Academic Rules for the JD Program

The Academic Rules below apply to your academic career at the College of Law. All students are required and assumed to know the Academic Rules in this document, and all notices posted on the official College website or sent to students by email, and the registration instructions and schedules published prior to registration each semester. In addition, students enrolled at the College of Law are subject to all Syracuse University rules, policies, and regulations applicable to graduate students.

All students enrolled at the College of Law must read and acknowledge their understanding of these rules prior to October 15th of their first semester. Any student who does not submit their acknowledgement of these rules will not be permitted to register for Spring courses.

Knowledge of Rules

All students are required and assumed to know the Academic Rules in this Handbook, all notices posted on the official College website or sent to students by email, and the registration instructions and schedules published prior to registration each semester. In addition, students enrolled at the College of Law are subject to all Syracuse University rules, policies, and regulations applicable to graduate students.

Note on Bar Admissions

The Academic Rules relate only to the requirements to obtain a law degree from Syracuse University. Students who intend to seek admission to practice law should independently research whether there are any special requirements, including taking specific courses, that must be satisfied for admission to the bar in their chosen jurisdiction. For example, students planning to sit for the New York State Bar Exam must comply with the New York Court of Appeals’ experiential learning and pro bono requirements. The College of Law follows Pathway 1 for experiential learning.

Application of Rules

Most of these Rules apply to all students pursuing the J.D. degree, whether in the residential or JDi program. However, there are a limited number of rules that apply solely to students in one program or the other. Students should carefully review the rules and exceptions that apply to their program of study.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, these Rules, and any amendments, shall apply to all students in the College of Law beginning with the first full semester after the date of enactment and on a prospective basis.

Students who believe that they have reasonably relied on a prior rule and would be unfairly prejudiced by the application of the amended rule may file a petition with the Academic Standards Committee requesting relief from the amended rule.

Questions of Interpretation

Students with questions about the application of these rules shall initially consult with the Associate Dean of Students. Disputes concerning the meaning of these rules shall be resolved by the officer or committee designated to resolve such disputes, or, in the absence of a specific designation, by the procedures in Article IX.

Petitions and Hearing Process

Many of these rules require students to file petitions seeking approvals or variances from either the Academic Standards Committee or the Designated Administrative Officer. At the beginning of each semester, and as needed from time to time, the Dean shall designate one or more individuals to serve as Designated Administrative Officers to determine petitions under these rules. Such officers may, in their discretion, forward any petition to the Academic Standards Committee for determination if the issue involves an important question of law school policy or a matter of significant controversy. The Academic Standards Committee shall have jurisdiction to consider petitions not designated by these rules to an individual, officer or committee, and over appeals from administrative decisions in accordance with Article IX.

All student petitions or appeals allowed by these Rules, including requests for a variance, must be submitted in writing. Students will be permitted to submit whatever documentation they wish in support of their petition. Students shall have no right of personal appearance before the Designated Administrative Officer or the Academic Standards Committee. Unless otherwise allowed by these Rules, the decisions of the Designated Administrative Officer and/or the Academic Standards Committee shall be final and not subject to appeal.

Current students may read more about the general waiver request process here.

1. Credit Hours and Credit Minimum Credit Requirements

To graduate, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 87 semester credit hours in approved courses. Such credit hours must be earned during the requisite period in residence prescribed for the program in which the student is enrolled.

(A) Minimum Law or University Credit: At least 58 of the 87 credit hours required for the J.D. degree must be earned in approved courses.

(B) Minimum Classroom Credits: At least 64 of the 87 credits required for the J.D. degree must be earned in courses that require attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction.

(C) Credit Limits for Non-Instructional Activities

(i) Credits for Externships: A maximum of 6 credits earned from externships will be counted toward the 87 total credits needed for graduation. Credit earned for participation in the externship seminar does not count toward this limit.

(ii) Credits for Special Activities: A maximum of 4 credits earned from participation in Advocacy Honor Society, Inter-Collegiate Advocacy Terms; Law Review, Journals and Impunity Watch will be counted toward the 87 total credits needed for graduation.

(iii) Combined Credit Limits: A maximum of 10 credits earned for participation in non-instructional activities, including externships and other special activities, will be counted toward the 87 total credits needed for graduation.

(D) Exemption from Credit Limitations: The credit limitations expressed in Rule 1(C) above do not apply to students who are approved to participate in the Orange Flex Program or the New York State Pro Bono Scholar Program. In all other circumstances, the Designated Administrative Officer may grant an exemption from the expressed limitations based upon a petition from the student demonstrating compelling need. Current students can read more about exemption from non-instructional credit limitations here.

2. Minimum Grade-Point Average for Graduation

To graduate, students must obtain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 or above.

3. Required Courses for the J.D. Degree

(A) To receive the J.D. degree, students must successfully complete all required courses for their program of study. All transfer students, regardless of program, are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in their transfer letter received at the time of the offer of admission to the College of Law.

(i) All J.D. students must successfully complete the Required Lower-Division Courses. The Required Lower-Division Courses are Civil Procedure, Contracts, Torts, Legal Communication and Research I, Constitutional Law I, Criminal Law, Property, Legal Communication and Research II, and Professional Responsibility.

Note: JDi students must take Professional Responsibility after the fourth semester of enrollment but all JDi sections of Professional Responsibility will be subject to the Lower-Division Grading Curve.

(ii) All J.D. students must successfully complete the Required Upper-Division Courses. The Required Upper-Division Courses are Constitutional Law II, one course meeting the Administrative/Statutory/Legislative requirement, one course meeting the Professional Writing requirement, one course meeting the Cultural Competency requirement, and one or more experiential courses totaling at least 6 credits

(a) Administrative/Statutory/Legislative Requirement: All students must successfully complete a course that covers the fundamentals of administrative law and/or statutory interpretation, prior to graduation. Courses meeting the Administrative/Statutory/Legislative Requirement will be designated in the course schedule.

(b) Professional Writing Requirement: All students must successfully complete a professional writing course that covers skills for writing the types of documents that lawyers prepare in practice. Students may not use the same course(s) to satisfy the six (6) credit experiential course requirement and the Professional Writing Requirement. Courses meeting the Professional Writing Requirement will be designated in the course schedule.

(c) Cultural Competency Requirement: All students must successfully complete a cultural competency-related course. Courses meeting the Cultural Competency Requirement will be designated in the course schedule.

(d) Experiential Learning Requirement: All students must successfully complete one or more experiential course(s), totaling at least six credit hours. Courses meeting the Experiential Learning Requirement will be designated in the course schedule.

(iii) JDi Externship Requirement: All students enrolled in the JDi program must earn at least two credits in an externship placement and one credit in the externship seminar. Upon petition from a JDi student, and for good cause shown, the Designated Administrative Officer can waive the externship requirement. Current students can read more about waiving the JDi externship requirement here.

(iv) JDi In-Residence Course Requirement: All JDi students must complete six (6) courses in-residence in the following order: (1) Legal Foundations; (2) Legal Applications; (3) two Professional Skills Courses; and (4) two Advanced Legal Topics courses.

4. Sequence of Coursework

(A) Absent extremely compelling circumstances, and with the advance written approval of the Designated Administrative Officer, JD students shall not repeat any Required Lower-Division Courses prior to completing all Required Lower-Division courses. If a student is permitted to repeat a Required Lower-Division Course prior to completion of all such courses, then only the first grade earned shall be used for purposes of academic dismissal under Article VI, Rule 1.

(B) Students must successfully complete all lower-division courses before enrolling in upper- division courses. Students who have not completed the Required Lower-Division Courses may only enroll in upper-division with the prior approval of the Designated Administrative Officer. Students bear a heavy burden of establishing extraordinary circumstances to justify seeking such a waiver.

(C) Students shall not enroll in courses outside The College of Law prior to completing the Required Lower-Division Courses. Students who have completed the Required Lower-Division Courses may only enroll in non law courses as part of an approved joint degree program or with approval under Article IV Rule 1(D).

Current students can read more about changing their sequence of College of Law coursework here.

5. Repeating Courses

Students who receive a grade below “C-” in a graded course, or below “P” in a non-graded course, shall not receive academic credit for the course. If the student is required, or elects, to repeat the course, the original grade given in the repeated course will continue to appear on the student’s transcript but only the highest grade earned will be calculated in the student’s cumulative grade-point average or class rank. No additional credit hours will be awarded for a repeated course.

(A) Mandatory Repeat: A student who receives a grade below “C-” in a course that the student is required to complete for graduation will be required to repeat the course prior to graduation.

(B) Voluntary Repeat: Any student may elect to repeat a course previously taken.

6. Structured Curriculum Requirement

(A) Students who obtain a grade-point average (GPA) below 2.90 in the Required Lower- Division Courses taken for the first time shall be required to follow the Structured Curriculum. Students required to follow the Structured Curriculum will be notified by letter following completion of the Required Lower-Division Courses.

(B) The Structured Curriculum requirements shall apply to part-time students and reduced load students who obtain a grade-point average (GPA) below 2.90 in whatever Required Lower- Division Courses such students have completed after their first two calendar semesters of study. Such students who obtain a GPA of 2.90 or above in the Required Lower-Division Courses after completing their final Required Lower-Division Course will be relieved of the Structured Curriculum requirements for future enrollment.

(C) Students subject to the Structured Curriculum requirement must take the following courses for a letter grade: (1) Business Associations; (2) Evidence; and (3) Constitutional Criminal Procedure Adjudicative or Constitutional Criminal Procedure Investigative.

(D) The Structured Curriculum Requirement cannot be waived.

7. Foundational Skills for Academic Success Requirement

(A) Foundational Skills for Academic Success is a required course for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or lower in the Lower-Division Required Courses. Students who are required to take Foundational Skills for Academic Success pursuant to this Rule shall be notified by letter prior to course registration. JDr students must complete this course in the first fall semester following completion of the Lower Division and JDi students must complete this course in the first summer semester following completion of the Lower Division.

(B) The Foundational Skills for Academic Success Requirement cannot be waived.

8. Foundational Skills for Attorney Licensing Requirement

(A) Foundational Skills for Attorney Licensing is a required course for all students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or lower at the end of the first semester in which they earn 60 or more law credits. Students who are required to take Foundational Skills for Attorney Licensing pursuant to this Rule shall be notified by letter prior to course registration.

(B) The Foundational Skills for Attorney Licensing Requirement cannot be waived.

9. Pre-Matriculation Credit

Except in the case of credit accepted for transfer students or students enrolled through the Two-Year J.D. Program for Foreign Law Graduates, no credit towards the J.D. degree will be given for offerings taken prior to full matriculation in the College of Law. Credit earned by transfer and Two-Year J.D. students at prior law schools will be accepted only for offerings graded B or higher (or the equivalent) and will be recorded by the College of Law on a pass basis.

10. Good Standing Requirement

Students enrolled in the College of Law must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above to remain in good standing. Article VI governs academic dismissal and probation for students not in good standing.

11. Timely Completion of Degree

Students must complete all degree requirements within seven years of their start date, regardless of part- time status, leaves of absence, failed courses, repeated courses or other delays.

12. Completion of Degree Requirements and Academic Program

Students must complete their academic program (graduate) at the end of the term in which they complete all degree requirements.

13. Enrollment in Degree Programs at Other Institutions

JD students are prohibited from being simultaneously enrolled in a separate degree program at another institution.

1. Full-time Residential Students

Any student admitted to the residential program shall be deemed a full-time student and shall be required to satisfy the course load requirements of full-time students so long as he or she remains a full-time student. Students in the residential program must successfully complete at least six academic semesters in full-time status, or alternatively, five academic semesters plus summer sessions in full-time status. Full time students must adhere to the minimum and maximum course loads, unless they are approved for a modified first-year course load.

(A) Academic Semester Course Loads

(i) Full-time residential students must register for and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours during each fall and spring semester. Full-time residential students who intend to register for fewer than 12 credit hours in a fall or spring semester must receive approval from the Designated Administrative Officer to transfer to part-time student status. Current students can read more about approval to transition to part-time status here.

(ii) Full-time residential students shall not exceed 17 credit hours during any fall or spring semester unless they are enrolled in an approved joint degree program. Students participating in an approved joint degree program shall not exceed 19 credit hours during any fall or spring semester.

(B) Summer Sessions

Full-time residential students shall not exceed 8 credit hours during any summer session offered by the College of Law.

(C) Reduced First-Year Course Load for JDr Students

First-year residential students, including admitted transfer students, may petition the Designated Administrative Officer to take a reduced course load of no less than 12 credits per semester.

Petitions seeking a reduced course load must demonstrate compelling circumstances, including, but not limited to: (1) financial circumstances requiring the student to work while attending law school; (2) family circumstances; and (3) English language difficulties. Current students can read more about permission to reduce their lower division courseload here.

2. Part-time Residential Students

Any residential student admitted on a part-time basis shall be deemed a part-time student and shall be required to satisfy the following course load requirements for part-time residential students so long as the student remains a part- time student. Residential students in a part-time program must successfully complete ten semesters or less in part- time status. Residential part-time students must adhere to the following minimum and maximum course loads.

(A) Part-time Minimum Course Load (JDr)

Part-time residential students must register for and complete a minimum of six credit hours during each fall and spring semester. Exceptions to the minimum course load requirement for part-time students must be approved in advance by the Designated Administrative Officer.

(B) Part-time Maximum Course Load (JDr)

Part-time residential students shall not exceed 11 credit hours during any fall or spring semester or 4 credit hours during any summer session. Part-time residential students who intend to exceed the maximum course load in a particular semester must receive approval from the Designated Administrative Officer to transfer to full-time student status. Current part-time residential students can read more about requesting exemptions from minimum and/or maximum courseloads here.

3. Academic Semester Course Loads for JDinteractive Students

(A) JDi Course Load in First Four Semesters

JDi students must follow the proscribed schedule in their first four semesters of study. During their first four semesters of study, JDi students may request a reduced or increased load only in extraordinary circumstances. Petitions for changes in course load during the first four semesters must be approved by the Designated Administrative Officer before registration closes for the semester in which the change will take effect.

(B) Minimum Course Load (JDi)

After the first four semesters, JDi students do not have a specific minimum course load. JDi students who do not intend to enroll for any credits in a particular semester must request a Leave of Absence.

(C) Maximum Course Load (JDi)

After the first four semesters, JDi students shall register for courses in a given semester up to 11 credits. Once all eligible students have had a reasonable time to register for classes, students may have the opportunity to register for one additional course if it is available to their cohort and seats are available. JDi students will not be approved for more than one additional course per semester under this rule.

Current JDi students can read more about requesting changes to their courseloads here.

1. Dropping Courses

Students may drop, or be dropped from, courses pursuant to the following procedures:

(A) Except for Required Lower-Division Courses, No-Drop Courses and Limited-Drop Courses, students may elect to drop a course without prior approval during the “add/drop period” established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar.

(i) Dropping Lower-Division Courses

A student may drop a Required Lower-Division Course only with the advance approval of the Designated Administrative Officer in consultation with the instructor of the relevant course. Approval will be granted only to students who demonstrate compelling reasons for dropping a required Lower-Division course.

(ii) No-Drop Courses

Clinics, externships, or any other limited enrollment course designated in the registration instructions as “NO DROP” courses may not be dropped at any time after the close of the Registration period, except with the permission of the instructor and the Designated Administrative Officer.

(iii) Limited-Drop Courses

Seminars, experiential, or applied learning courses, trial practice courses and other courses designated in the registration instructions as “limited enrollment” courses may only be dropped prior to the first day of classes. After the first day of classes, limited-drop courses may only be dropped with the permission of the instructor and the Designated Administrative Officer. Current Students may read more about dropping courses pursuant to these academic rules here.

(iv) Faculty Drop

At any time during the semester, if a student’s absences exceed those permitted by a faculty member’s attendance policy as described in the course syllabus, or the faculty member believes that the student is disrupting the class or violating any other policy contained in the faculty member’s syllabus, or, in a clinical course, if the student is not consistently working on cases the required number of hours as outlined in the course requirements, the faculty member may file a request with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs to drop the student from the course. The Associate Dean for Academic Programs shall meet with the student to discuss the request and shall drop the student from the course or set specific guidelines for the student’s continued enrollment in the course. The decision of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs shall be final.

(B) After the published “add/drop period,” students may only drop a class, or discontinue enrollment in a full-year course, with the written approval of the Designated Administrative Officer, in consultation with the instructor of the relevant course.

(C) Students are not permitted to drop a course after the last day the course meets as established by the applicable course schedule as established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar.

(D) Students who drop, or are dropped from, courses after the financial drop deadline will receive a WD for the course on their transcript. Students who drop, or are dropped from, a course will only receive a refund if the course is dropped prior to the financial drop deadline, as established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar.

2. Adding Courses

Students may add courses during the add/drop period established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar without approval.

3.JDi / JDr Cross Enrollment

Cross enrollment in the JDi/JDr programs is permitted in the following circumstances:

(A) JDr Enrollment in JDi Classes

JDr students must petition the Designated Administrative Officer for permission to enroll in a JDi course. JDr students who are not in the “Orange Flex” program are not permitted to enroll in more than two JDi courses per academic year.

Petitions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and according to the following factors:

(i) the total course enrollment does not exceed 32 students;
(ii) the number of seats available in the class after JDi and JDr students in the “Orange Flex” program register (if the addition of the student would cause the course enrollment to exceed the course cap, the instructor teaching the course must grant the student permission);
(iii) the petitioning student has a cumulative GPA above 3.00;
(iv) the course is not a required course scheduled for the first two semesters of the JDi program;
(v) the petitioning student can show good cause to enroll in the course.

Current students can read more about requesting enrollment in a JDi course here.

Note: Enrollment will not be confirmed until 14 days prior to the start of the semester in which the course will be taken.

(B) JDi Enrollment in Residential Classes

JDi students must petition the Designated Administrative Officer for permission to enroll in a residential course. Enrollment is at the discretion of the Designated Administrative Officer in consultation with the Associate Dean for Online Education.

Current students can read more about requesting enrollment in a JDr course here.

Petitions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and according to the following factors:

(i) the number of seats available in the class after JDr students register (if the addition of the student would cause the course enrollment to exceed the course cap, the instructor teaching the course must grant the student permission);
(ii) petitioning student has a cumulative GPA above 3.00;
(iii) the student is able to attend substantially all live sessions in the scheduled modality.

Note: Enrollment will not be confirmed until 14 days prior to the start of the semester in which the course will be taken.

4. Orange Flex Program

The Orange Flex program allows residential students to participate in a geographically remote externship during their 3L year while satisfying remaining graduation credits with online JDi classes. Students participating in Orange Flex must secure placement in an in-person (not remote/online) externship that has been approved by the Director of Externships. Residential students shall not receive credit for a geographically remote externship during a fall or spring semester, unless they are participating in the Orange Flex program.

(A) Eligibility

Students shall not be eligible to participate in Orange Flex if they are on academic probation or are required to follow the Structured Curriculum. Students shall not be eligible to participate in the Orange Flex program if their cumulative GPA at the time of their application is 3.00 or below.

(B) Program Prerequisites

Orange Flex students must complete all required upper-division courses (Constitutional Law II, Professional Writing Requirement, Administrative/Statutory Law course, and Cultural Competency Course) as well as any courses required for certificates before the start of their first semester in the Orange Flex program.

(B) Course Enrollment

Orange Flex students will not be required to show cause to register in JDi online classes but are only eligible to enroll in a particular JDi class if seats are available following registration by JDi students. Orange Flex students are not guaranteed enrollment in any particular JDi class.

(C) Total Credit Limits

Orange Flex students may not exceed 23 credits total for externship placement, externship seminar, and clinic credits, inclusive of Orange Flex and credits earned prior to participation in Orange Flex.

Note: Orange Flex students who intend to sit for the New York State Bar Examination may not exceed 15 total credits in online classes (“distance learning”), inclusive of classes taken during Orange Flex and at any other time.

5. Auditing Courses

No limited-enrollment course may be taken as an audit. All other courses may be audited, or changed to an audit, with the advance approval of the Designated Administrative Officer and the consent of the faculty member provided that the request is made prior to the Audit Deadline as established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar. Faculty members may permit or deny course audits at their discretion. A decision by the faculty member, or the Designated Administrative Officer, to deny an audit shall be final. Only current students of the College of Law, or Syracuse University, may audit a course at the College of Law. Students auditing courses will not receive a grade or academic credit for the course, but the successful completion of the audited course will be reported on the student’s transcript.

Current students can read more about auditing a College of Law course here.

1. Course and Non-Course Offerings for Credit

(A) Instructional Courses: Instructional courses require attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction, which includes traditional courses, clinics, and the externship seminar.

(B) Independent Research: A student may earn 1 to 2 hours of credit for independent research under faculty supervision which results in a significant research product by the student, on a topic of the student’s choice that is approved by the faculty supervisor. Students may not register for more than four total credit hours of independent research projects during their law school careers. Independent Research Projects must be graded on the Alternative Grading System.

(C) Non-Instructional Credits: Non-Instructional Credits Students may receive credit, graded on a Pass/Fail basis, for the following: Externships; Advocacy Honor Society; Inter-Collegiate Advocacy Terms; Law Review, Journals and Impunity Watch. To earn non-instructional credit, students must maintain and submit time records showing that they performed the requisite hours of work per credit hour requested, and their time records must be approved by an appropriate representative(s). See the Determination of to ascertain the hours required for various activities. See Article I, Rule 1 for additional limitations on externship and other special activities credit.

(D) Non-Law Courses for Academic Credit: Students, other than first-year students, may earn a maximum of six credit hours toward the J.D. degree by successfully completing graduate-level non-law offerings in other branches of Syracuse University. The student must demonstrate that such non-law offerings will contribute to the student’s professional development or will advance the student’s career-related goals. Grades earned in non-law offerings shall not be calculated into a student’s law GPA or class rank but will appear on the student’s university transcript and will be calculated into the transcript GPA. Current students may read more about earning credit toward their J.D. degree by earning non-law credits at Syracuse University here.

2. Conduct of Classes

(A) Class Attendance: Regular and punctual class attendance is required to earn academic credit and to satisfy attendance requirements. Faculty may adopt rules in their syllabus dropping students from the course if they miss more than the permitted number of courses.

(B) Class Recording: The consent of the instructor is required before a student may make a recording of a class session or any part thereof. The instructor shall announce his or her policy regarding recording, if any, in his or her syllabus, or on the first day of classes. Students with disabilities may be allowed to record classes as an approved accommodation. Class recordings remain the property of the College of Law or the professor and may not be posted on any publicly accessible boards or websites, or disseminated to others, without the professor’s or the College of Law’s express written consent.

(C) Class Participation: All College of Law instructors shall announce on the first day of classes, or set forth in the syllabus, the extent to which class participation shall be considered in determining the final grade in the class. In no event shall class participation count for more than one-third of such final grade in any course. Where the instructor does choose to consider class participation in determining the final grade, the administrative process used to calculate such final grade shall be such as to assure anonymity of the non-class-participation portion of the grade.

3. Examinations

Examinations will generally be administered during the mid-term exam period and the final exam period as established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar.

(A) Variations in Examination Schedules

Students may arrange the following variations in the examination schedule.

(i) Same Day Examination

When a student has two examinations scheduled on a single calendar day, they may postpone the date of one such examination to the next business day according to the published examination schedule. The exam to be postponed will be at the discretion of the Designated Administrative Officer.

(ii) Disability Accommodations

Students may request disability related exam variations through the Syracuse University Center for Disability Resources. The College of Law will ensure implementation of any testing accommodation approved by the Syracuse University Center for Disability Resources.

(B) Postponed Examinations

Students are required to take their examinations when scheduled. A student will be permitted to postpone an examination only with advance written authorization from the Designated Administrative Officer for extremely compelling circumstances, such as serious illness or injury, that prevents the student from taking the examination when scheduled.

The Designated Administrative Officer may require documentation to establish the claimed compelling circumstances, such as a certification of illness from a medical doctor. Students who are unable to take a scheduled exam due to an unforeseen emergency or other unexpected event, must make all reasonable efforts to seek a postponement in advance. If advance permission is not practicable, the student shall make all reasonable efforts to seek such permission at the earliest possible opportunity.

(i) Completing Postponed Examinations

Students must complete their postponed examination within the time set by the Designated Administrative Officer. The Designated Administrative Officer will generally require completion within the regular exam period. If the exam cannot be completed with the regular exam period, it must be completed no later than one week before the grading deadline established for the course. In extraordinary circumstances, the Designated Administrative Officer with the concurrence of the professor may postpone an examination until the end of the following semester.

(ii) Unauthorized Postponement

Absent extremely compelling circumstances, any student who fails to appear for a scheduled final examination, without permission from the Designated Administrative Officer to postpone the exam, shall receive a grade of zero on the exam. Students who arrive late for a scheduled examination will not receive extended time and must complete the examination in whatever standard time remains for the examination. Current students may read more about postponing an examination here.

(C) Review of Examination Papers

Students shall have the right to review their graded examination in accordance with procedures established by the instructor. In cases in which the instructor deems it appropriate, the instructor may require that the student not remove the graded examination or examination questions from the instructor’s office or any other location where the student is permitted to review the exam.

4. Grading Basis for College of Law Courses

The registration schedule will indicate whether each course is subject to the Grading Curve, the Alternative Grading System, or is offered on a Pass/Fail basis. Instructors shall indicate on their syllabus and explain to students on the first day of class, the basis for grading in the course.

(A) Grading Curve Courses

Grading Curve Courses include courses that students are required to take for graduation as well as courses that the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and/or Professor have determined are appropriate for grading on the Grading Curve. Students seeking law credit for Grading Curve Courses will be graded according to the curve set forth below. Non-law students, LL.M. students, S.J.D. students and law students who are not seeking law credit for a jointly offered course, will be graded separately on any grading scale the professor wishes to use.

(i) Required Grading Curve

Except as otherwise provided herein, the following will apply to all courses subject to the Grading Curve:

Not more than 10% of the grades may be “A”
Not more than 20% of the grades may be “A-”
Not more than 25% of the grades may be “B+”
At least an additional 10% of the grades in the Required Lower-Division Courses shall be “C” or lower

(B) Alternative Grading System

In accordance with the procedure adopted by the faculty, the Associate Dean for Academic Programs will determine which courses are eligible to be graded on this Alternative Grading System. Courses to be graded on the Alternative Grading System will be designated as such in the class schedule.

Faculty teaching courses on the Alternative grading system shall assign one of the following grades to each student in the class: High-Honors, Honors, Pass or Fail. Courses graded on the Alternative Grading System will not count in the student’s law school or transcript grade-point average or class rank. Students must receive a grade of “P” or higher to receive academic credit for the course.

(C) Pass/Fail Courses

Certain courses which the Associate Dean for Academic Programs determines cannot be reliably graded on either the Grading Curve or the Alternative Grading System may be designated as a course to be graded exclusively on a Pass/Fail basis.

1. Grading Basis

All offerings by the College of Law will be graded using the grades associated with the grading basis designation for the course.

(A) Letter Grades

Student performance in offerings by the College of Law graded on the Grading Curve shall be graded by assignment of one of the following grades with indicated grade points:

GRADE	GRADE POINT
A	4.000
A-	3.667
B+	3.333
B	3.000
B-	2.667
C+	2.333
C	2.000
C-	1.667
D	1.000
D-	0.667
F	0.000

(B) Alternative Grading System Grades

Faculty offering courses on the Alternative Grading System may designate grades of high honors (HH), honors (H), pass (P) or fail (F). Students will not receive academic credit for grades of “F”.

(C) Pass/Fail Grades

Faculty offering courses graded exclusively on Pass/Fail basis may designate grades of Pass or Fail. Students will not receive academic credit for grades of “F”.

(D) Non-Attendance Grades

A grade of NA (Non-Attendance) will be entered by the College of Law Registrar for any course where the student did not attend any classes. For JDi students, accessing the asynchronous course content counts as attendance.

2. Optional Pass/Fail

Prior to the optional pass/fail deadline, a student may elect to be graded on a Pass/Fail basis for a total of seven credit hours in eligible courses. The seven credits optional pass/fail credits do not include any credit earned in offerings graded exclusively on a Pass/Fail basis or the Alternative Grading System. The option may be elected in any one or more semesters but cannot not exceed seven total credit hours during the student’s entire period of enrollment in the College of Law. The form must be submitted prior to the Optional Pass/Fail deadline established by the applicable College of Law Academic Calendar. Students cannot change their election once it has been made.

(A) Pass/Fail Option Ineligible Courses

The following courses not eligible for the Pass/Fail Option: (1) the Required Lower-Division Courses, (2) Constitutional Law II, and (3) Structured Curriculum courses for students following the Structured Curriculum. All other College of Law courses, other than those specified above, are eligible for Optional Pass/Fail.

(B) Pass/Fail Option Grading and Academic Credit

Students electing the Pass/Fail Option shall receive a grade of “Pass” only when the student’s performance would have merited a grade of “C+” or higher grade had the offering not been subject to Pass/Fail grading. Students who would have earned a grade of “C”, “C-”, “D”, “D-” or “F” in the course shall receive that grade despite an election to take the course on the Pass/Fail Option.

Students cannot change their election once it has been made. Current students can read more here about electing the pass/fail option.

3. Incomplete Grades

Upon the approval of the instructor and the Designated Administrative Officer, a student may be given a grade of “incomplete” when the required work for any offering has not been completed by the end of the semester due to serious illness or other extremely compelling circumstances.

Course work must be completed and the grade “incomplete” replaced by a final grade before the end of the grading period for the next regular semester or such “incomplete” shall be converted to an F. Exceptions may be granted in appropriate cases by petition to the Academic Standards Committee. No student shall receive credit towards graduation for a grade of “incomplete” and students with a grade of “incomplete” are not eligible for graduation.

4. Grade Changes

After grades in a course are officially posted by the Office of the Registrar, the instructor may not change any grades except upon a showing of a mathematical or clerical error in the determination of the posted grade. Mathematical or clerical errors should be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs for approval. Grade changes are not allowed for discretionary or judgment errors in evaluating student work or assigning grades.

5. Grade Challenges

A student may challenge a posted grade only upon a clear showing of abuse of process, and only after meeting with the faculty member to discuss the student’s concern.

A student alleging an abuse of process in grading must submit a petition to the Designated Administrative Officer. The Designated Administrative Officer shall deny any petition that fails to establish a prima facie case of abuse of process. If the Designated Administrative Officer believes that the petition establishes a prima facie case of abuse of process, the petition shall be forwarded to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs for final determination. No appeal is available from the final determination of the Designated Administrative Officer or the Associate Dean of Academic Programs. Current students may read more here about submitting a grade challenge.

6. Calculation of College of Law Grade-Point Average

A student’s College of Law grade-point average shall be calculated based solely on grades received in courses taken at the College of Law that were graded on the Grading Curve. Courses taken outside of the College of Law, even pursuant to an approved Joint Degree Program, are not counted in the College of Law GPA. The College of Law GPA is the sole basis for calculating class ranks, Dean’s list, and graduation honors.

7. Dean’s List

In recognition of excellence in academic achievement, any student who is in the top 25% of that student’s class during a given semester shall be placed on the Dean’s List for such semester, pursuant to the following rules:

(A) Full-Time Students – Fall and Spring Semesters

Full-time students are eligible for the Dean’s List for any semester in which they completed courses totaling at least 12 credit hours, of which 9 credit hours were fully graded in the College of Law.

(B) Full-Time Students – Summer Semester

Full-time students are eligible for the Dean’s List during the summer semester in which they completed courses totaling at least 6 credit hours, of which 6 credit hours were fully graded in the College of Law.

(C) Part-Time Students – All Semesters

Part-time students are eligible for the Dean’s List for any semester in which they completed courses totaling at least 6 credit hours, of which 6 credit hours were fully graded in the College of Law.

8. Graduation Honors

College of Law graduation honors will be awarded based solely on the College of Law GPA. To be eligible for graduation honors, students must earn at least 54 fully graded credit hours in College of Law offerings.

(A) Calculation

Graduation honors shall be awarded as follows:

Summa Cum Laude: 3.80 and above
Magna Cum Laude: 3.60 – 3.79
Cum Laude: 3.40 – 3.59

(B) Final Semester Grades

Honors for December and May graduates shall be awarded on the basis of all grades through the fall semester preceding May commencement; honors for August graduates shall be awarded on the basis of all grades through the preceding spring semester; provided, however, those graduates whose grade-point averages are raised, on the basis of their final semester’s grades, to the cutoffs set out above, shall be graduated with the specified honors.

1. Dismissal for Academic Deficiency

(A) All students in the JD program, whether full-time or part-time, JDi or JDr, who have a GPA below 2.50 in the Required Lower-Division Courses upon completion of such courses will be dismissed without the right to petition for academic probation or appeal.

(i) The assessment for Lower-Division Dismissal will occur immediately after the semester in which a student completes their last Required Lower-Division Course.

(ii) If a student has repeated one or more of the Required Lower-Division Courses prior to completion of all Required Lower-Division Courses, the first grade earned in each Required Lower-Division Course shall be used for the purposes of determining dismissal under this Rule.

(B) Dismissal or Probation after Second Semester of Study

Students who do not complete all of the Required Lower-Division Courses within the first two calendar semesters of study, including JDi, part-time, and reduced load students, shall be subject to dismissal if their GPA in whatever Required Lower-Division Courses they have completed is below 2.25. Such students may petition the Academic Standards Committee to remain enrolled for one or more additional semesters to complete the Required Lower Division Courses.

(i) Content of Petition for Probation after Second Semester of Study. Students who submit a petition to remain enrolled on probation under this Rule must (1) demonstrate that their performance is the result of hardships or other compelling circumstances that are not likely to continue; and (2) make an affirmative showing that they possesses the requisite ability, and will make the requisite effort, to complete the Lower-Division Required Courses with a final GPA of 2.50 or above. Students petitioning to remain enrolled on probation shall have no right of personal appearance before the Academic Standards Committee and all appeals must be based on the student’s written petition. Students will be permitted to submit whatever documentation they wish in support of their petition.

(ii) Ruling on Petitions for Probation after Second Semester of Study. The Academic Standards Committee shall have absolute discretion to grant or deny a petition to remain enrolled, and its decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

(iii) Special Requirements While on Probation Prior to Completing the Lower-Division Required Courses. Students who are allowed to continue on probation under this Rule may not engage in extra-curricular activities and will be required to participate in any counseling or tutoring required by the Office of Academic and Bar Success, until completion of all Required Lower Division Courses.

(iv) General Dismissal Rules Applicable After Completion of Required Lower Division Courses. A student who is allowed to continue on probation will be subject to the general dismissal rules in Article VI, Rule 1(A) upon completing the Required Lower-Division Courses.

(C) Upper-Division Dismissal and Graduation

In every semester following completion of the Required Lower-Division Courses, any student who has a cumulative Law GPA below 2.50 in courses offered by the College of Law shall be dismissed. Such students may petition the Academic Standards Committee to be placed on academic probation for one or more additional semesters or to retake courses to improve their GPA.

Students who submit a petition to remain enrolled on probation under this Rule must (1) demonstrate that their performance is the result of hardships or other compelling circumstances that are not likely to continue; and (2) make an affirmative showing that they possesses the requisite ability, and will make the requisite effort, to graduate with a final GPA of 2.50 or above. Students petitioning to remain enrolled on probation shall have no right of personal appearance before the Academic Standards Committee and all appeals must be based on the student’s written petition. Students will be permitted to submit whatever documentation they wish in support of their petition.

2. Leaves of Absence

A leave of absence allows a student to withdraw from the College of Law, to return later to continue studies without going through the usual admissions process, and to retain credit for work completed satisfactorily prior to the leave. The Designated Administrative Officer may approve any student’s petition to take a leave of absence for a specified period not to exceed one year.

Students who take a leave of absence prior to completing the Required Lower-Division courses will not be permitted to repeat Required Lower-Division courses prior to completing all the Required Lower- Division courses.

Students who do not return upon the expiration of their approved leave of absence, shall be dismissed from the College of Law.

3. Readmission

Students who are dismissed for academic deficiency, and students who take unauthorized leaves of absence (including those who do not return to the College of Law when their approved leave expires), must apply for re-admission through the normal admission process by submitting the standard application for admission and such other materials as the College of Law may require.

(A) Students Dismissed for Academic Deficiency

(i) Students who are dismissed for academic deficiency, and are not eligible for or not granted probation, are not permitted to petition to continue by repeating the first year.

(ii) Dismissed students who are readmitted may not resume their law studies earlier than twelve months from the final date of dismissal and their re-application materials must demonstrate that they have remediated all obstacles and deficiencies that caused their failure on the first attempt.

(iii) Readmitted students seeking credit for prior courses taken at the College of Law must request credit prior to admission, and credit is given in the sole discretion of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Such approval must be given in writing prior to enrollment and may be given only for offerings graded “B” or higher, or its equivalent. Approved credit for prior courses will be recorded by the College of Law on a Pass basis.

(B) Unauthorized Leaves of Absence

Students who take unauthorized leaves of absence, and those who do not return to the College of Law when their approved leave expires, shall not receive or retain credit for any prior courses taken, except with the approval of the Academic Standards Committee.

1. Requirements for Admission

Admission to approved Joint Degree Programs is generally open to all full-time residential students who have completed the required lower division courses. Admission to the JDi/MBA joint degree program is generally open to all JDi students who have successfully completed the required lower division courses, legal foundations, and legal applications. However, students on academic probation and students subject to the structured curriculum are not permitted to enroll in a joint degree program under any circumstances.

Students must be independently admitted into the non-law degree program of a participating school, college or department. Regardless of the admission decision by the participating school, college or department, a student may not enroll in a Joint Degree Program until the Designated Administrative Officer provides final written approval.

2. Semi-Annual Review of Progress, and Dismissal from Joint Degree Program

The Designated Administrative Officer shall conduct a semi-annual review of each joint degree candidate’s progress in the Joint Degree Program. The Designated Administrative Officer shall determine whether the student is making satisfactory progress under the following factors: (1) the number of and reasons for “Incompletes” in course work; (2) failure to maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.90 or above; (3) the student’s standing in the non-law degree program; and (4) progress made and plans for satisfying the writing and optional oral defense requirements of the joint- degree program.

If the Designated Administrative Officer determines that the student is not making satisfactory progress in both the law and other degree program, the matter shall be referred to the Academic Standards Committee to consider dismissing the student from the Joint Degree program upon such terms as it may determine.

3. Dismissal for Failure to Maintain GPA

Students who fail to maintain a Law GPA of 2.90 or above shall be dismissed from the Joint Degree Program.

4. Minimum Credit Hours

(A) Syracuse University Joint Degrees

Students enrolled in Joint Degree Programs with other Syracuse University schools and colleges must earn a minimum of 72 credit hours required for the J.D. in courses taken at the College of Law. In addition, a maximum of 15 credit hours may be earned by successfully completing offerings outside the College of Law pursuant to the approved Joint Degree Program.

(B) SUNY-ESF Joint Degree

Students enrolled in the Certificate of Graduate Study in Natural Resource Management in the SUNY College of Law of Environmental Science and Forestry program must take Environmental Law and must earn a minimum of 78 credit hours required for the J.D. degree at the College of Law. In addition, a minimum of 9 credit hours must be earned by successfully completing offerings outside of the College of Law pursuant to the approved Joint Degree Program.

5. Basis for Awarding Credit Hours

Credit hours toward joint degrees shall be counted in cooperation with the University joint degree program and will be maintained in the student’s academic record in Degree Works.

6. Tuition

Tuition policies for all College of Law joint degrees are governed by the rules set forth in the Syracuse University Bulletin of Tuition and Fees.

A student may earn limited credit toward the J.D. degree by taking offerings at other American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools or foreign law schools in accordance with ABA Rule 505.

1. Credit for Study at other ABA-Accredited Law Schools

(A) Single Summer Sessions

Students may request credit for courses taken while visiting an ABA Accredited law school for a single summer session without obtaining advance approval for the visit.

(B) Multiple Summer Sessions

Any student wishing to visit at an ABA accredited law school for additional summer sessions must receive approval from the Designated Administrative Officer prior to the visit.

(C) Regular Session Visits

Students must obtain advance approval for regular session visits at another ABA accredited law school. To seek approval, students must file a petition demonstrating either compelling academic reasons for the visit or an unanticipated and extraordinary circumstance preventing continued attendance at the College of Law. A student seeking approval for a visit because of an unanticipated and extraordinary circumstance must explain why a leave of absence would not be a more appropriate remedy. The petition will be forwarded to the Academic Standards Committee for a ruling. If the Academic Standards Committee approves the petition, the petition shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Law for final approval. Final approval may be withheld in the Dean’s sole discretion. There shall be no appeal from a denial by the Academic Standards Committee or the Dean.

(D) Credit from another law school is recorded by the College of Law on a pass basis provided that the student receives a grade of “B” or No credit is given if the student receives a grade below “B.” A student who visits at an ABA accredited law school must still meet the requirements of Article I, Rule 1(A).

2. Study at Foreign Law Schools

Students may enroll in one semester of study at foreign partner law schools that maintains an approved reciprocal semester exchange partnership with the College of Law.

(A) Eligibility for Foreign Study

Only those students who have completed all of the Required Lower-Division Courses and have a GPA of 2.90 are eligible to apply for foreign study.

(B) Foreign Study Application Process

A student wishing to study at a foreign law school for academic credit must obtain prior approval from the Academic Standards Committee. The petition shall include: (1) a clear statement of the goals that the student has for undertaking a course of foreign study, (2) a course plan identifying the courses that the student will take at the foreign law school and the materials that will be used in the course, (3) clear assurances of the student’s fluency in, and proficiency to read, write, speak, and otherwise understand, the language in which their courses will be taught at the foreign law school. If the Academic Standards Committee votes to approve the petition, it shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Law for final approval. There shall be no appeal from a denial by the Academic Standards Committee or the Dean.

(C) Credit for Foreign Study by Students of the College of Law

A student may earn a maximum of fifteen (15) credit hours for a semester of study at a non-ABA accredited foreign law school. During the semester of foreign study, the student must maintain full-time status, enrolling in a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours (or the equivalent) that semester. Students seeking credit for foreign study must submit their final transcript to the Office of the Registrar no more than fifteen calendar days after the grades have been officially recorded by the foreign law school.

(D) Assessment of Students for Foreign Study

Depending on the nature of the agreement with the foreign partner school, or the terms of the College of Law’s authorization for foreign study, students seeking credit for foreign study will be assessed on either a Pass/Fail or Letter Grade basis.

(i) Pass/Fail

Credit from a foreign law school will be recorded by the College of Law on a pass basis provided that the student receives a grade of “B” or higher. No credit is given if the student receives a grade below “B” or its equivalent.

(ii) Letter Grades

Except where otherwise provided, the College of Law will accept letter grades earned by the student during his/her semester of foreign study. Students shall not receive credit from the College of Law for courses taken at a foreign law school unless the student receives a grade of “B” or higher (or its equivalent). A student receiving letter grades for foreign study will continue to be subject to dismissal for academic deficiency during the semester of foreign study. A student receiving letter grades may not use optional pass/fail during the semester of foreign study. Grades given to students for foreign study will not count in the student’s class rank or law school honors.

3. Students from Foreign Law Schools

A student who is enrolled full-time at a foreign law school which has been accredited by the accrediting body of the foreign law school’s jurisdiction to confer a first degree in law (LL.B., J.D., etc.) may spend one (1) semester of study at the College of Law as a Foreign Visiting Student, either as part of an approved exchange program between the College of Law and the foreign law school, or pursuant to an individual authorization by the foreign law school and the College of Law.

(A) Approval of Foreign Study

Only those Foreign Visiting Students who have completed a minimum of twenty credit hours or its equivalent at their home institution, and who are in good academic standing, are eligible to be a Foreign Visiting Student at the College of Law. Prior to attending classes, the Foreign Visiting Student must complete all administrative procedures required by the College of Law and the foreign law school to be admitted either to an approved Semester Exchange Partnership program, or an individual program of foreign study approved in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs. The Foreign Visiting Student must demonstrate proficiency in the English language, including the ability to listen, read, comprehend, and speak in English, while enrolled in courses at the College of Law.

(B) Assessment of Foreign Visiting Students

Assessment of Foreign Visiting Students is not required to be anonymous. In courses in which Foreign Visiting Students are enrolled, the course instructors may create a form of assessment for these students separate and distinct from that of the J.D., LL.M., and/or S.J.D. students. Such assessment may include, but is not limited to, research papers, class participation, oral assessment, and practicums. Letter grades for Foreign Visiting Students will be recorded by the College of Law under the same standards utilized for foreign LL.M students. The assessment of these students shall have no effect on the J.D. grading curves or other J.D. grading requirements. Depending on the nature of the agreement with each foreign partner school or the terms of individual admission for a semester of foreign study, Foreign Visiting Students will be assessed in one of the following ways during their semester of foreign study, but not both:

(i) Pass/Fail

Credit for Foreign Visiting Students is recorded by the College of Law on a pass basis provided that the student receives a grade of “B” or higher. No credit is given if the student receives a grade below “B.”

(ii) Letter Grades

Letter grades for Foreign Visiting Students will be recorded by the College of Law under the same standards utilized for foreign LL.M students.

(C) Minimum Credit Hours for Foreign Visiting Students

A minimum of twelve credit hours is required for Foreign Visiting Students.

(D) Academic Offerings for Foreign Visiting Students

(i) Foreign Visiting Students may enroll in any residential courses with the “LAW” prefix, except: (a) Legal Communication & Research I and II; (b) Courses that satisfy the Professional Writing Requirement (unless permission is expressly granted by the Faculty Director of the Legal Communication & Research Program); and (c) Clinics and Externships

(ii) Non-law courses at Syracuse University are not open to Foreign Visiting Students.

(iii) Joint Degree Programs are not open to Foreign Visiting Students.

(iv) Curricular Programs are not open to Foreign Visiting Students.

(E) Pre-Matriculation Credit

Students wishing to apply credits earned as a Foreign Visiting Student to later enrollment in the full-time J.D., LL.M., and/or S.J.D. program at the College of Law must obtain approval from the Academic Standards Committee at the time of admission.

(F) Transcript

A transcript from the Foreign Visiting Student’s semester at the College of Law shall be supplied to the student’s home institution as soon as reasonably practicable after the student’s grades have been recorded by the College of Law.

1. Amendments

The faculty reserves the right to amend these Academic Rules at any time. Amendments may be proposed by any student, faculty member, or administrator of the College of Law to the Academic Standards Committee.

Proposed amendments approved by two-thirds of the members voting on the Academic Standards Committee shall be referred to the faculty, with the Academic Standards Committee’s recommendation for adoption. The faculty may propose to the Academic Standards Committee amendments to the Committee’s recommendation. The Academic Standards Committee will then consider the amendments and make a recommendation to the Faculty regarding the Amendments. The faculty may adopt amendments not recommended by the Committee after the Committee has considered and rejected them.

2. Appeals from Administrative Decisions

Except where these rules specifically prohibit appeals, a student dissatisfied with an administrative decision may file a written appeal to the Academic Standards Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Academic Standards Committee shall not consider any petition seeking an exception to the rules governing grade changes, automatic dismissals for academic deficiency, or any requirements or prohibitions associated with the Structured Curriculum.

The Committee shall consider each petition individually with the goal of fairly and equitably applying the rules to particular cases. To obtain a variance from a rule, a student must demonstrate extraordinary circumstances which would render application of the rule arbitrary and unreasonable.

When two-thirds of the members of the Academic Standards Committee voting on any petition are in agreement as to the disposition of an appeal, it shall be considered finally disposed of and no further action will be allowed. In the event that the Academic Standards Committee cannot reach a two-thirds decision on a petition, the petition shall be referred for action to the faculty as a whole for final determination. All appeals shall be decided based on the written petition submitted by the student and any written submissions by the administration.

3. Unavailability of Designated Administrative Officers or Departments and Delegation

If the designated administrative officer charged with making a decision or recommendation under these rules is not available for any reason, the Dean of the College of Law shall appoint an administrative substitute to make the decision. If the name of a position or department is changed, the Dean shall designate that the decision shall be made by the person in the new position or by the newly named department. The person or office responsible for deciding petitions under these rules may designate to another person or department the evaluation of any matter, and such designee may make a recommendation to the designated person or department for disposition of any matter.

4. Effective Date

The academic rules contained herein are effective to all students at the College of Law in August of 2025, until further revision and unless otherwise noted.

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