Academic Standards and Related Procedures - J.D.

1. Appropriate university withdrawal forms must be completed before the beginning of the examination period in order for a student to maintain good standing. 
2. If a student withdraws and wishes to return, and cannot satisfy the Five Year Rule (see Rule I.I.), the student must obtain a waiver from the Dean or seek admission anew through timely application to the Admissions Committee. 
3. Notwithstanding VI.A. above, courses in which work for the course grade was or should have been completed before the effective date of withdrawal will receive the appropriate grade.
4. A readmitted student will receive credit as follows:
   1. First year, first semester students:

A first year student who withdraws during the first semester may apply for, and is entitled to, readmission as a first year student, subject to certification by the Dean of Students at the time of withdrawal that the student had a valid reason for, and was a good faith student before withdrawal.  Readmission shall be for the Fall semester at the beginning of one, but not both, of the next two succeeding academic years.  The student must notify the School of Law of his or her intent to apply for readmission not later than April 1st preceding the academic year for which readmission is sought.  Readmitted students must agree to attend classes regularly.

2. First year, second semester students with a GPA of 2.6 or above:

 A first year student who withdraws during the Spring semester and has completed the Fall semester with a GPA of 2.6 or above may apply for, and is entitled to, readmission as a first year student for the Fall semester at the beginning of one, but not both, of the next two succeeding academic years.  The student must notify the School of Law of his or her intent to return not later than April 1st preceding the academic year for which the student wishes to return.  Readmitted students must agree to attend classes regularly.  A returning student who has earned at least a 2.6 GPA in his or her first term courses before withdrawal does not have to repeat such courses, with the possible exception of the first semester of the yearlong Legal Research and Writing course, a decision made by the Dean of Students in consultation with the relevant Legal Research and Writing faculty.  A student who withdraws and is later readmitted and who takes a combination of first year and advanced courses upon readmission will be subject to the dismissal rules concerning hybrid students.

3. First year, second semester students with a GPA below 2.6:

 A first year student who withdraws during the Spring semester and has completed the Fall semester with a GPA below 2.6 may apply for readmission as a first year student for the Fall semester at the beginning of one, but not both, of the next two succeeding academic years.  The student must notify the School of Law of his or her intent to apply for readmission not later than April 1st preceding the academic year for which readmission is sought.  Readmission is at the discretion of, and subject to any special conditions imposed by, the Dean.  If the Dean authorizes discretionary readmission of a student with a below 2.6 GPA, the student must retake all first year courses, and the grades previously received in those courses will be disregarded for all purposes but not removed from the transcript.  Readmitted students must agree to attend classes regularly.  A student will be dismissed if he or she fails to earn at least a 2.6 GPA during the Fall readmission semester.  Following successful completion of the Fall semester, the student is subject to Rule V for purposes of academic review unless application of this rule is superseded by special conditions imposed by the Dean.

4. Second or Third year students:

 A second or third year student shall be entitled, for any reason, to withdraw from the School of Law at any time before the beginning of the examination period by giving written notice to the Dean of Students, subject to VI.C.  Readmission of second and third year students who have voluntarily withdrawn is governed by the Five Year Rule.  Students may return to continue their legal studies, upon reasonable and timely written notice to the Dean of Students.