each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to
review and comply with this information. If a course is scheduled to have a
fixed exam, students must sit for that exam during the designated time period.
If a student has two exams on the same day, that student may file a request for
rescheduling. The reschedule date must be for the next exam that relieves the
scheduling situation.
Students may also petition for rescheduling based on severe
mental or physical illness, or very unusual or demanding circumstances that make
it unreasonably difficult or burdensome to meet the scheduled time. Exams will
not be rescheduled to accommodate activities such as travel, interviews, and
personal events such as weddings, reunions, etc. Exceptions may be granted only
by the Academic Dean or her designate. These exceptions
are granted only for serious circumstances beyond a student’s control that
interfere with a student’s ability to perform. Failure to take an examination
during the assigned time without making arrangements with the Academic Dean may
result in a failing grade.
Repeating of Courses
Students who receive a grade carrying no credit in a required course must repeat the course for credit; students receiving such grade in any other course may, with the permission of the instructor, repeat the course for credit.
A student may also be required to repeat a course or courses as a condition of readmission. (See "Academic Difficulty and Disqualification, Rules,") Credit toward the number of hours required for a degree is allowed only for the second taking of the course and only if the student earns a grade of Low Pass or D, or better, or such higher grade as may be required by the conditions of the student’s readmission.
If a student properly repeats a course under the rules stated above and earns a grade of Low Pass or D, or better, the previous grade will remain on the student’s record.
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Class Attendance
Under changes to ABA Accreditation Standard 304, adopted in August 2004, a law school shall require regular and punctual class attendance.
- At any time after the fifth week of a course (halfway through a summer session course), a student who has been determined by the instructor to have attended fewer than 80 percent of the class sessions in any course will be required to drop the course from his or her registration upon the instructor’s so indicating to the
Academic Services Office.
- An instructor may also impose stricter attendance standards or other sanctions for nonattendance, including lowering of a grade, provided that students are informed at the start of the course of the instructor’s attendance rules and possible sanctions.
- The instructor referred to in paragraph 1 should take attendance with such regularity as is needed to insure reasonable accuracy in determining a student’s attendance record.
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Readmission after Withdrawal
A student who contemplates withdrawing is advised first to consult with the Dean or either the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or Assistant Dean for Academic Services. The rules regarding readmission after withdrawal are:
First-year students: A student who withdraws during his or her first academic year is not eligible as a matter of right to return to school. These students must compete for a place in the class with other applicants for the year they wish to return.
Second- and third-year students: A second- or third-year student not subject to dismissal who withdraws from school is eligible as a matter of right to return if readmission is sought within 24 months of withdrawal and current deadlines are met. Readmission after two years is at the discretion of the Dean of the Law School.
All students: Any student in good standing required to withdraw because of a military obligation is entitled to return upon the completion of the first tour of military service.
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Student Academic Conduct
Student conduct in academic matters is governed by the Honor Code of the School of Law of the University of Washington, adopted in 1981 and amended in June, 1999, and by the Student Conduct Code of the University of Washington, adopted in 1972 and amended most recently in May 1996. Click on the link below to view the Law School's Honor Code.
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Academic Grievance Procedures
At its meeting of May 6, 1980 the faculty adopted the following:
Executive Order No. 58, issued by the President of the University in the Spring of 1979, directs each School in the University to establish a student academic grievance procedure for those students who feel they have been subjected to unfair academic treatment.
Unfair academic treatment includes such matters as deviations from stated grading practices, harassment or other unfair treatment, and similar issues. It does not include challenges to individual grades for which the procedure will be, as at present, consultation with the individual faculty member and, if requested, conference with the Assistant Dean or Dean.
Unfair academic treatment also does not include charges of discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran. Charges of this nature are covered by the Human Rights Grievance Procedure set forth in the University of Washington Operations Manual, D45.5.
The following is the procedure to be followed by any student in the School of Law who believes that he or she has been subjected to unfair academic treatment by a faculty member or administration person.
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The student should attempt to resolve the grievance by informal consultation with the faculty member or administration person concerned and, if desirable, to enlist the assistance of an Associate or Assistant Dean or the University Ombudsman.
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If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved by informal consultation, the student may file a written complaint requesting a hearing with the Student Grievance Committee, which shall consist of the appointed members of the Committee on Scholastic Standards, Examinations, and Student Affairs (hereinafter, the “Committee”).
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The Chairperson of the Committee shall convoke a hearing of the Committee to be held no later than ten days from receipt of the written complaint. Notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing shall be given to the student, the faculty member or administration person concerned, and to the members of the Committee.
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If the student or the faculty member or administration person concerned is a member of the Committee, he or she shall recuse himself or herself from participation as a Committee member.
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The hearing shall be closed unless the student and the faculty member or administration person concerned both agree otherwise. The Chairperson, subject to change pursuant to a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Committee, shall determine the Rules of Procedure governing the hearing. At the hearing the student shall present his or her grievance to the Committee and, unless the parties thereto agree otherwise, a taped or other verbatim record shall be taken. The faculty member or administration person concerned shall be given opportunity to respond to the complaint.
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At the conclusion of the hearing the Committee shall take the matter under advisement and, within ten days of the hearing date, shall forward its written recommendation to the Dean. A copy of the recommendation shall be furnished to the student and to the faculty member or administration person concerned.
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Within ten days after receipt of the Committee’s recommendation the Dean shall render a written decision on action to be taken on the grievance. Copies of the decision shall be furnished to the student and to the faculty member or administration person concerned.
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The Dean’s decision shall be final unless within ten days of receipt of such decision the student or faculty member or administration person concerned shall file a written request with the Provost of the University for consideration of the decision by the Provost.
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If the Provost concludes there have been any procedural irregularities in the proceedings or finds there is any basis for reconsideration he shall, within ten days of his receipt of the written request, remand the matter to the Dean for appropriate action. Otherwise, the decision of the Dean shall become final.
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Observance of Rules and Regulations
It is the Law School’s expectation that a student will follow University and Law School rules and regulations as they appear in this bulletin, in the University of Washington General Catalog, and elsewhere. In instances where no appeal procedure is spelled out and the student is persuaded that a special set of circumstances makes appeal reasonable, he or she may appeal the application of specific rules or regulations to the Dean. The Dean will either render a decision on appeal or refer the student to the proper office for decision.
Changes in Regulations
The university and its colleges and schools reserve the right to change the fees, rules, and calendar regulating admission and registration, instruction in, and graduation from the University and its various divisions, and to change any other regulations affecting the student body. Changes will go into force whenever the proper authorities so determine and shall apply not only to prospective students but also to those who at that time are matriculated in the University. The University also reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time and the right to change course content at any time.
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