Academic Regulations

Grading System and Reports

The following grades with grade point values are in effect at the University:

Other grades which may be given are P, which shows credit has been earned in a pass/fail course; S and U indicate satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance in a pass/no-credit course; and W, which indicates that the student withdrew from a course without academic penalty. Marks indicating failure, and counted as such in the grade point average, are F, M (withdrew from a course with a failing average), and V (failure because of excessive absences). The X indicates that the grade has not been received from the instructor.

Z shows that the course was audited. A student auditing a course is expected to meet all requirements for the course, except the final examination or papers. No grade or hour credit is earned for audited courses.

I and Y grades mean that coursework has not been completed by the end of the term. The I grade provisionally counts as a failing grade. It is given when the reasons for the incomplete involve student culpability, but the instructor and associate dean determine that an F is not warranted. The work is to be made up by the student's graduation date or at such earlier time as specified by the instructor and associate dean. If the work is not made up during this grace period, the I will be converted to an F. The Y grade, which does not count as a failing grade, is given when the instructor and associate dean determine that the reasons for the incomplete do not warrant an I grade. In any case, it is the student's responsibility to complete the coursework for a course in which an I or Y has been assigned.

Performance in the Clinical Placement Program is evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Performance in the In­-House Clinics (Disabilities Law Clinic and the Delinquency Clinic) is evaluated using the letter­-grade scale above.

Grades for courses taken under the various cooperative programs are recorded by the law school as a pass if, based on the above grading scale, a grade of C (2.0) or better is earned; otherwise they will be recorded as a failure.

The grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of academic hours attempted in law school courses that have grades to which grade point values are assigned. Each of these totals is accumulated term by term. The grade point averages are represented to two significant decimal figures.

If a failed course is repeated, the grade earned in the repeat and the failure are both included in the grade point average. When the final grade for a course in which an I was given is recorded, the occurrence will be shown on the permanent record, and the grade point average will be recomputed to remove the effect of the I and to include the final grade. For purposes of computing grade point averages, the credit hours earned for work recorded on a pass/fail basis are not included in the hours attempted, if a pass is received. The credit hours for any such work recorded as a failure are included in the hours attempted. Consequently the credit hours for work recorded as a pass have no effect on the grade point average, but a failure in such work would adversely affect the grade point average.

Note: A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.20 is required for graduation. Students admitted with advanced standing must consult the associate dean to determine the manner by which their cumulative grade point averages will be calculated for class standing purposes. Students may review their status and progress with the associate dean or in the Office of the University Registrar. Grades are available after the close of each term via the Internet by using BannerWeb (https://bannerweb. richmond.edu). Students will need their student ID and PIN.

Grades are deemed correct unless notification to the contrary is received by the University Registrar within three (3) months after the close of the term specified.

Registration

Students shall register according to the instructions that are provided for each term. A student will not be permitted to attend class until his or her name has been entered on the official roster of that class by the University Registrar and arrangements satisfactory to the University have been made for that term's fees.

A student may register late, add courses, or opt for audit status in a course through the 10th class day of the semester provided that the specified approvals are obtained and fees, if any, are paid.

A student may withdraw from courses without academic record through the 15th class day of the semester. Withdrawals after this time will be shown on the academic record, and the student must present an adequate reason, receive the approval of the associate dean, and follow any specified administrative procedures including the payment of fees, if any.

Second- or third-year students may not register for more than 18 semester hours in any semester without special permission of the associate dean.

Class Attendance

Each student is expected to attend all meetings of all classes, including lectures, seminars, laboratories, and drills, in which he or she is enrolled. The specific attendance policy in each course, however, is determined by the instructor of the course, subject to the section on University Holidays below. The specific attendance policy for each course will be announced to the students and distributed on the course syllabus at the beginning of the course.

Faculty members will honor an official notification from the appropriate dean that a student is to be excused for participation in a University-sponsored event, such as choral performances off campus, intercollegiate athletic events, or judicial hearings at which the student must be present. A student generally will be held responsible for all work of a class or laboratory missed during an absence. Acceptance of any excuse for an absence, (other than those excused by the appropriate dean in the previous paragraph,) and any provision for makeup, will be at the discretion of the instructor, provided it is consistent with the announced policy for the course and with the University Holiday Schedule below. Missed classes, work, tests, and/or excessive absences with or without good cause may result in a poorer grade, or failure, in a course. (NOTE: Students enrolled in business school or School of Continuing Studies courses must attend at least 75 percent of the class meetings regardless of the reasons for absence to be eligible to receive credit for the course.)

Generally, absences that may be excused by faculty members include accident or illness, death or serious illness of a family member, bona fide religious holiday observance, or participation in other University activities such as field trips. Students should make arrangements with their instructors as far in advance as possible for the make up of any missed work. Students experiencing difficulty in making reasonable arrangements for make-up work may see their dean.

University Holidays

With the increasing diversity of the University community and the limited flexibility in setting the academic calendar, it is not possible to avoid some religious and secular holidays that are very important to some members of our faculty, staff, and student body. However, the University is very sensitive to the special needs of those who need to observe such holidays and will make accommodations for them to make up the time missed if arrangements are made in advance.

The University is officially closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. In addition, some schools are closed for classes on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day while others hold classes on those days. (See the appropriate academic calendar for specifics.)

Other holidays affecting University community members include Martin Luther King Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first two days of Passover, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. In consideration of their significance, students who observe these holidays will be given an opportunity to make up missed work in both laboratories and lecture courses. If a test or examination is given on the first class day after one of these holidays, it must not cover material introduced in class on that holiday. Faculty and staff should be aware that Jewish and Islamic holidays begin at sunset on the evening before the published date of the holiday.

The University recognizes that there are other holidays, both religious and secular, which are of importance to some individuals and groups on campus. Such occasions include, but are not limited to, Sukkoth, the last two days of Passover, Shavuot, Shemini Atzerat, and Simchat Torah, as well as the Islamic New Year, Ra's al-sana, and the Islamic holidays Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.

Students who wish to observe any such holidays must inform their instructors within the first two weeks of each semester of their intent to observe the holiday, even when the exact date of the holiday will not be known until later, so that alternative arrangements convenient to both the student and instructor can be made at the earliest opportunity. Students who make such arrangements will not be required to attend classes or take examinations on the designated days, and faculty must provide reasonable opportunities for such students to make up missed work and examinations. To facilitate this, faculty will announce and distribute all anticipated test and examination dates on the course syllabus, distributed at the beginning of each semester. Students should be aware that faculty may need to adjust these dates as necessary.

Auditing Courses

With the approval of the student's academic advisor, dean, and the instructor of the course, a student may register for a course on an audit basis. The regular rate of tuition is charged, and the audit course is counted as a part of the student's semester load. A permission form must be obtained from and returned with appropriate signatures to the Office of the University Registrar by the end of the 10th day of classes. Once the form is submitted to the University Registrar, the decision may not be reversed. An audited course cannot subsequently be taken for credit unless approved by the appropriate dean.

Academic Progress

At the end of the second semester (one year) of law study:

• A student who fails to attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.85 shall be required to withdraw from the law school

• A student whose cumulative grade point average is at least 1.85 but less than 2.00 shall be required to withdraw from the law school for one year

• At the end of the fourth and each subsequent semester of law study, a student who fails to attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.10 shall be required to withdraw from the law school

• A cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.20 is required for graduation.

Conditions

Any student who has failed to attain the requisite cumulative grade point average will be required to withdraw immediately from the law school, even though he or she has enrolled in the next semester's courses (including summer session courses).

The point at which a part-time student must attain the requisite grade point average shall be the time at which he or she has completed the substantial equivalent of the second semester of study and the substantial equivalent of the fourth and succeeding semesters of study. Such students will be notified in advance by the associate dean of the times at which the stated cumulative grade point averages must be met.

A student who has been required to withdraw under the 1.85 or 2.00 criteria stated above will not be readmitted to the law school with advanced standing. In the rare event of readmission, it is as an entering first year student with no credit for prior work. Nevertheless, the prior work will continue to be shown on the permanent academic record, but the grade point average will include only the course-work attempted after readmission.

Note: A failed first-year course must be retaken in the semester in which the course is next offered.

Examinations

Unless announced otherwise by the instructor, the length of an examination will be one hour for each semester hour of credit carried by the course. A student who finds that he or she will be unavoidably prevented from taking an examination at the time scheduled may receive permission to take the examination at a later date, if such fact is communicated to the dean or associate deans (academic affairs or student affairs) before the time at which the examination is scheduled. Unless excused by the dean or one of the associate deans, a student who fails to take an examination in a course for which he or she has registered will receive a grade of F in that course.

Honor System

All students, upon matriculation, become members of the Student Bar Association and agree to abide by and support the law school Honor System. The Honor System is administered by the students through a grievance committee and an honor court in accordance with procedures set forth in the honor court constitution. The Canons of Student Ethics provide that lying, cheating, or stealing under any circumstance relating to one's status as a law student are offenses against the honor system. An individual's status as a member of the Student Bar Association is conditioned upon his or her adherence to the honor system. The resulting atmosphere of personal integrity and trust is highly appropriate to a school preparing individuals for the honorable profession of law.

Standards of Conduct

The University of Richmond considers cultivation of self-discipline and resolution of issues through processes of reason to be of primary importance in the educational process and essential to the development of responsible citizens. All members of the University community are expected to conduct themselves, both within the University and elsewhere, in such a manner as to be a credit to themselves and to the University of Richmond. Moreover, they have a responsibility for complying with local, state, and federal laws, and with all published University policies and regulations. In a community of learning, individual or group conduct that is unlawful, that disrupts or interferes with the educational processes, that causes destruction of property, or otherwise infringes upon the rights of others or of the University itself, cannot be tolerated. The trustees of the University of Richmond have authorized a Policy Statement on Standards of Conduct, Penalties, and Disciplinary Procedures to guide the conduct of students and their guests. This statement sets forth those standards of conduct which the University of Richmond deems essential for fulfilling its educational mission. Any person who violates the standards of conduct and regulations of the University of Richmond shall be subject to disciplinary action and, if need be, legal action. Disciplinary action may range from reprimand/disciplinary warning up to and including dismissal or expulsion from the University. Penalties will be imposed after proper determination has been made in accordance with established disciplinary procedures of the University, with fair procedures observed and with appropriate appeal procedures available, as outlined in the policy statement and any approved revisions thereof.

A copy of this policy statement and/or any officially approved revisions thereof are readily available to each student who matriculates. All members of the University community should familiarize themselves with this policy statement and revisions, and with any other official publications, handbooks, or announcements issued from time to time by the University of Richmond or by individual colleges and schools of the University.

Academic Requirements

The Juris Doctor degree requires the successful completion of at least 86 semester hours of acceptable work and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.20. In addition, students must complete at least six full residence semesters over at least 90 calendar weeks. A full residence semester is defined as a 15-week period in which a student is enrolled for at least 10 semester hours and passes at least nine of those hours. This residence requirement is based on American Bar Association accreditation standards. Students intending to attend summer sessions in order to complete their degree requirements at the end of the fall term of their third year should consult the associate dean to determine if they will have the necessary credit hours and residence semesters by that time.

All academic requirements for the Juris Doctor degree must be completed within five calendar years.

Transfer Work

Transfer students or students who academically visit another law school (with permission) may apply no more than 30 hours of coursework done at another law school toward satisfaction of the 86 semester-hour requirement. In order for work to transfer, courses must be taken at an institution accredited as degree-granting by a recognized regional accrediting body for higher education and accredited by the American Bar Association at the time the coursework is completed. The coursework must be taken for a grade and, in order for the work to be transferred, a student must receive a C (2.0) or better in each course.

Transfer students will not be ranked within their respective classes. Instead, transfer students will receive a number corresponding to their position in the class if they had been ranked.

Changes in Catalog Information

Caution: The course offerings and requirements of the University of Richmond are under continual examination and revision. This catalog is not a contract; it merely presents the offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication and in no way guarantees that the offerings and requirements will not change. The University specifically reserves the right to change requirements for any major, minor, and/or program, and to implement them during any particular year.

The student assumes full responsibility for compliance with all academic requirements. Current course offerings may be obtained from the appropriate school or department.

Graduation Policies

Graduation with Honors

At the end of law school study, students who attain in the range of the following cumulative grade point averages are eligible to graduate with the designated honors: Class of 2009: 3.75 and above, summa cum laude; 3.50 to 3.74, magna cum laude; 3.25 to 3.49, cum laude; Class of 2010 and subsequent classes: 3.80 and above, summa cum laude; 3.60 to 3.79, magna cum laude; 3.40 to 3.59 cum laude.

Filing of Application

To graduate, a student must file a degree application and comply with the graduation attendance policy. Degree applications must be filed in the Office of the University Registrar by the second Friday in September for an anticipated completion by the coming February for December, spring or summer graduation.

Encumbrances

The degree will not be conferred unless the student's obligations to the University are satisfactorily resolved. These obligations include financial and administrative matters such as, but not limited to, delinquent payments, parking fines, or overdue library books.