Academic Calendars

The Registrar’s Office is committed to providing information for a seamless law school experience. Vital information such as the academic calendar, the registration and enrollment policies and information, and the class schedule come directly from the Registrar’s office.

Academic Standing

For students matriculating in 2014 or 2015: If a student who is on academic probation does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.000 by the end of the next regular semester, the student will be academically dismissed.

For students matriculating in 2016 or after: In order to be in good academic standing, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.300. If a student does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 in any one regular semester, the student will be placed on academic probation the following semester. If a student, other than a first-year student, who is on academic probation does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 by the end of the probation semester, the student will be academically dismissed. If a first-year student who is on academic probation does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 by the end of the first semester of their second year of studies, the student will be academically dismissed. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.)

Academic Dismissal After First Year

After the first year of studies at the College of Law, any student (whether full-time or part-time) whose grade point average is less than 2.000 will be academically dismissed. This dismissal is final. There is no appeal of the dismissal, and the dismissal is not subject to any petition for an additional semester on probation. Any student whose grade point average is equal to or greater than 2.000 but less than 2.300 after the end of their first year will remain on probation during the first semester of their second year of studies.

Academic Probation

At the end of any semester in which the student is not in good academic standing as set out under the subsection on Academic Standing, the student will be placed on academic probation. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.) Once notified of Probation status by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a student on Probation must meet as soon thereafter as possible with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. In addition, the student must meet as soon as practicable with the Director of Academic Success and Bar Readiness to develop an Academic Success Plan for moving forward with their studies. Lastly, a student on academic probation must have their course schedule approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Academic Dismissal

If a student who is on academic probation does not reach good academic standing by the end of the next regular semester, the student will be academically dismissed. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.) A student who is academically dismissed is not eligible to be enrolled in the College of Law.
Once a student has been academically dismissed, the Registrar will notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean will then notify the student of their status by written communication that will become a part of the student’s academic record. The written communication shall include:

1. Whether the student is eligible to petition to continue on probation or to petition for readmission

2. The time limit, if any, on such petitions

3. That any such petition must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

4. An enclosure or attachment of applicable College of Law policy.

If a student is enrolled in one or more courses when dismissed, the Registrar shall withdraw the student from the course(s). The Associate Dean’s notification to the student of an academic dismissal shall also provide notice that a student enrolled in any course will be immediately withdrawn from the course and if the student is withdrawn prior to Census Day, will be entitled to a full refund, and if after Census Day, pursuant to UNT Dallas’s refund policy.

A student who has been academically dismissed after probation and has a grade point average above a 2.0 may petition for eligibility to continue on probation, petition for readmission, or may petition for both. A petition for eligibility to continue on probation requests that the academically dismissed law student be allowed to continue their law school education while on academic probation for another semester. A petition for re-admission requests that the academically dismissed law student be allowed to begin their law school education again as a 1L.

Petition for Eligibility to Continue on Probation

A student who has received notice of academic dismissal may submit, to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, a Petition for Eligibility to Continue on Probation. Such a petition must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days after the student has received notice from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of academic dismissal.

Students should not assume or expect that the petition will be granted. This is not for punitive reasons, but because it is not fair or appropriate to allow students to continue a course of study in which they are not likely to be successful. A petition may be granted only if the student establishes the following: (1) that the student’s inability to remain academically eligible resulted from extenuating circumstances; (2) that the circumstances resulting in the student’s academic suspension have been remedied and will not prevent the student from attaining good academic standing; (3) that the student is likely to attain and maintain good academic standing and is able to satisfactorily complete our program of legal education and to be admitted to the bar; and (4) that the student complied with the requirements of the Academic Success Plan developed after probation. The Committee may set conditions for the student’s continued enrollment on probation, including but not limited to reduction in course work and specific academic success programming.

A student’s petition must include any and all supporting documentation that the student would like the Academic Standards Committee to consider and that would support the Committee finding that the student has established all four factors required to have the petition granted. For this reason, the petition should include any Academic Success Plan documents the student can obtain. The Academic Standards Committee will likely review some or all of the petitioner’s Academic Success Plan documents, including in particular any documents showing whether the student complied with any Academic Success Plan. The petition should include the number of hours worked during each semester in attendance at the UNT Dallas College of Law. This listing of documents and information in support of a student’s petition is not exclusive. The student bears the burden to supply the Academic Standards Committee with documents and information sufficient to demonstrate the student meets the criteria to continue or resume their studies at the UNT Dallas College of Law.

A successful petition will result in the student continuing their studies on academic probation for an additional semester or for a period of time determined by the Committee. In such a case, the student will be required to retake all required courses in which the student received a grade of F.

The Committee’s decision to continue a student on academic probation must be unanimous. If the Committee decides to grant a petition to continue a student on probation, the Committee must provide to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a statement explaining the considerations that led to the decision to grant probation to the student that must be included in the student’s file.

Petition for Re-Admission to the College Of Law

If a student has been academically dismissed from the College of Law and seeks readmission to the College of Law, the student may not seek admission through the regular Admissions process. Rather, such a student may return to studies at the College of Law only by filing, with the Academic Standards Committee, a Petition for Re-Admission. Students should not assume or expect that the petition will be granted, because it is not fair or appropriate to allow students to take a course of study in which they are not likely to be successful. A petition may be granted only if the student establishes the following: (1) that the student’s academic dismissal resulted from exceptional circumstances; (2) that the circumstances resulting in the student’s academic dismissal have been remedied and will not prevent the student from maintaining good academic standing; (3) that the student is likely to attain and maintain good academic standing and is able to satisfactorily complete our program of legal education and to be admitted to the bar; and (4) that the student complied with the requirements of the Academic Success Plan during the time they were in law school.

A student’s petition must include any and all supporting documentation that the student would like the Academic Standards Committee to consider and that would support the Committee finding that the student has established all four factors required to have the petition granted. For this reason, the petition should include any Academic Success Plan documents the student can obtain. The Academic Standards Committee will likely review some or all of the petitioner’s Academic Success Plan documents, including in particular any documents showing whether the student complied with any Academic Success Plan. The petition should include the number of hours worked during each semester in attendance at the UNT Dallas College of Law. This listing of documents and information in support of a student’s petition is not exclusive. The student bears the burden to supply the Academic Standards Committee with documents and information sufficient to demonstrate the student will succeed at the UNT Dallas College of Law. If the petition is granted, the Committee may set conditions for the student’s enrollment, including limits on course hours and specific academic success programming. Before granting an applicant’s petition for re-admission, the Committee must determine that in addition to satisfying the four factors listed above, the applicant must consult with the Assistant Dean of Admissions to ensure that there is a place in the incoming class for the applicant. The Committee’s decision to readmit a student must be unanimous. If the Committee decides to grant a petition for readmission, the Committee must provide to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a statement explaining the considerations that led to the decision to grant readmission to the student that must be included in the student’s file.

Procedures

1. Once a student has submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a Petition for Eligibility to Remain on Probation or a Petition for Re-Admission, the Associate Dean shall forward the petition to the Registrar and shall notify the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee that a petition has been submitted.

2. As soon as reasonably possible, the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee shall schedule a meeting of the Academic Standards Committee to consider any petition or petitions that have been submitted. Once the meeting has been scheduled, the Chair shall notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Registrar of the date and time of the meeting.

3. The Registrar shall then assemble a package of materials for each student who has submitted a petition, including the petition with supporting documentation; the student’s law school transcript; and the student’s LSAC report. The Registrar shall provide this package of materials to the members of the Academic Standards Committee before the Committee meets to consider the petition. Upon receiving the package of materials, the Committee may request additional information from the Registrar and/or the student.

4. Prior to the meeting to consider a dismissed student’s petition, the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee, with assistance from the Registrar, shall contact all of the student’s professors for the courses the student took during the semester prior to which the student was academically dismissed in order to offer them an opportunity to provide input as to the student’s academic performance and ability to meet the criteria for the grant of the petition.

5. When the Committee meets it shall consider the student’s petition and all supporting documentation provided by the student, the materials provided by the Registrar, and any input provided by the student’s professors from the previous semester. The Committee will make its decision without the personal appearance of the petitioner. The Committee thus encourages petitioners to provide fulsome information and thorough documentation to support a petition. The decision of the Committee is final and there is no reconsideration or appeal of its decision.

Attendance

Under College of Law policy and consistent with ABA Standards, the College of Law requires regular and punctual class attendance. Attendance will be taken in all classes.

Minimum Attendance Threshold 

Under College of Law policy, in all courses, students must attend at least 80% of class sessions. However, in counting absences for purposes of this minimum attendance rule, absences based upon observance of a religious holy day or on call for active military service will not be counted.

“Attendance” refers to attending the entire class session.  A faculty member may treat a tardy, or an early departure, or leaving and returning to class, as equivalent to an absence or a fractional part of an absence, provided that notice of the practice is provided to students during the first week of class. 

If a student accumulates greater than the allowed number of absences, the student will receive an “F” grade in the course.

Students may seek an exception to or waiver of the minimum attendance threshold by submitting a request in writing to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean may allow a waiver only after consultation with the course instructor and only for compelling and unusual circumstances.

Excused Absences

If an absence qualifies as an “excused absence” and the reason for the absence prevents timely completion of assignments or work, the instructor will provide a reasonable time after the absence for the student to complete the work or assignment or an alternative assignment. Note: An excused absence will still count towards the minimum attendance rule, unless the absence fits in Category 1 or 2 and is addressed in accordance with UNT Dallas College of Law Policy on student attendance.

The categories of excused absences are the following:

1. To observe a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose;

2. To respond to a call for active military service;

3. To participate in an official COL function (including competitions such as mock trial or negotiation competitions, and court appearances required for clinic): or

4. Illness or other extenuating circumstances, such as death in the family requiring travel or absence.

5. A student’s absence for pregnancy or childbirth as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences medically necessary. (For more detail on pregnancy or childbirth, see section below).

Please note that work-related travel is not the basis for an excused absence.

To obtain an excused absence, a student must complete the Excused Absence Request Form and email it to the professor. Students also will need to provide appropriate documentation of the basis for the absence. Because students ordinarily will know in advance about the need for absences in the first three categories, they should submit an excused absence form in advance of such absences. In cases of illness or extenuating circumstances, when it is not possible to submit an excused absence form in advance, students still need to complete an excused absence form and email it to the professor as soon as practical.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

An absence is excused when it is due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences to be medically necessary. When the student returns to school, she will be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began, which includes giving her the opportunity to make up any work missed. The College of Law may offer the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester, or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date, especially after longer periods of leave. The student should be allowed to choose from the alternatives presented by the professor as to how to make up the work.

The policies and practices of individual professors may not discriminate against pregnant students. For example, a professor may not refuse to allow a student to submit work after a deadline that she missed because of absences due to pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, if the professor’s grading is based in part on class attendance or participation, the student should be allowed to earn the credits she missed so that she can be reinstated to the status she had before the leave.

Exception

Students may seek an exception to or waiver of the minimum attendance threshold by submitting a request in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean may allow a waiver only after consultation with the course instructor and only for compelling and unusual circumstances.

Assignments Submitted Late

Assignments, whether graded or not, have deadlines.  Deadlines have consequences.  Lawyers must constantly anticipate, manage, and meet deadlines.  If a lawyer misses a deadline, both the client and the lawyer may suffer serious consequences.  Professors have the discretion to set the expectations and consequences flowing from missed deadlines.

Submission Requirements

Many assignments at the College of Law are required to be uploaded through Canvas by a certain time.  Sometimes, students submit the “wrong” file or submit a file in the specified format.  It is important to require submission of files in the correct format.  First, the file submission requirements have a purpose; usually, the required format(s) are ones that are readable in the course management system.  Second, requiring submission of files in the correct format is consistent with the habits necessary for law practice.  Electronic filing is now the law of the courts in Texas, and courts and various agencies require electronic filings in specific formats.

Therefore, at the College of Law, each student is responsible for ascertaining that his or her files have been uploaded in the specified file format(s) by the deadline, and that the file can be opened.  Files that cannot be opened may be penalized as late unless a working copy is provided, with a screenshot evidencing that the file has not been modified since the original upload.

Taking Classes Outside the Enrolled Division

After completion of the required course work in the first two full academic semesters, students enrolled in the evening division may register for “daytime” classes (that is, courses offered before 5 p.m.) after priority registration ends or if the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approves the student’s registration in the course. Likewise, after completion of the required course work in the first two full academic semesters, students enrolled in the day division may register for an “evening” course after priority registration ends or if the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approves the student’s registration in the course.

Notwithstanding this section, students must still take all lockstep required courses with their entering division.

Transferring Between the Day and Evening Division

When students enroll at the College of Law, they enter in either the day division or the evening division. This is the student’s “entering division.” After completion of the required course work in the first two academic semesters, students may apply to transfer from the eveing division to the day division or vice versa. In order to transfer, the student must complete the Divisional Transfer Form, with all necessary signatures, no less than two weeks prior to the end of the preceding term.

A student may transfer for three reasons:

1. Elective: The student chooses to transfer divisions. A student may only use the Elective Transfer option once in his or her law school career.

2. Major Life Event: A recent major life event has affected the student’s ability to continue in the student’s entering division. This must be supported by the Descriptive Statement attached to the Divisional Transfer Form.

3. Administrative: If a student does not adhere to the requirements of the student’s division, the student may be transferred by administrative decision of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, with or without the student’s consent.

A student who transfers divisions must take all lockstep required courses in the same order as the student’s originally enrolled division, following the policy on prerequisites. The student must take each lockstep required course within one semester of when the student would have taken the course had he or she not transferred divisions. Lockstep required courses include the following courses: 

• Contracts

• Torts

• Civil Procedure I & II

• Criminal Law

• Federal Criminal Procedure

• Property

• Legal Writing I, II, and III

• Legal Research

• Legal Methods

• Client Interviewing and Counseling

• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

• Constitutional Law 

• Bar Skills and Strategies I and II

Disability Accommodation

The UNT Dallas College of Law (COL) provides accommodation to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Eligibility

Students are eligible for accommodation and/or auxiliary aids and services if they have a documented disability and the functional limitations of the disability require such accommodation and/or auxiliary aids and services.

1. Newly accepted and currently enrolled students are responsible for initiating a disability-related request for accommodation or auxiliary aids and services with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs prior to the time when the accommodation or auxiliary aids or service will be needed.

2. Prospective students may request reasonable accommodation (for testing, campus tours, or orientation) at any time during the application process by submitting an oral or written request to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs using the Disability Accommodation Request form.

Requesting Disability Accommodation and/or Auxiliary Aids and Services

1. Students must submit a request for accommodation and/or auxiliary aids and services to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs using the Disability Accommodation Request form. In addition, students must provide relevant and complete written documentation of a disability for which accommodation is requested, including:

2. A diagnostic statement from an appropriate professional identifying the disability, date of the current diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis.

3. A description of the current functional impact of the disability.

4. Treatments, medications, assistive devices, or services currently prescribed.

5. The relevant credentials of the diagnosing professional(s) such as medical specialty and professional licensure.

Guidelines and forms for completing documentation are available on the College of Law website.

1. Documentation Guidelines

2. Disability Accommodation Request form

3. Physical Disability Documentation form

4. ADD/ADHD Documentation form

5. Psychological Disability Documentation form

6. Documentation Requirements for Other Learning Disabilities

Determination

A determination of whether accommodations or auxiliary aids or services are appropriate will follow after an individual assessment of a student’s written documentation and a personal meeting with the student. Among the factors to be considered in determining appropriate accommodations or auxiliary aids and services are:

1. The nature of the student’s disability.

2. Accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services that have worked for the student in the past.

3. Whether the requested accommodation, auxiliary aids, or services will allow the student to effectively access and participate in the course or academic program.

4. Whether the requested accommodation, auxiliary aids, or services will alter the essential requirements of the course or program.

The College of Law is not required to alter or modify a course or academic program to the extent that it changes the fundamental nature of that course or program. Decisions regarding accommodations or auxiliary aids and services may require consultation with College of Law faculty or administrators to consider the fundamental nature of a course or academic program.

Notification

The student will be notified in writing of the status of the request and the proposed date for a final determination.

Accommodations or Auxiliary Aids and Services Requiring Cooperation of Faculty

Certain accommodations or use of auxiliary aids and services may require cooperation from a faculty member who teaches a class in which a student is enrolled.

As early as possible in a semester, a student who has been approved for accommodation or use of auxiliary aids and services should seek a confidential meeting with the faculty member to show the faculty member the written approval of the accommodation, aids, or services, and to make arrangements for implementation of the approved accommodation, auxiliary aid, or services. 

The faculty member may not disclose the student’s disability to any other student or faculty member without the consent of the student. Faculty members may not deny an approved accommodation without consulting the Assistant Dean of Students to consider alternate means to accommodate a student’s disability.

For more detail on Disability Accommodation, see UNT Dallas Policy 16.004.

Class Ranking

Juris Doctor students are numerically ranked at the end of the fall and the spring semesters, after grades are posted. Individual ranks will only be provided to graduating students.  Ranking will not be separated by day and evening.  Ranking may be used, as necessary, for academic honors such as membership in scholarly societies, or other prizes or activities that require a certain placement within a class.

Students are placed in one of four ranking groups, based on the number of credit hours earned at the time rank is calculated. 1L Ranking Group: 0 to 30 completed hours. 2L Ranking Group: 31 to 60 completed hours. 3L Ranking Group: 61 or more completed hours. Graduate Ranking Group: completion of all program requirements.  Graduating rank will not be separated by day and evening.

Ranking of the graduating class will cover the academic year, and will include fall and summer graduates.  August graduates are ranked with students who graduated the preceding May. December graduates are ranked with students who will graduate the succeeding May.

UNT Dallas College of Law only provides individual class ranks to all J.D. students at graduation. However, at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester, GPA cut-offs for specified percentile rankings are posted on the law school website for the 1L, 2L, and 3L ranking groups, so that students may determine their general position within the ranking group. Specifically, GPA cutoffs are posted for the top 5%, 10%, 25%, 33%, and 50%.

Class rank is determined by the transcripted cumulative GPA, which is rounded to the thousandths place. Individual ranks are based on the numerical sequence of students’ transcripted cumulative GPA’s, from highest to lowest. If two or more students have the same cumulative GPA, each receives the same rank. The position of those students ranked below them is unaffected. (If two students are tied for the number one rank, for example, the next student will be ranked number three, because there are two students with a higher GPA.)

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the College of Law may not disclose an individual student’s location within the GPA percentile bands without the student’s written permission.

Classification of Students

All students are enrolled in either the day division or evening division, and the number of hours for which a student is permitted to register is governed by the policies on Maximum Course Load and Minimum Course Load based on enrolled division. In addition to and distinct from enrollment division, for financial aid purposes, students are classified as full-time, half-time, or less than half-time.

For financial aid purposes, the following classifications apply:

• A student is classified as a full-time (day) student if he or she is enrolled in 13 or more credit hours in a fall or spring semester, or if he or she is enrolled in eight or more credit hours in a summer session.

• A student is classified as a part-time (evening) student if he or she is enrolled in 12 or fewer credit hours in a fall or spring semester, or if he or she is enrolled in four to seven credit hours in a summer session.

• A student is classified as less than half-time and is not eligible for financial aid if he or she is enrolled in fewer than eight hours in a fall or spring semester, or if he or she is enrolled in fewer than four hours in a summer session.

• A student is classified as a first-year student if he or she has earned 30 or fewer semester credit hours. A student is classified as a second-year student if he or she has earned between 31 and 60 credit hours.

• A student is classified as a third-year student if he or she has earned 61 or more semester credit hours.

Course Load

Maximum Course Load

Day Division

A student enrolled in the day division may not register for more than sixteen credit hours in a fall or spring semester or for more than nine credit hours in a summer session without permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In accordance with ABA Standards, all students are prohibited from registering for coursework that exceeds 20 percent of the total credit hours required for graduation.

Evening Division

A student enrolled in the evening division may not register for more than twelve credit hours in a fall or spring semester or for more than seven credit hours in a summer session without permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Permission will not be granted for a student enrolled in the part­ time division to register for more than thirteen credit hours in a fall or spring semester or for more than eight credit hours in a summer session.

Correction of Excessive Course Loads

A student who enrolls for more than the permissible number of hours will be withdrawn from a course or courses until his or her registration complies with the maximum load requirements. The choice of courses from which the student will be withdrawn is in the sole discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If the overload is not discovered until after grades have been given for the courses, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may withdraw the student from a sufficient number of courses in that semester or session to bring the course load into compliance.

Minimum Course Load

Day Division

A student enrolled in the day division may not register for fewer than thirteen credit hours in a fall or spring semester, generally. A student enrolled in the full­ time division who wishes to enroll in between eight and twelve credit hours must obtain permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or his or her designee, but does not need to file a petition for the Reduction of Minimum Hours.

Evening Division

A student enrolled in the evening division may not register for fewer than eight credit hours in a fall or spring semester, generally.

Petition for the Reduction of Minimum Hours

A student wishing to enroll in fewer than eight credit hours in a fall or spring semester must submit a Petition for the Reduction of Minimum Hours to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or his or her designee. A petition will only be granted if there is a showing of extenuating circumstances. A student may only submit such a petition twice during the student’s tenure at UNT Dallas College of Law.

Distance Learning

No student may be permitted to count more than 15 credit hours from distance learning courses toward the .J.D. degree, whether through courses taken at UNT Dallas College of Law or credits transferred from another institution. No student will be permitted to enroll in a distance learning course, or receive transfer credit from a distance learning course, until the student has accumulated at least 28 credit hours toward the J.D. degree. No student will be permitted to enroll in more than 6 credit hours of distance learning courses in a single term.

Credit for Non-Law Courses Taken Through the UNT System

With advance approval, students may enroll in up to two graduate courses in the UNT Dallas Graduate School or UNT Toulouse Graduate School for up to six credits toward law school graduation. Approval will be granted only if the student, through the exercise of due diligence, cannot take a course containing substantially the same subject matter at the College of Law. Alternatively, with advance approval, students may enroll in up to two undergraduate courses at UNT Dallas or UNT for up to six credits toward law school graduation. Approval will be granted only if the courses are (a) part of foreign language sequence for which credit is granted toward an undergraduate degree; or (b) computer science courses which meet the technological competency requirement. A maximum of six hours of credit toward the J.D. degree will be awarded for any non-law school courses taken through the UNT System. Although grades received in non-law school courses will not be computed in a student’s grade point average, the student must earn a “B” or higher in each course to receive credit. Students on academic probation are not eligible to take non-law school courses through the UNT System. Non-law school courses taken through the UNT System will count toward the maximum number of transfer credits allowed.

Transfer Credit for Visits to an ABA-Approved Law School

Students enrolled in the College of Law may seek the transfer of credit taken at an ABA-approved law school. The maximum credit that the College of Law may allow to be transferred is 30 hours of Semester Credit Hours. Any student who is considering taking coursework from an ABA-approved school and who anticipates seeking to transfer credit for that coursework must first receive pre-approval of the course or courses from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College of Law. In determining whether credit may be transferred for the coursework, two decisions will be made. One is whether the course(s) will receive transfer credit. The second is whether the course(s) will receive transfer credit as an elective course, or as a required course within College of Law’s curriculum. It is possible for a course to be approved for elective credit and yet not be approved as satisfying a particular required course.

In seeking pre-approval, students should provide, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a syllabus or detailed course description for each course for which they wish to receive credit. The syllabus or course description must contain sufficient information for the College of Law to determine content, grading basis, instructor, instructional minutes, method of instruction, and other details that the College of Law deems necessary to transfer credit for its program of study. The number of semester course hours that the College of Law will count for the course is generally based on the instructional minutes in the course.

Credit may be given for a course only if the student’s grade in the course meets or exceeds the minimum grade point average needed to graduate from UNT Dallas College of Law. Credit, when given, will be recorded as pass, and will not be included in the computation of the student’s College of Law grade point average. If a course for which transfer credit is sought was graded on a pass/fail basis, transfer credit may be given if that course is ordinarily taught as a pass-fail course at the school where the course was taken.

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will decide whether a course or courses transfer for credit, and if so whether for elective or required credit. On a regular basis, the Associate Dean shall notify the Academic standards Committee of decisions made relating to transfer credit. The Associate Dean may consult with the Academic standards Committee in relation to transfer credit decisions.

Credit from Study Abroad Programs

UNT Dallas College of Law students may participate in study abroad programs that are approved by the American Bar Association. Any student who is considering taking coursework from a study abroad program and who anticipates seeking to transfer credit for that coursework must first receive pre­ approval of the course or courses from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and also be in good academic standing. In determining whether credit may be transferred for a course in a study abroad program, two decisions will be made. One is whether the course will receive transfer credit. The second is whether the course will receive transfer credit as an elective course, or as a required course within College of Law’s curriculum. It is possible for a course to be approved for elective credit and yet not be approved as satisfying a particular required course. For example, a course on the “Estate System” might be approved for elective credit, yet is not likely to be counted as satisfying the required course for Wills, Trusts and Estates at the College of Law.

In seeking pre-approval, students should provide, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a syllabus or detailed course description. The syllabus or course description must contain sufficient information for the College of Law to determine content, grading basis, instructor, instructional minutes, method of instruction, and other details that the College of Law deems necessary to transfer credit for its program of study. The number of semester course hours that the College of Law will count for the course is generally based on the instructional minutes in the course.

The College of Law will accept no more than a total of 8 hours of credit from a study abroad program. Credit may be given for a course taken in a study abroad course only if the student’s grade in the course meets or exceeds the minimum grade point average needed to graduate from UNT Dallas College of Law. The grade for the course in a study abroad program will be recorded as pass/fail on the UNT Dallas College of Law transcript, and will not be counted in the calculation of the student’s grade point average at the College of Law.

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will decide whether a course or courses transfer for credit, and if so whether for elective or required credit. On a regular basis, the Associate Dean shall notify the Academic Standards Committee of decisions made relating to transfer credit. The Associate Dean may consult with the Academic Standards Committee in relation to transfer credit decisions.

Transfer Students

The College of Law admits transfer and visiting students.

Credit Hours

The “semester credit hour” is the unit of credit at the College of Law.  All credit-bearing courses or activities at the College of Law must meet the credit hour requirements set out in this policy. 

Contact hour requirement. A traditionally delivered semester course should contain 15 weeks of instruction, plus a week for final examinations.   For instance, a three-SCH course should contain 15 weeks of instruction (45 contact hours) plus a week for final examinations, so that such a course contains 45 to 48 contact hours depending on whether there is a final exam.  A course that includes fewer contact hours or is delivered in a shortened time period must receive formal, written approval in advance from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Amount of work. A semester credit hour is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:

1. Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for 15 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in subsection (1) for other credit-bearing academic activities as established by the College of Law, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

For purposes of this definition, fifty minutes is sufficient to constitute one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction, and an “hour• for out-of-class student work is sixty minutes. The College of Law may award credit hours for coursework that extends over any period of time, if the coursework entails no less than the minimum total amounts of classroom or direct faculty instruction and of-of-class student work specified in subsections (1) and (2), above.  For purposes of (1) and (2), the time may include time on final examination and midterm examinations, as well as other work.

The following are examples of work that satisfies this requirement:

• Exam course: 42.5 hours per credit of time spent in class, preparing for class (reading or completing class assignments or assessments), and preparing for and taking exams.

• Paper course: 42.5 hours per credit of time spent in class, preparing for class (reading or completing class assignments or assessments), and researching and writing the required paper(s).

• Field placement or clinic: 42.5 hours per credit of time spent in class, performing fl81d placement or clinic work, preparing for class or completing class assignments (including any reflective papers), and preparing for and taking an exam, if applicable.

In order to comply with this policy, the Registrar: (1) will schedule Summer courses over an 8 week period of time in addition to the Final Exam period and all school holidays; and (2) in Fall and Spring semesters, will schedule enough course weeks such that the semester encompasses 15 of each day of the week, in addition to the exam period and all scheduled school holidays.

The College of Law will regularly monitor adherence to this policy, through methods such as ongoing curriculum review and assessment, the course approval process, and the ongoing management of the College of Law’s academic program.

Dean’s List and Graduation Honors

After each semester, the Registrar prepares the Dean’s List, which is based on GPA and minimum course hours for the semester. The Dean’s List includes students who receive a 3.300 GPA or above for the semester and were enrolled in a minimum of 8 semester credit hours for the qualifying semester. Graduating students receive “Latin honors” as follows:

• 3.400            Cum laude

• 3.700            Magna cum laude

• 3.900            Summa cum laude

Examinations

Other than as stated in this policy, a student may not take a final examination or a midterm examination at a time other than the regularly scheduled time. Failure to take an examination on the regularly scheduled day, or on the day set for an exam that is rescheduled under this policy, will result in an “F” for the examination.

Rescheduling requests submitted before the start of the examination period.

A student may request to change an examination date to the next available date subsequent to the scheduled date under the following circumstances:

1. The student has an illness that is sufficiently severe to prevent the student from taking the exam at the scheduled time.  Medical documentation is required for any application of this provision.

2. The student experiences an unpreventable circumstance, such as severe illness or death in the immediate family that would cause the taking of the exam at the scheduled time to be a major personal hardship for the student. Medical or other appropriate documentation is required for any application of this provision. Work schedules, vacation plans, or travel arrangements do not qualify as a basis for rescheduling.

3. The student has 3 or more examinations scheduled on the same day. If a student has 3 or more examinations on the same day, they should contact the College of Law Registrar’s Office directly to reschedule.

If a student seeks to reschedule an examination under any of these provisions, except where indicated, the student must submit his or her request to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs by completing and submitting to an Academic Exception Request Form. The request can be submitted in hard copy or via email. If the reason for the scheduling request is conflicting exams, the request must be submitted at least two weeks before the start of the exam period. If the reason for the request is illness or hardship, the request must be submitted as soon as practicable after the student becomes aware of the problem. If the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs approves the request, he will notify the Office of the Registrar, which will work with the student on available alternatives.

If the request to take an exam at other than the scheduled time presents problems relating to delivering the same exam to the student as the other students will take, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs will consult with the instructor who, in his or her discretion, may require the student to take a special final examination or submit a special paper. If this occurs, the instructor may, in his or her discretion, grade the examination or paper either on a credit/no credit basis or on the same numerical basis as the other exams or papers.

Rescheduling requests submitted after the start of the examination period.

A student may request to change an examination date during the examination period to the scheduled date under the following circumstances:

1. The student was ill on the examination day or on the day immediately preceding the examination, and presents medical documentation confirming the illness.

2. The student experienced an emergency (examples would be the death or severe illness of a close relative, or a car accident) on the examination day or immediately prior to the day, and presents satisfactory evidence of the emergency.

The student must submit his or her request to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs by completing and submitting an Academic Exception Request Form. The request should not be submitted to the professor or instructor in the course. If the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs approves the request, he will notify the Office of the Registrar, which will work with the student on available alternatives.

If the request to take an exam at other than the scheduled time presents problems relating to delivering the same exam to the student as the other students will take, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs will consult with the instructor who, in his or her discretion, may require the student to take a special final examination or submit a special paper. If this occurs, the instructor may, in his or her discretion, grade the examination or paper either on a credit/no credit basis or on the same numerical basis as the other exams or papers.

FERPA

The College of Law complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), which protects the privacy of student education records.

Consent to Disclose Education Records

Except in limited circumstances, the College of Law will not release personally identifiable information from a student’s education record without a signed and dated, written consent from the student. A student’s consent to disclose an education record to a third party must specifically identify the education record for which consent is granted, the purpose for the disclosure, and the identity of the person or entity to which the education record is to be disclosed.

Directory Information

Directory Information· means information contained in the education record of a student that would generally not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The following types of student information are considered “directory” for the purposes of this policy:

• Name

• Address

• Telephone Number

• Email address assigned by the College of Law

• EUID assigned by the College of Law

• Date and place of birth

• Participation in officially recognized activities

• Dates of attendance

• Enrollment status

• Degrees, awards and honors received

• Expected graduation date

• Most recent previous school attended

• Photograph

Currently enrolled students wishing to withhold any or all directory information may do so by submitting a written request to the Office of the Registrar prior to the 12th class day in the fall and spring terms or equivalent dates during the summer sessions. A request to withhold directory information may be submitted after the stated deadline for a term or session, but information may be released between the deadline and receipt of the request. Directory information of a student who has requested withholding of directory information will remain excluded until the student submits a subsequent written request to release directory information.

Disclosure of Education Records as Permitted without a Student’s Consent

FERPA permits the disclosure of education records without a student’s consent under limited circumstances. For a full description of the circumstances under which education records may be released without student consent, please consult UNT Dallas Policy 7.003.

Student Right to Inspect and Review Records

With limited exception, a student has the right to inspect and review his or her own education records, to receive explanation and interpretation of the records, and to obtain copies of the records when needed to allow the student to effectively exercise the right of inspection and review. Students seeking to inspect or review their education records should contact the following Responsible Administrator:

If a student submits a request for records to an administrator other than the one who maintains the record being sought, the administrator will advise the student of the correct administrator to whom the request should be addressed.

The College of Law will comply with all student requests to review and inspect records within 45 days of the date that the request is submitted to the appropriate records custodian. Students requesting access to their education records may be asked to verify their identity with a government issued photo identification, prior to inspection. Students seeking access either electronically or by telephone will be asked to verify their identity by providing information of specific individual relevance- not including a social security number.

Student Right to Request Amendment of Education Records

College of Law students have the right to correct their own education records when the records are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. Students may request amendment of their education record by submitting a request to the appropriate records custodian. The College of Law will issue a decision within a reasonable period of time after receiving the student’s request.

Students may challenge a College of Law decision regarding the amendment of an education record by filing a request for a hearing with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. The request must identify the contested record and specify the reason that the record is believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or a violation of the privacy rights of the student. After the hearing, if the College of Law determines that the education record is not inaccurate, misleading, or a violation  of the student’s  privacy rights, the student may place a statement in his or her education record commenting on the contested content and the basis for disagreement with the College of Law’s decision.

The College of Law will amend any education record that is determined to be inaccurate, misleading, or a violation of the student’s privacy rights. The right to amend or correct an education record does not apply to routine grade appeals.

Graduation Requirements for Award of the J.D. Degree

To graduate with a J.D. degree from the UNT Dallas College of Law, the following requirements must be met:

1. Credit hour requirement. Students entering in 2014, 2015 or 2016 must complete no less than 88 semester credit hours. Students entering in 2017 and beyond must complete no less than 90 hours.

2. Residency requirement. Students must complete at least 53 hours in residence.

3. Completion of required courses. The required courses are listed in the current Academic Catalog.

4. Completion of the writing requirement, the skills requirement, the research requirement, the experiential requirement, and the practice-related technology requirement.

5. Maintain satisfactory academic progress.

6. Complete all requirements in no less than 24 months and in no more than 6 years after matriculating at the College of Law or at a law school from which the student has received transfer credit.The ABA Standards address the pace at which a student may complete his or her legal studies. Standard 304(c) requires that the course of study for a J.D. degree be completed “no earlier than 24 months and no later than 84 months after a student has commenced law study at the law school or a law school from which the school has accepted transfer credit.” The College of Law has adopted a maximum period of 6 years (72 months). In exceptional circumstances, the College of Law may extend this requirement but to no more than the maximum allowed by ABA Standard 304(c).