Policy Manual

Candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor must successfully complate a minimum of 90 credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 ("C). A minimum of 76 credit hours must be in courses involving attendance at regularly scheduled class sessions at the School of Law. Certain courses (e.g., law review and independent study) and field placements are not considered “regularly scheduled class sessions.”

a. First-Year Courses

All courses in the first-year curriculum are required and must be successfully completed. To successfully complete a first-year course graded on a standard letter grade scale (i.e., "A" through "F"), a student must earn a grade of D- or better in the course; to successfully complete a first-year course graded on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory ("S/U") scale, a student must earn a grade of Satisfactory ("S") in the course. If a student does not successfully complete a first-year course, the student must retake that course at the next available opportunity and successfully complete that course in order to graduate.

b. Intensive Writing Experience

As a requirement for graduation, students must complete at least one intensive writing experience during their second year. Students will satisfy this requirement by choosing among a menu of intensive writing course options that will focus on writing skills. A list of these courses will be provided by the Office of Student Life before course registration for each semester. Satisfaction of the writing experience must be certified in writing by the appropriate instructor. The intensive writing experience is satisfied by completion of written work product that evidences:

(a) Good organization according to the recognized conventions for the type of document the student is writing;

(b) Mastery of word usage, particularly legal terms of art and the vocabulary of the legal discipline about which the student is writing; and

(c) Mastery of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Pursuant to applicable ABA accreditation standards, it is ordinarily expected that the professor will either provide substantive individualized feedback on multiple iterations of one (1) substantial, graded writing project (including feedback on at least one substantial draft prior to the student's submitting the final draft of the project) or provide substantive individualized feedback on multiple graded writing projects assigned during the semester.

That students must satisfy the intensive writing experience through a menu of designated course options during their second year is not meant to limit students from undertaking multiple intensive writing experiences. To this end, students may also undertake additional intensive writing experiences in instructor-supervised writing or drafting projects, whether or not in connection with a regular course. If a course can be used to satisfy both the intensive writing experience and the experiential learning requirement, the student must indicate which requirement the course will satisfy. 

c. Experiential Learning Requirement

Each student must satisfy the School of Law’s experiential learning requirement to be eligible for graduation. To satisfy the experiential learning requirement, each student must successfully complete six (6) credits of coursework in the School of Law’s Clinical Education Program, Field Placement Program, or in courses designated as simulation courses.

The experiential learning requirement provides instruction in and assessment of specific legal skills, including, but not limited to, interviewing and client counseling, trial and appellate advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, negotiation, drafting, transactional work, and/or factual investigation. Experiential courses will:

(a) Integrate doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics, and engage students in performance of legal analysis and reasoning, problem solving, written and oral communication in the legal context, and/or other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession;

(b) Develop the concepts of the underlying professional skills being taught;

(c) Provide multiple opportunities for performance; and

(d) Provide opportunities for self-evaluation.

d. Upper Level Courses

All students must successfully complete Evidence, Professional Responsibility and Constitutional Law II. To successfully complete these courses, a student must earn a grade of D- or better in each course. If a student does not earn a grade of D- or better in any of those courses, the student must retake that course and earn a grade of D- or better in order to graduate.

Both Constitutional Law II and Professional Responsibility must be taken before the end of the second year.

e. Other Mandatory Academic Requirements

It is the policy of the University of North Dakota School of Law that all students will achieve and at all times maintain a level of academic performance sufficient to permit the award of the degree of Juris Doctor

Any student who (a) has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 or lower at the end of any semester during the student’s first two years of law school or (b) has received a grade of D+ or lower in any required course during the student’s first two years of law school must adhere to the mandatory academic requirements outlined below for the remainder of their law school education. 

For students beginning their legal studies prior to Fall 2024:

The mandatory academic requirements include the following:

(a) Mandatory meetings with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success. The student must meet with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success within 30 calendar days of the date the student’s final grades are posted for each semester.

(b) Intensive Legal Reading, Writing and Analysis course. Any student who (a) has a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or lower at the end of the first year or (b) has received a grade of D+ or lower in any first-year class must take the Intensive Legal Reading, Writing and Analysis (ILWRA) course in the fall semester of the second year. If the student has not yet successfully completed both Lawyering Skills I and Lawyering Skills II, the student must have successfully completed both courses by the end of the student’s second year of law school, then enroll in ILWRA during the fall semester of the student’s third year.

(c) Course approval. The student must obtain approval of the student’s course schedule from the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success prior to registering for any subsequent semester. If a student falls below those requirements for the first time after the first semester of the second year, the student must obtain approval of the student’s course schedule only for the fall and spring semesters of the student’s third year.

(d) Required bar subject matter courses. The student must take, or have taken, at least six (6) of the following bar subject matter courses prior to graduating:

i. Business Associations (Law 254)

ii. Business Associations II (Law 213)

iii. Conflict of Laws (Law 257)

iv. Criminal Procedure (Law 218)

v. Criminal Procedure II (Law 286)

vi. Family Law (Law 265)

vii. Sales (UCC 2) (Law 214)

viii. Secured Transactions (Law 223)

ix. Trusts and Estates (Law 230)

The faculty will review this list of courses during the 2021-2022 academic year and no less than every three years thereafter.

(e) Reading, Writing, and Analysis for the Bar Exam course. Any student who has a GPA of 2.67 or lower at the end of the second year must take Reading, Writing and Analysis Skills for the Bar Exam in the spring semester of the third year. Students must take this course in person.

(f) Additional requirements. The Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success
may require the student to complete additional tasks designed to address legal
study and exam taking skills and to address other issues hindering the student’s
academic performance.

Any student failing to comply with all of the requirements and conditions outlined above
and otherwise established by the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success may be
subject to any combination of:

(a) prohibition from registering for courses,

(b) withdrawal from courses, or

(c) other consequences,

as determined by the Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with the
Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success.

The Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with the Director of Bar Passage
and Academic Success, may make modifications to the compliance requirements upon the
student’s demonstration of extraordinary circumstances, as determined by Assistant Dean
for Student Services, in consultation with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic
Success. Extraordinary circumstances may include, but are not limited to, a situation in
which a student’s grades in the student’s fourth semester trigger the mandatory requirement
for the first time.

For students beginning their legal studies in or after Fall 2024:

The mandatory academic requirements include the following:

(a) Mandatory meetings with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic
Success. The student must meet with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic
Success within 30 calendar days of the date the student’s final grades are posted
for each semester.

(b) Intensive Legal Reading, Writing and Analysis course. Any student who (a)
has a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or lower at the end of the first year or (b) has
received a grade of D+ or lower in any first-year class must take the Intensive
Legal Reading, Writing and Analysis (ILWRA) course in the fall semester of the
second year. If the student has not yet successfully completed both Lawyering
Skills I and Lawyering Skills II, the student must have successfully completed
both courses by the end of the student’s second year of law school, then enroll in
ILWRA during the fall semester of the student’s third year.

(c) Course approval. The student must obtain approval of the student’s course
schedule from the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success prior to registering for any subsequent semester. If a student falls below those requirements for the first time after the first semester of the second year, the student must obtain approval of the student’s course schedule only for the fall and spring semesters of the student’s third year.

(d) Reading, Writing, and Analysis for the Bar Exam course. Any student who has a GPA of 2.67 or lower at the end of the second year must take Reading, Writing and Analysis Skills for the Bar Exam in the spring semester of the third year. Students must take this course in person.

(e) Additional requirements. The Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success may require the student to complete additional tasks designed to address legal study and exam taking skills and to address other issues hindering the student’s academic performance.

Any student failing to comply with all of the requirements and conditions outlined above and otherwise established by the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success may be subject to any combination of:

(a) prohibition from registering for courses,

(b) withdrawal from courses, or

(c) other consequences,

as determined by the Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success.

The Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success, may make modifications to the compliance requirements upon the student’s demonstration of extraordinary circumstances, as determined by Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with the Director of Bar Passage and Academic Success. Extraordinary circumstances may include, but are not limited to, a situation in which a student’s grades in the student’s fourth semester trigger the mandatory requirement for the first time. 

In accordance with the applicable ABA accreditation standards, the School of Law requires that students complete the course  of study for the JD degree no sooner than 24 months and no later
than 84 months after a student has commenced study at the School of Law (or, in the case of
transfer students, at the law school from which the student transferred).

Students may take fewer than 12 credits or more than 17 credits of course work during a fall
or spring semester except with the permission of the Assistant Dean for Student Life (or his/her
designee). No more than 18 credits of course work may be taken in a fall or spring semester.

During the School of Law's summer session, law students are considered to be enrolled on a parttime basis if they are enrolled in at least three (3) credits and are considered to be enrolled on a
full-time basis if they are enrolled in at least six (6) credits. Students may not take more than
eight (8) credits of course work except with the permission of the Assistant Dean for Student
Services (or his/her designee). 

The School of Law' system of course grading is as follows:

• A 4.00 quality points
• A- 3.67 quality points
• B+ 3.33 quality points
• B 3.00 quality points
• B- 2.67 quality points
• C+ 2.33 quality points
• C 2.00 quality points
• C- 1.67 quality points
• D+ 1.33 quality points
• D 1.00 quality points
• D- 0.67 quality points
• F 0.00 quality points
• W Withdrew
• I Incomplete
• S Satisfactory
• U Unsatisfactory
• AU Audit

In accordance with University of North Dakota policy, a grade of S grants credit toward
graduation but does not affect a student's grade point average; a grade of U does not grant credit
toward graduation nor affect a student's grade point average.

The cumulative grade point average (GPA) is calculated in two steps:

(a) Multiply the quality points for the grade received in each course by the number of credit
hours associated with that course to determine the total quality points for the course; then
(b) Divide the total quality points for all courses by the total credit hours for all courses
attempted.

A law student’s GPA is based on all course work; this includes all law school courses at the School of Law, all law school courses completed at other institutions and accepted by the School of Law in satisfaction of the School of Law’s graduation requirements, all non-law courses
completed at UND as part of a joint degree or certificate program at the School of Law, and all UND courses that are formally cross-listed as law courses at the School of Law. Grades of I, S,
AU, W or U are not included in this calculation. 

The degree of Juris Doctor, Summa Cum Laude, is conferred upon those students who complete their course of studey with a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher. The degree of Juris
Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, is conferred upon those students who complete their course of study
with a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89. The degree of Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, is conferred upon those students who complete their course of study with a cumulative grade pointaverage of 3.40 to 3.69.

a. The faculty of the School of Law has approved three joint programs:

1. JD/MBA Program with the College of Business & Public Administration.

2. JD/MPA Program with the College of Business & Public Administration.

3. JD/MPH Program with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

b. Admissions.

1. Students must apply separately to the School of Law and the School of
Graduate Studies. The Law School Admissions Committee will determine
admission to the JD Program at the School of Law using the regular process for
admission.

2. Admission to the MBA, MPA or MPH programs will be considered by the Law
School Admissions Committee, but does not guarantee admission to the JD
Program.

3. Students may apply to the MBA, MPA and MPH programs and be recognized
as joint degree candidates any time before completing their JD.

c. Degree requirements.

1. The Graduation Requirements for completing the JD are the same for Joint
Degree students.

2. The School of Law will accept up to nine credits of courses taken as part of the
MBA, MPA or MPH programs towards completion of the JD. The student must
identify these dual credit courses on a form provided by the Office of Student
Life. Grades receive in dual credit courses will be used in determining a
Student’s School of Law GPA and class rank.

Regular and punctual class attendance is required. All faculty members are required to track
whether students in their courses are meeting the regular and punctual class attendance
requirement. Faculty members have discretion to enforce this policy as each determines best
serves its purpose. Faculty members taking attendance into account in the grading of the
course shall indicate the policy and its method of enforcement in the course syllabus. At the request of the faculty member, excess absences from class may result in the student being
administratively withdrawn from the course by the Dean.

This rule applies to any "make up" classes scheduled in the designated slots in the class
schedule or at other times as approved by the Dean or their designee. Faculty members are
expected to schedule any necessary make up classes in the designated slots; a faculty
member may schedule a make up class outside of the designated slots only with the prior
approval of the Dean or their designee. When certain designated slots conflict with other
courses, faculty members are expected to determine which slots do not pose a course
conflict for the students enrolled in the course and use only those slots for make up classes. 

In compliance with rules adopted by the Department of Education (34 C.F.R. §600.2) and ABA
Standard 310, an instructor should assign, and a student should complete, an average of at least 2
hours and 10 minutes of out-of-class work per week per credit hour. For example, for a threecredit class, a student should spend an average of six and a half hours on out-of-class work. 

As a general matter, students are not permitted to retake law school courses, except when required to do so under another policy of the School of Law in order to successfully complete a course that is required for graduation. In exceptional circumstances, students may request permission to retake other courses not successfully completed, but any student who makes such a request must obtain the prior approval of the Office of the Dean, which may be granted in the sole discretion of the Dean or the Dean’s designee. If any student makes such a request, then,
when reasonably possible, the Dean or the Dean’s designee will consult with the professor of the
course that the student did not successfully complete regarding the student’s request to retake the
course. Such consultation should occur before determining whether or not to grant the request. In no event will a student be permitted to retake a course the student has successfully completed.

If a student is required or permitted to retake a course, the student will receive credit for the
original course, if a passing grade is received in the original course, and for the retaken course, if
a passing grade is received in the retaken course. If credit is received for both courses, the
number of credits required for graduation will be increased by the number of credits received for
the retaken course. The grade for each course, whether satisfactory or unsatisfactory, will be
recorded on the student’s official transcript in the semester in which the applicable course is
taken. Both grades will be used to compute the student’s cumulative grade point average.

This policy does not apply to a student who is admitted or readmitted as a first year student,
without advanced standing, after academic disqualification or withdrawal.

It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of
the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf
of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable
certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,”
Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done
satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the
examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her
instructor.

Incompletes are entered on the final grade roster, and instructors must submit by a “Report of Incomplete Grade” form to the Office of Student Life, which will in turn submit the form to the University’s Office of the Registrar. The instructor may choose any one of the following options for the deadline to complete the course:

1. The default date as stated in the “UND Schedule of Courses.”
2. An extension to 12 calendar months after the end of the course (requires approval of the
Dean).
3. An extension to a date of the instructor’s choosing no later than 12 months after the end
of the course (requires approval of the Dean).

Incomplete grades will convert to a grade of “F” if a grade or incomplete extension is not
submitted by the instructor to the Office of Student Life on or before the deadline written on the “Report of Incomplete Grade” form. An incomplete grade must be changed by 12 calendar
months from the ending date of the class. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the
instructor about an incomplete grade posted on the final grade report.

An “I” may be converted as indicated above but cannot be expunged from the record. Students
may not register in courses in which they currently hold grades of incomplete, except for courses
that allow repeated enrollment. A student will not be allowed to graduate with an unconverted
incomplete grade on the academic record.

After registration,  a student may drop or add courses. This should be done prior to the University Office of the Registrar’s deadline for dropping or adding of courses as stated in the “UND Schedule of Courses.” No course in the School of Law may be dropped or added after the deadline without the written approval of the Dean (or his/her designee) and approval of the
instructor in each course.

A student wishing to drop or add a course after registration should obtain a Registration Action
Form from the Office of Student Life. The form is to be completed by the student and returned to the Office of Student Life. Faculty signatures will be required for all course changes after general or course-specific deadlines. The Office of Student Life will forward the form to the University Office of the Registrar. Withdrawal from a course will be indicated on a student’s transcript by a “W.”

This procedure also applies to changing registration in a course from credit to audit, or vice
versa; and from graded to ungraded, or vice versa.

A law student may audit a law school class. No credit is given or received for audited classes. The audit will be reflected on the student’s transcript. Any student who wishes to audit a class and have his or her transcript reflect the audit must complete an audit request form. The completed form must contain the reasons for the request and must be approved by the instructor. The approval of the Dean is also required and such approval will not be granted as a matter of course.

Attendance will be required of auditors who wish their transcript to reflect the audit. Auditors and Faculty must certify to the Dean's office compliance with the attendance and other class requirements sometime subsequent to the last day of class but no later than the last day of finals week. Failure to do so will result in a withdrawal of the audit indication on the transcript.

Unless otherwise provided in the requirements of a joint degree or certificate program, students may take up to six credits of undergraduate or graduate courses in other departments or colleges of the University of North Dakota, with the approval of the Assistant Dean. The student’s petition must indicate how the requested course(s) will contribute to the student’s professional education. Courses approved under this section will be graded on a basis of S/U.

Once admitted to the School of Law, every student has a duty to update and supplement the information included in his or her application for admission. This includes a duty to disclose any and all omissions from the application for admission, and it includes a duty to disclose any and all conduct and events that occur after submission of the application, if such conduct or events would have required disclosure in the application for admission. In either case, this duty of disclosure continues until the student has graduated or formally withdrawn from the School of Law. All such information must be provided to the Office of Student Life regardless of when the event occurred, whether an event requiring disclosure occurs inside or outside the State of North Dakota ,and whether the School of Law is in session at the time of the event triggering the need for disclosure. Every student's application must be updated as soon as is reasonably possible, by reporting the relevant information to the Office of Student Life, upon the occurrence of any event requiring disclosure. Students must disclose upon the occurrence of the event (e.g., an arrest) and cannot wait for resolution of the matter before reporting the matter to Office of Student Life.

a. Voluntary Withdrawal

A law student who seeks to voluntarily withdraw from all coursework at the School of Law with the prospect of subsequent readmission must obtain the approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Life and complete the following required steps:

1. Submit to the Assistant Dean for Student Life a written request to withdraw setting forth the reason or reasons for withdrawal.

2. Speak with the Assistant Dean for Student Life to discuss the student's reason or reasons for seeking withdrawal. At the Assistant Dean's discretion, this step may require an in-person meeting.

3. Obtain the written approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Life.

4. Comply with all applicable University policies and procedures.

b. Readmission after Voluntary Withdrawal.

Students who withdraw from the School of Law are not automatically entitled to be readmitted and must petition to be readmitted in the academic program if no more than three (3) years have passed since withdrawal. Such students must submit a written petition, in a form determined by the School of Law, to the Assistant Dean of Student Life for consideration. The petition must address, in detail, the reason or reasons for the student's prior withdrawal, along with a statement explaining why the prior circumstances, as well as the period of separation, will not adversely affect the student's ability to successfully resume law study as well as law practice after graduation. Such students may also be required to submit additional materials and/or documentation in support of their application, at the discretion of the School of Law.

The Assistant Dean for Student Life will consider petitions submitted by students seeking to re-enroll in the School of Law J.D. program within twelve (12) months of their official date of withdrawal. For students petitioning to re-enroll in courses after twelve (12) months but no more than thirty-six (36) months after their official date of withdrawal, the School of Law Admissions and Probation Committee, in consultation with the Assistant Dean for Student Life, will consider those petitions. Student eligibility for re-enrollment at the School of Law following voluntary withdrawal may be subject to specified conditions determined by the Assistant Dean in consultation with the Admissions & Probation Committee.

c. Students Ineligible to Apply for Readmission.

Students who voluntarily withdraw from the School of Law are not eligible for reenrollment under the following circumstances:

1. If the students seek to re-enroll after a period of more than thirty-six (36) months after the official date of withdrawal; and/orIf the students failed to follow the procedures set forth in Paragraph A, above.

2. In either or both of these circumstances, students seeking to re-enroll in the School of Law must apply for admission as a new first-year student in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the School of Law concerning new admissions.

d. Exception for Military Service.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph C, students in good standing required to withdraw from the School of Law because of mandatory military service obligations may petition to re-enroll even if the period of mandatory military service exceeds 36 months. Assuming the period of separation is within the pertinent ABA accreditation standards, such petitions shall be considered by the Admissions and Probation Committee, in consultation with the Assistant Dean for Student Life. If the Admissions and Probation Committee, in consultation with the Assistant Dean for Student Life, determines that the lengthier period of separation will not adversely affect the student's ability to successfully resume law study, as well as practice law after graduation, the petition for re-enrollment will be granted. In cases to the contrary, students must freshly apply for readmission to the School of Law as new first-year students in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the School of Law concerning admissions.

e. Additional Considerations.

Students considering voluntary withdrawal from the School of Law with the possibility of subsequent readmission should be aware of the following:

1. Students may not ordinarily withdraw from the School of Law after the University's deadline for official withdrawal.

2. In accordance with current ABA Standard 304(c), the School of Law requires that the course of study for the J.D. degree be completed no later than 84 months after students commence study at the School of Law or another law school from which the School of Law has accepted transfer credit; withdrawal does not extend this period.

3. Tuition remission is available only according to the University's policies and schedule for tuition and fee refunds.

4. Withdrawal may have an impact on the student's financial obligations; students should consult with the UND Student Financial Aid Office and UND Student Account Services before making a decision to withdraw.

5. Withdrawal may have an impact on foreign students' visa status; students should consult with the UND Office of International Programs for further information.

6. Student withdrawal will be reflected on student transcripts according to the University's policies, including the appearance of a "W" indicating withdrawal from each course in which the student is enrolled after the first ten days of the semester.

7. Students who leave the School of Law without obtaining an official withdrawal in accordance with this policy may be given an "F" grade in all courses in which the students were otherwise enrolled at the time of withdrawal and may forfeit any tuition remission.

a. Approval of Distance Education Courses Generally

Distance Education Courses will be approved or disapproved through the process used for substantive changes to the School of Law’s curriculum.

Primary consideration shall be given to (a) ensuring a level of educational quality commensurate with best practices in distance education; (b) providing educational opportunities to students through distance education; (c) serving the Curricular Mission and Goals; and (d) meeting all applicable ABA Standards. This process applies to all distance education courses that award credit toward the J.D. degree, whether taught by law faculty or faculty outside the law school.

b. Approval of Student Requests to Participate in a Course via Distance Education Methods

1. Completion of One-Third or Less of the Course through Distance Education Methods. A student’s request to utilize distance education methods to complete no more than one-third of a course that is not ordinarily offered as a distance education course will be approved or disapproved by the Assistant Dean for Student Services in consultation with, and the approval of, the instructor of the course in the instructor’s sound discretion. The student’s request must be based on extraordinary circumstances that prevent the student from completing the course or make it unduly burdensome to complete the course. The burden is on the student to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.

2. Completion of More than One-Third of the Course through Distance Education Methods. A student’s request to utilize distance education methods to complete more than one-third of a course that is not ordinarily offered as a distance education course will be approved or disapproved by the Assistant Dean for Student Services according to the following factors:

a. The Faculty reserves authority to designate a particular course or set of courses as inappropriate for distance education delivery.

The Faculty has designated the following sets of courses as inappropriate for distance education delivery:

1. All courses in the School of Law’s first-year curriculum;

2. Trial advocacy courses;

3. Moot court courses; and

4. Any other course pre-designated by the member of the Faculty teaching the course as inappropriate for distance education delivery. Such pre-designation must be made in writing to the Assistant Dean for Student Services by no later than five (5) business days after the opening of registration for the course. Such pre-designation remains in effect for subsequent semesters in which the course is offered until revoked by the instructor.

Due to exceptional circumstances, the Faculty has exempted Property (LAW 172)--in Fall 2021 only--from its designation under this policy as inappropriate for distance education delivery. b. The student’s request must be based on extraordinary circumstances that prevent the student from completing the course or make it unduly burdensome to complete the course. The burden is on the student to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances. c. The instructor of the course must be willing to fulfill the student’s request to deliver instruction via distance education methods in compliance with ABA Standards.

a. Review of Distance Education Courses

A regularly constituted Faculty committee will be assigned by the Dean to evaluate all Distance Education Courses approved for law school credit. A regular and ongoing evaluation of Distance Education Courses shall begin with the 2019-2020 academic year and continue for as long as the Law School offers Distance Education Courses. This review demonstrates the commitment of the Dean and Faculty to comply with ABA Accreditation Standard 315.

For purposes of this provision, the obligation to evaluate all Distance Education Courses will apply only to those classes that did not become Distance Education Courses for reasons attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same committee will, however, evaluate generally the implementation of the courses that became Distance Education Courses for reasons attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

b. Distance Education Requirements

All Distance Education Coursesshall comply with ABA Accreditation Standards and shall be approved through the regular curriculum review and approval process discussed in Section I.B.10.

1. A Distance Education Course is one in which students are separated from the faculty member or each other for more than one-third of the instruction and the instruction involves the use of technology to support regular and substantive interaction among students and between the students and the faculty member, either synchronously or asynchronously.

2. The Faculty have approved the use of synchronous, asynchronous, or hybrid courses as acceptable methods of course delivery for Distance Education Courses. Grading of Distance Education Courses shall follow the same rules and procedures as established in Section I.A.5. Assessment in distance education courses shall follow the rules for assessment for any other course. If a final examination is used, it shall comply with the rules and procedures established in Section I.C Final Examinations, and any additional rules promulgated under this section.

a. To ensure that any approved accommodations are afforded to a student in a Distance Education Course, the Dean or Dean’s designee will designate an appropriate staff member to communicate through Blackboard and/or any University testing/assessment partner the necessary accommodations approved under Section IV.A Students With Disabilities.

b. To preserve student anonymity in a blindly graded course, the Dean or Dean’s designee will designate an appropriate staff member to be responsible for managing anonymous grading in Blackboard. If the Faculty member communicatesto students that any portion of the course grade is blindly graded, the Faculty member will not have the ability to unblind the numbers anonymously assigned to student submissions through Blackboard, in Examsoft, or utilized by an approved University testing partner for that portion of the course. Faculty must grade the blindly submitted work and then work with the Dean’s designee to attach student names to submitted work

3. The Teaching Transformation & Development Academy at the University of North Dakota will provide training and support to all law faculty responsible for a Distance Education Course. Students will have access to staff dedicated to technical support at the University and the law school and available by internet or mobile devices to provide technical assistance.

4. Credit earned in all Distance Education Courses will count toward the 76 credit hours of regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction required by section I.A.1 because:

a. All Distance Education Courses provide an opportunity for regular and substantive interaction between the faculty member and the student, and between students, by using a discussion board, class listserv, shared email addresses, group work, synchronous classroom components, recorded presentations, and/or regular assignment deadlines to ensure ordinary course progression.

b. The faculty member will regularly monitor the effort of all students by monitoring and/or participating in group discussion boards, grading regularly assigned quizzes, and/or developing other classroom policies which ensure regular communication with all enrolled students.

c. The learning outcomes for each course will be included in the syllabus and will be consistent with ABA Accreditation Standard 302.

5. No student shall be permitted to earn more than 20 credits toward the J.D. degree through Distance Education Courses. No student shall be permitted to take more than 10 credits through Distance Education Courses until they have successfully completed at least 30 credits toward their J.D. degree.

For purposes of this provision, any course that became a Distance Education Course because of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be deemed a Distance Education Course for purposes of applying this policy language. The Office of Student Life will designate courses that did not become Distance Education Courses for reasons attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Students in a Distance Education Course will have their identity regularly monitored and verified.

a. Blackboard: Student identity will be verified for purposes of regular coursework by using a secure login and password combination associated with Blackboard.

b. Participation: In any synchronous component of a Distance Education Course the faculty member delivering the course content will verify the identity of the student using a photograph associated with the student account, a secure login to the synchronous component of the course which includes a login and password combination, or other effective method developed by the University of North Dakota and approved by a vote of the Faculty.

c. Examinations: Students taking a Distance Education Course that includes a final exam may be assessed an additional student fee to cover the verification of their identity through the University of North Dakota’s selected contractor. If any fee is charged, students will be notified at the time they register for the course. If a fee is assessed, students have the option of taking the exam in person at the University of North Dakota School of Law at a time designated by the Registrar. If the student chooses to take the exam in person, no fee will be charged.

c. Distance Education Coursework

Distance Education Courses will comply with ABA Accreditation Standard 310. Each credit hour earned in a Distance Education Course will constitute at least fifteen, fifty minute hours, of classroom or direct faculty instruction and at least thirty, sixty minute hours, of out of class student work.

1. Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction will only include time spent in synchronous or asynchronous instruction led and actively directly by the faculty member, completing quizzes or timed essay exercises, engaged in face-to-face conferences with the professor either alone or in groups (the conference may be in person or electronically constituted), making a group presentation to which the faculty member provides direct and substantive feedback, watching other student presentations, engaged in a discussion post through online message boards, or taking a final formative assessment.

a. For each credit of Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction, at least 10 of the 15 hours must be either synchronous or asynchronous instruction led by the faculty member or face-to-face conferences as described above.

b. The number of minutes assigned to each Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction task are determined by reference to studies documented in academic literature, based on established practice at other schools, and/or approved by other accreditation agencies. The details of the calculation are shared with the faculty and kept by the Dean or Dean’s designee. They are subject to change by a vote of the Faculty upon a recommendation from a Faculty committee or the Dean but only in accordance with the interpretations provided in ABA Accreditation Standard 310.

c. Calculating the time spent on a final exam for the purpose of calculating Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction hours will not exceed one, fifty minute hour, per credit hour assigned. However at the Faculty member’s discretion the exam may actually last up to ninety minutes per credit hour.

2. Out of Class Student Work will only include time spent reading assigned materials, watching a video assigned by the Faculty member but not featuring instructional material, preparing written work to be graded or reviewed by the Faculty member, reading discussion posts provided by other students, engaged in group work as assigned by the professor, or studying for a final examination.

The number of minutes assigned to each Out of Class Student Work task are determined by reference to studies documented in academic literature, based on established practice at other schools, and/or approved by other accreditation agencies. The details of the calculation are shared with the faculty and kept by the Dean or Dean’s designee. They are subject to change by a vote of the Faculty upon a recommendation from a Faculty committee or the Dean but only in accordance with the interpretations provided in ABA Accreditation Standard 310.

d. Distance Education Coursework and Experiential Credit

No Distance Education Course shall qualify as an Experiential Course for purposes of ABA Accreditation Standard 303 without a vote of the majority of Faculty certifying that the course to be offered meets all of the requirements of ABA Accreditation Standard 304. Any Faculty member offering a Distance Education Course that also satisfies the Experiential requirement of ABA Accreditation Standard 303 shall document the course’s compliance with ABA Accreditation Standard 304 and provide that documentation to the Dean or Dean’s designee upon request and at the end of the semester in which the course was offered.

Any Distance Education Course which is approved for the Experiential Learning Requirement under section 1.A.2.c shall not count toward the 76 credits at regularly scheduled class sessions required by I.A.1 unless it also meets the requirements for an in class course under these rules.

e. Distance Education Courses Offered for Non-Law Credit

The Law School may use part of an asynchronously designed Distance Education Course for other commercial purposes with the approval of the Faculty member who designed the course and in accordance with the University of North Dakota’s Intellectual Property Policy. Material may be used to provide online/distance CLE programs, to provide practitioners with a review or survey of the subject matter, to support the Law School’s certificate programs, or other commercial uses. Each use of asynchronously developed materials for non-law credit purposes must be approved by the faculty member who created the materials.

f. Credit for Distance Education Courses Offered By Another Law School

Students may not receive credit for more than 9 credits of Distance Education Courses earned at another ABA Accredited Law School and, consistent with I.B.11.b.5, may not count more than 20 total Distance Education Course credits toward the 90 credits required for a J.D. degree by section I.A.1 regardless of where they were earned. Students may only receive credit for a Distance Education Course offered by another ABA Accredited Law School if that school certifies that the Distance Education Course meets all of the requirements of ABA Accreditation Standard 306 and the student also receives prior approval from the Dean or Dean’s designee. The Dean or Dean’s designee shall decide whether to approve a Distance Education Course offered by another ABA Accredited Law School for credit based upon its content and rigor; and may deny credit for courses which are also offered by UND.

Students may not earn any credit for Distance Education Courses offered outside the University of North Dakota by a non-ABA Accredited Law School.

Unless otherwise required by University policy or applicable law, students are prohibited from recording (in either audio and/or video format) classes without the express, written permission of the instructor.

Where a student has been offered the option to record classes as a disability accommodation, the student must provide written notice of the accommodation to the instructor prior to recording any classes. All recordings are for the student’s private use only and may not be shared with others unless the instructor provides written permission. Students are required to delete all class recordings within 30 days after all work in that course is complete, absent written permission from the instructor.

Violation of this policy also violates the University of North Dakota School of Law Honor Code (section 2 (ii) (“cheating, including, but not limited to, using any unauthorized aid for academic purposes”) and the University of North Dakota Code of Student Life (II.B.1.a. (“Possessing or using material related to any academic work (e.g. test, homework, quiz, assignments) not authorized by the instructor or designee”) and C.8. (“Intruding upon or interfering with the privacy of another by secretly or without authorization …, photographing, recording, amplifying, or broadcasting sounds or events of another”).

Scope: Unless the examination instructions for a course indicate otherwise, the following procedures apply to the administration of examinations.

Examination Rooms: Examination rooms are posted in advance of the exam in the Office of Student Life at least 24 hours prior to the examination period. Exams may only be taken in designated testing areas.

Distribution of Exams: Examinations will be distributed in the exam room. The room will be unlocked by the examination official 20 minutes prior to the start of the exam. When the room is unlocked, students may be seated where an exam has been placed; exams cannot be moved to different seats. If the examination is face down, do not turn over the examination until directed to do so. Instructors will provide exam officials with a list of permitted materials for each exam. Students must place all unauthorized materials, as well as all personal items (e.g., coats, backpacks, book bags, etc.), at the front of the exam room prior to the start of the examination, and those items must remain there until the student is finished with the examination.

Timeliness: Students must be on time for their examinations. If a student arrives more than 15 minutes late, the student must get the exam from the Office of Student Life. Except in extraordinary circumstances, an exam that starts late must be turned in at the scheduled conclusion of the exam. A designated clock in each exam room will serve as the “official” clock for each exam.

Conduct: Roving exam officials will be monitoring each examination room for every scheduled exam period and may come in and out of the room at any time during the examination period. During the course of the examination, students may not talk to other students, share any materials or examinations or answers, or otherwise interact or collaborate in any way.

No more than one student may be absent from the examination room at any given time during the course of the examination time, except for those students who have left the exam room to turn in their examinations to the Office of Student Life. During the exam, students may leave the examination room to use the restroom, but must first sign and indicate the time on the signin/sign-out sheet provided at the front of the room, and again, only one student from each room is allowed to be signed out at a time. Returning from the restroom, students must sign back in on the sign-in/sign-out sheet, indicating the time of their return. Other than restroom use, students may not go into non-testing areas or leave the building until their completed examination has been submitted. Absolute quiet must be maintained in the law building. No conversation is permitted in the testing areas or corridors during the mornings and afternoons that examinations are being given.

Exam Format: Students will take their exams using computer-based examination software. All questions must be answered within the computer-based examination software. Although a hard copy of all or part of the exam may be provided, only what is provided within the examination software will be used for grading. STUDENTS MUST NOT WRITE THEIR NAME OR ANY OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE EXAM NUMBER ON THE EXAM OR OTHER MATERIALS. 

Do not remove any pages from the exam. At the discretion of the instructor, exams that have pages removed may not be graded. All copies of the exam must be turned in at the conclusion of the exam. If a student completes an exam prior to the scheduled end of the exam, the student should bring the exam and any other materials required to be submitted directly to the Office of Student Life. An examination official will be in the exam room for the last 5 minutes of the exam period. At the conclusion of the exam, students will be directed to stop work on the examination, and the examination official will collect the remaining exams and other materials. After completing and submitting the exam, students must leave the testing areas and corridors IMMEDIATELY. Students may not continue to work on the examination after the exam official has directed students to stop work on the examination. Failure to comply will be reported to the Office of Student Life. Grading sanctions may be imposed for late exams at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course, and the matter may be addressed through the Honor Code as appropriate. Interrupted exams: Circumstances that require an interruption of the exam must be brought to the attention of the Office of Student Life. Disability Accommodation Requests: Students requesting disability accommodations for exams are expected to register as early as possible and in any event prior to the exam period with Accessibility for Students 777-2664, UND.accessibilityforstudents@und.edu. Requests for other accommodations must be made through the Office of Student Life. A request for accommodations must be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing the request and implementing any appropriate accommodations.

Failure to comply with the above procedures or exam instructions may constitute academic dishonesty or misconduct.

Students enrolled in courses in which the professor has a scheduled examination will take that examination via computer. Unless otherwise permitted by the professor, examinations require the use of specific computer examination software (“Examination Software”).

Prior to their first computer-based examination, students must:

a. Attend an orientation session to obtain all necessary information and policies regarding computer-based examinations (“Orientation Session”). Dates for Orientation Sessions will be determined and distributed by the Office of Student Life;

b. Register for, download, and install the Examination Software, and comply with any startup requirements of the Examination Software (e.g., completion of a qualification examination), as specified in the Orientation Session;

c. Complete a mock exam as directed and as provided in the Examination Software; and

d. Ensure that their computer meets the School of Law Technology Requirements.

Students are advised that they are solely responsible for any technical problems that may arise during an examination and that malfunctioning equipment (including, but not limited to, the following: software problems, loss of power, and faulty hard drives) is not grounds for examination relief or additional time. In the event of any serious malfunction, students should complete the remainder of the examination in handwriting using standard green books as provided by the Office of Student Life. Students must report to the examination room with writing implements for their use in case of malfunctioning equipment. The Examination Software automatically backs-up every minute; therefore, answers written prior to the malfunction should be recoverable from the computer's hard drive.

On the day of the examination, students must:

a. Bring a laptop with the Examination Software already installed, registered, and ready for use;

b. Bring a laptop power cord and charged battery pack;

c. Arrive at least twenty (20) minutes prior to the examination start time to set up the laptop; and

d. Be prepared to hand write their answers in green books if they experience problems with the Examination Software or their computer. 

Students must upload their completed examination answers before leaving the examination room. If that is not possible, the student must immediately proceed to the Office of Student Life, obtain any necessary assistance, and upload or otherwise submit their completed examination answers before leaving the law school building. Administrative penalties for violating this rule include a notation in the student’s file, suspension of Examination Software privileges, and/or proceedings under the Honor Code. In addition, the faculty member teaching the course retains the discretion to impose non-administrative penalties.

Students are responsible for taking all steps necessary to complete examinations as scheduled. As part of that responsibility, students must consider the examination schedule when choosing classes.

For good cause and with the approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Services (or in their absence, another designated dean) a student’s examination may be rescheduled because of:

a. A bona fide emergency or unplanned event affecting the student, beyond their control, which makes it impossible or unduly burdensome to take the examination at the regularly scheduled time. Examples include but are not limited to a student’s illness or the illness or death of an immediate family member.

1) If the emergency or unplanned event occurs before the examination starts, the student must initiate their rescheduling request by notifying the Assistant Dean for Student Services in writing of the circumstances at the earliest possible time after the emergency or event becomes known to the student and requesting to take the examination at other than the scheduled time. If the Assistant Dean determines that the examination should be rescheduled, they will reschedule it for a time after the regular examination.

2) If the emergency or unplanned event occurs after the examination starts, any student wishing to stop the examination must go immediately to the Assistant Dean for Student Services and request that the examination be rescheduled. The Assistant Dean will determine if continuing the exam is impossible or unduly burdensome. If the Assistant Dean determines that the examination should be rescheduled, they will reschedule it for a later time.

b. A planned event (such as National Guard or reserve military duty) which makes it impossible or unduly burdensome to take the examination at the regularly scheduled time. At the time of registration or as soon as known, the student shall notify the Assistant Dean for Student Services in writing of the circumstances and requesting to take the examination at other than the scheduled time. If the Assistant Dean determines that the examination should be rescheduled, they will reschedule it for a time after the regular examination.

c. Good cause for rescheduling an examination does not include having:

1) More than one examination scheduled for the same day

2) A number of examinations scheduled for successive days

3) An examination scheduled after graduation day

4) A final examination schedule that is too spread out

5) Job or personal commitments

6) A wish to minimize, or problems with, travel, commuting, or transportation.

d. Students must not discuss rescheduling examinations with anyone other than the Assistant Dean for Student Services or their designee for exam administration.

e. In all instances of rescheduling (whether in-class or take-home examinations), the Assistant Dean for Student Services will inform the faculty member teaching the course as soon as possible that the student’s request for a rescheduled examination has been granted. The faculty member shall inform the Assistant Dean whether the regular examination should be continued or administered or whether a substitute examination will be provided. If the faculty member cannot be contacted or cannot supply a replacement examination within the time available, the regular examination will be administered. If a substitute examination is to be given, the faculty member should communicate any necessary instructions to the student through the Assistant Dean. Before permitting the student to take the rescheduled examination, the Assistant Dean will require the student to certify in writing that the student has not discussed (and will not discuss) the examination with anyone other than the Assistant Dean or their designee for exam administration.

f. A rescheduled examination must not take place more than one week after the end of the regular examination period unless good cause for the delay is shown to the Assistant Dean.

g. This policy will be read in conjunction with disability, English language learner, and religious observance accommodations.

a. Anonymous Grading of Examinations

As a general practice, examinations administered during the School of Law's examination period are graded anonymously. For these types of tests, examination grades must be submitted to the Office of Student Life on forms that list only the examination numbers assigned to the students for that examination period. Each faculty member's syllabus should reflect whether and which examinations, assignments, or other components of the course grade will be graded non-anonymously.

b. Timelines of Grade Reporting. Course grades must be submitted no later than twenty-one calendar days following the last day of the scheduled examination period. Extensions of this reporting deadline may be granted by the Dean for good cause in extraordinary circumstances.

c. Processing Non-Anonymous Course Grade Components. Faculty members giving anonymous examinations who wish to include non-anonymous grading components in calculating course grades must determine those non-anonymous grade adjustments before receiving the names of their students (unless the faculty member notifies students that this adjustment will be done non-anonymously). The Office of Student Life will consult with the faculty member to determine course grades while maintaining anonymity of examination grades, and as soon as feasible, give the faculty member a grade report showing both examination and course grades so that the faculty member can submit the course grades within the pertinent deadlines established in paragraph 2. As part of this process, faculty members should give the Office of Student Life a copy of the pertinent section of his or her syllabus relating to the adjustment.

* For information on final exam policies for Students with Disabilities please refer to: Section IV. General Policies, A. Students with Disabilities

A student: 1) who has not successfully completed any required course on the second attempt; or 2) whose cumulative grade point average at the end of the second or any subsequent semester is less than 2.00, is disqualified from registration for continuation in the academic program except as provided for below. For purposes of this rule, any course work completed during the summer will be treated as if it was taken after the end of the spring semester. If the student is determined to be ineligible before the drop date for any classes in which the student is then currently enrolled, the student will be administratively dropped from those courses. If the student is determined to be ineligible after the drop date, the student will be allowed to complete any classes in which the student is then currently enrolled, but the grades from the classes will not be considered in assessing the student's disqualification for any subsequent term, although the grades may be considered by the Probation Committee in assessing the student's application to continue the academic program on probation. 

1. Eligibility for Probation

a. A student academically disqualified for failing to complete any required course on the second attempt is eligible to apply to continue in the academic program on probation.

b. A student academically disqualified after the second semester of law study with a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.90 is eligible to apply to continue in the academic program on probation. A student academically disqualified after the second semester of law study with a cumulative grade point average of less than 1.90 is disqualified from registration for continuation in the academic program, and is not eligible to continue in the academic program. Such student may only apply for admission to the School of Law as a new first year student in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the School of Law concerning admissions.

c. Notwithstanding the (b) above, any student who has previously been on probation whose cumulative grade point average at the end of the probationary period or any subsequent semester is less than 2.00 is disqualified from registration for continuation in the academic program, and is not eligible to continue in the academic program. Such student may only apply for admission to the School of Law as a new first year student in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the School of Law concerning admissions.

2. Probation Committee

The Dean will appoint at least three members of the law faculty to serve as the Probation Committee. The Probation Committee will receive and consider such applications as are properly filed and forwarded by the Assistant Dean (or his/her designee). The Probation Committee will act upon and determine the merits of each application under the standards set out in this Policy. Applications will be received and handled in confidence by the Office of Student Life and the Probation Committee. However, the filing of an application will be considered the filing party's consent to such limited revelations by the Office of Student Life and by members of the Probation Committee as are necessary for the performance of their respective responsibilities. These may include, but are not limited to, such revelations as are required to inquire of third parties as to matters asserted in or relevant to the application and to utilize administrative personnel in the processing of the application. The student may be requested to furnish other information by the Assistant Dean (or his/her designee) or the Probation Committee. The student must furnish such other information.

3. Standards for Probation

An academically disqualified student will only be allowed to continue the academic program on probationary status. Probation will only be granted to an eligible student who, in the judgment of the Probation Committee:

a. has honestly and objectively considered and reflected on the substandard academic performance and identified the true reason(s) therefore;

b. exhibits maturity of conduct and good judgment;

c. has demonstrated a serious interest in and dedication to legal study or entry into the profession, or can reasonably be expected to demonstrate such interest and such dedication in the future;

d. is likely to successfully complete the required course or courses or achieve the required cumulative average in the probationary period; and

e. appears capable of satisfactorily completing the program of legal education and being admitted to the bar.

4. Conditions of Probation

A student who is placed on probation will have the terms and conditions of the probation set by the Probation Committee. Such terms and conditions will be communicated to the student contemporaneously with notification of probation. The student's continued enrollment in the School of Law will constitute full and complete acceptance of the terms and conditions of the probation.

5. Time Limit

Any application for continued enrollment on probation must be filed within four months from the last day of final exams for the semester in which the student became academically ineligible. Thereafter, such student may only apply for admission to the School of Law as a new first year student in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of the Admissions Committee. Such application will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Admissions Committee.

1. Notification of disqualification will be mailed to the student by registered mail, return receipt requested, as soon as practicable after grades have been received and recorded by the Office of Admissions and Records.

2. A student who has been academically disqualified and who is eligible and desires to apply for probation must do so by delivering a probation application to the Office of Student Life. The application must be received by the later of: thirty (30) calendar days prior to the commencement of classes in the semester for which the student seeks probation; or seven (7) days after receiving notification of disqualification. Delivery to the Office of Student Life for the purposes of these rules will only be accomplished when the application is actually received in the Office of Student Life.

3. It is incumbent upon each student to maintain a current mailing address on file in the Office of Student Life. Should reasonable efforts by the School of Law fail to reach student through the address and telephone number supplied in the application, the application will be considered to have been abandoned and withdrawn. A student may change the address or telephone number provided in the application, but only by written communication addressed to the Office of Student Life. Such change will be effective only when actually received in the Office of Student Life.

4. The Probation Committee will report its decision within thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the receipt of the student's application for probation. An eligible student whose application is still pending at the commencement of the semester for which probation is sought will be permitted to complete registration and begin classes. The academic status of such student is pending, and the student is not in good standing. Should the Probation Committee deny the application, the student must cease the course work, the registration is automatically cancelled, and the academic record of the student will make no reference to the semester thus begun. Such a student's eligibility for a full or partial refund of all or any fees which may have been, prior to denial of the application, paid for the semester, will be determined entirely under UND regulations regarding return of fees. This permission to begin the semester before the decision on the application does not affect or assist in the request for refund.

5. The Dean (or his/her designee) may alter the time periods for submission and reporting if events make adherence to the schedule impracticable.

6. The student will be afforded an opportunity to appear personally before the Probation Committee in support of the application. The Probation Committee will consider relevant affidavits of third parties. The student must attach such affidavits to and submitted with the application. Any other evidence will be considered at the discretion of the Probation Committee. A student desiring to appear personally before the Probation Committee must so state in the application. 

7. For purposes of considering an application under these rules, a quorum will consist of three eligible Probation Committee members.

1. Scope

An academic grievance is any formal complaint lodged by a student about an academic circumstance. An academic circumstance is any event relating to a student’s education at the School of Law. Such events include grading, testing, quality of instruction, or compliance with the ABA Standards, among others.

2. Grade/Course-Related Grievances

a. This section addresses academic grievances concerning a grade received by a student as part of a law school course or relating to a faculty member's teaching of a particular law school course.

The faculty member teaching a course is responsible for assessing and grading each student’s work in the course. The assignment of a grade is ordinarily within the sole academic judgment of the faculty member. This includes a grade based on the instructor’s determination that the student engaged in academic misconduct related to the course.

An assigned grade may be challenged only on the basis that the assigned grade is in error or that the assigned grade is arbitrary or capricious.

A grade that is in error is one that is the result of administrative, mathematical, or mechanical error, or is the result of the faculty member’s actual failure to assess a substantial part of the student’s work.

Determinations of arbitrary or capricious grading are expected to be rare and to require specific supporting evidence. It is within an instructor's discretion to be able to impose any grading penalty for a particular course up to and including a failing grade for the course for any academic misconduct related to that course.

A grade may not be changed as a result of a substantive reevaluation of a student's work, other than based on the faculty member’s actual failure to assess a substantial part of the student’s work. If a faculty member discovers an error in reviewing one student’s exam or other work and discovers that the same error was also made in grading exams or other work of other students, the faculty member must change the grades of all students whose grades were affected by the error.

b. First Stage (Grade/Course-Related Grievances):

A student who questions an assigned grade is encouraged to discuss the grade with the faculty member. The faculty member will explain the application of grading criteria to the student’s work and the student.

To make a challenge on a permissible basis, the student must lodge an academic grievance concerning the grade. The academic grievance procedure concerning a student’s grade begins with a discussion between the grieving student and the faculty member who has assigned the grade. The student must meet or otherwise communicate with the faculty member within twenty (20) school days after the grade was posted. If the twenty-day period ends on a date outside the School of Law's regular academic year, and the faculty member is not available to discuss the grade with the student, then the student must meet with the faculty member within twenty (20) school days after the first day of classes of the next full semester. If a student's grievance arises from the grade received in a course during the student's final term prior to graduation, the student must lodge his/her grievance within one (1) calendar week of the date the grade was posted.

A faculty member retains discretion, based on academic judgment, to change a graded component of the course (such as a quiz or assignment) prior to recording the student’s final grade for the course. Changing a final course grade is a serious matter and a faculty member has only limited discretion to recommend a change to a recorded final course grade, as set forth in the Second Stage.

If the result of the First Stage is a decision by the faculty member to change a grade assigned to a student for a graded component of the course (such as a quiz or assignment) prior to recording the student’s final grade for the course, the faculty member may do so without any further process or required approval.

If the result of the First Stage is a recommendation by the faculty member to change the student’s recorded final course grade, the faculty member must file a written petition with the Office of Student Life to request the grade change. This petition must include an explanation of the reason supporting the requested change. Such a petition will be approved only upon certification that the original grade was in error as defined in the First Stage. The petition must be approved by both the Assistant Dean for Student Life and the Dean of the School of Law.

c. Second Stage (Grade/Course-Related Grievances):

If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student at the First Stage, the student may advance the grievance. At this stage, the student must present the grievance in writing and clearly describe the factual basis for the grievance (that is, why the student believes that the grade is in error or is arbitrary or capricious), the results of the First Stage (that is, the discussion with the faculty member and the faculty member’s determination at that stage), and the remedy sought in the Second Stage. The burden is on the student to demonstrate that the grade is in error or is arbitrary or capricious. The student must advance the grievance to the Dean (or, if the Dean is the faculty member against whom the grievance is lodged, to the Associate Dean) within twenty (20) school days of the completion of the First Stage.

As assessment and grading of student work is both the right and responsibility of faculty, the Dean (or Associate Dean) may appoint a committee of faculty to consider the grievance. Such a committee should comprise three tenured or tenure-eligible faculty members. The committee shall recommend a resolution of the grievance to the Dean (or Associate Dean). The Dean (or Associate Dean) shall render a decision within twenty (20) school days of the receipt of the student’s grievance or of the receipt of a committee recommendation.

If a decision is reached to change a grade, and if required by University policy, the petition must be forwarded to the appropriate University authority for final approval. The decision on a faculty member’s petition to change a final course grade will be maintained with the Office of Student Life for the duration of the most recent ABA-accreditation period.

3. Other Academic Grievances

This section addresses all academic grievances other than those covered under Section 2 above:

a. First Stage (All Other Academic Grievances):

The academic grievance procedure in the School of Law begins with a discussion between the grieving student and the faculty member, committee, or administrator with whom the student has a grievance. The student must meet with the faculty member, committee, or administrator within twenty (20) school days after the event giving rise to the grievance. If the twenty-day period ends on a date outside the School of Law's regular academic year, then the student must meet with the faculty member, committee, or administrator within twenty (20) school days after the first day of classes of the first full semester following the event giving rise to the grievance.

The Dean (or, if the grievance concerns the Dean, the Associate Dean) may waive this stage for good cause. The student shall make a waiver request in writing and explain the good cause basis for the request. The waiver request must be made within twenty (20) calendar days after the event giving rise to the grievance.

b. Second Stage (All Other Academic Grievances):

If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student at the First Stage, the student may advance the grievance. At this stage, the student must present the grievance in writing and clearly describe the factual basis for the grievance, the results of the First Stage (that is, the discussion with the faculty member, committee, or administrator and the resulting determination at that stage), and the remedy sought in the Second Stage. The student must advance the grievance to the Dean (or, if the Dean is the person against whom the grievance is lodged, to the Associate Dean) within twenty (20) school days of the completion of the First Stage.

The Dean (or Associate Dean) will appoint a tenured member of the faculty to consider the grievance. The appointed faculty member shall render a decision within twenty (20) school days of the receipt of the student’s grievance. This decision will be made in writing, and the record will be maintained with the Office of Student Life for the duration of the most recent ABAaccreditation period. 

c. Third Stage (All Other Academic Grievances):

If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of an involved party (that is, the student who lodged the original grievance or the faculty member, committee, or administrator against whom the grievance was lodged) at the Second Stage, the party may advance may advance the grievance. At this stage, the party must present the grievance in writing and clearly describe the factual basis for the grievance, the results of the First and Second Stages, and the remedy sought in the Third Stage. The party must advance the grievance to the Dean (or, if the Dean is the person against whom the grievance is lodged, to the Associate Dean) within twenty (20) school days of the completion of the Second Stage.

The Dean shall render a decision within twenty (20) school days of the receipt of the grievance. This decision will be made in writing, and the record will be maintained with the Office of Student Life for the duration of the most recent ABA-accreditation period.

d. The Dean shall have the discretion to extend any time periods specified in this policy for good cause.

4. Finality of Decisions

A final decision of the School of Law rendered under this policy is final and may not be appealed under the procedures listed in the University of North Dakota's Code of Student Life or any other University process external to the School of Law. The School of Law is a professional post baccalaureate program approved by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. The standards for approval of these accrediting bodies require that decisions of professional academic matters remain with the law school faculty. No further appeal is permitted or appropriate.

The School of Law permits non-Juris Doctor degree candidates to enroll in law school courses on a limited basis. Undergraduate UND students will generally not be permitted to enroll in law school (JD curriculum) courses. UND graduate students may be permitted to enroll in law school courses rarely and only with the permission of the Dean upon appropriate petition.

The petition must be filed within a reasonable time prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student wishes to register in order that a timely review may be made. The petition must provide:

1. Evidence of the applicant's admission to a degree-granting graduate program;

2. A description of student's specific graduate program;

3. The course or courses for which the graduate student is seeking enrollment;

4. A detailed explanation of how the law school course or courses will be part of the student's degree program;

5. Supporting memo by the student's graduate advisor, including the Graduate School's willingness to accept law school course credit in the student's program; and,

6. The student's acknowledgment of his or her understanding that no law school course credits will be transferable to a JD program.

Law school credit earned prior to acceptance into a Juris Doctor degree program is not permitted to be applied to such program even if the student is later admitted. American Bar Association Standard 311(e): "Credit for a J.D. degree shall only be given for course work taken after the student has matriculated in a law school." 

1. General Policy

The UND School of Law seeks to admit students who have clear potential to become well-rounded legal professionals with the necessary skill set to serve as effective, innovative, and ethical leaders. In making admissions decisions, the School of Law is guided, first and foremost, by the requirement that every admitted student must appear capable of satisfactorily completing the program of legal education and being admitted to the bar. Admissions decisions are further guided by the School of Law's general mission, curricular mission, and diversity mission.

2. Application submission process. Applications are processed by the School of Law's Director of Admissions in the Office of Student Life. The School of Law participates in the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service. Applicants may submit scores from either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Specific instructions for completing and submitting an application are available from the Office of Student Life and on the School of Law's web site.

While applications are accepted October 1 through July 15, applications completed after April 1 are considered late and may be denied on the basis of the number of applicants already admitted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications before April 1 of the spring prior to anticipated registration. Applications that have not been completed by August 1 will be closed without decision. Applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee.

Each applicant is required to completely and honestly answer all questions and provide all requested information. All admitted students must also ensure that the School of Law has official transcripts on file by October 15 of the student's first year at the School of Law. For students other than those admitted under the University of North Dakota's Accelerated Bachelor's/J.D. program, the transcripts must show the conferral of a bachelor's degree. Should an applicant later disclose information that should have been disclosed on the initial application, the School of Law reserves the right to review the original decision to offer admission to the applicant and to withdraw or rescind such offer of admission after review. The School of Law may administratively withdraw a student from all coursework at the School of Law once an offer of admission is withdrawn or rescinded. Should a student fail to ensure the School of Law has official transcripts on file by October 15 of the student’s first year at the School of Law, the student will be dismissed and administratively withdrawn from all coursework at the School of Law.

A determination of character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar is required in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek licensure. Law schools are required to provide bar examiners in every state with an assessment of a student's character and fitness for the practice of law. This requirement can include information provided on the application, including prior criminal proceedings or other disciplinary actions. Applicants should fully disclose all information requested on the application, particularly as related to character and fitness to practice law.

All admitted students must pay a nonrefundable acceptance deposit to reserve a place in the School of Law's entering class. Admitted students who register at the School of Law will have the deposit credited toward tuition and fees.

Students in the University of North Dakota's Accelerated Bachelor's/J.D. ("3+3") degree programs must submit an application for admission to law school in accordance with this policy and any additional procedures established by the Director of Admissions.

3. Application review process.

The School of Law's Admissions Committee evaluates completed applications. While substantial consideration is given to traditional measures of academic ability, namely grades and test scores, the Admissions Committee reviews all relevant information in an application to determine an applicant's capabilities and potential.

The Admissions Committee reviews completed applications on a rolling basis. The School of Law notifies applicants of the admissions decisions as quickly as feasible.

The Admissions Committee's review of late applications completed after April 1 will include consideration of how many applicants already have been admitted. Applicants are cautioned that completing their application after April 1 may impede their chances of admission.

4. Reconsideration of denial of admission.

The Admissions Committee ordinarily will not reconsider its decision to deny admission to an applicant, unless the applicant offers new, relevant information, such as a subsequent LSAT or GRE score or additional grades.

An applicant who has been denied admission may submit a request for reconsideration accompanied by new, relevant information and an explanation of why the information is relevant to the applicant's capabilities and potential. Such requests should be submitted to the Director of Admissions. The Admissions Committee has sole discretion and authority to determine whether to grant a request to reconsider its decision to deny admission to an applicant.

The School of Law considers the decision of the Admissions Committee to deny admission to an applicant as the final decision of the School of Law.

Applicants who have been denied admission in a prior year are permitted to apply for admission in subsequent years. 

5. Transfer and visiting student applications.

Applications from students who wish to transfer from other law schools are considered according to individual merit as well as the number of students currently enrolled at the School of Law. Transfer student applications for registration in the fall semester are processed in accordance with the timelines set out in Section II above; applications for registration in the spring semester are accepted through Nov. 1.

The School of Law accepts transfer student applications from applicants who have taken law school courses as a J.D. degree student at ABA- or state-accredited law schools. The School of Law will consider transfer student applications from students at or graduates of law schools outside the U.S. on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer student applications are reviewed administratively, with final decision made by the Dean of the School of Law. In addition to the general admissions policy considerations set out above, each transfer student application also is reviewed to assess the applicant's performance in law school, the number of credits to be granted based on the law school courses completed by the applicant, and the feasibility of the applicant's ability to complete the School of Law's academic program requirements.

Except in extraordinary circumstances, transfer students generally must complete a majority of their credit hours from the School of Law to receive a J.D. from the School of Law.

Students in good academic standing at another ABA-accredited law school who wish to enroll at the School of Law for one or two terms as a visiting student shall complete the same application procedures as a transfer student. Such applications will be reviewed administratively. Visiting student applications are considered according to individual merit as well as the number of students currently enrolled at the School of Law.

Although applications from students who have been academically dismissed from other law schools will be considered, the School of Law does not ordinarily offer admission to these applicants. Such applicants must provide information from which the School of Law can determine that the prior academic dismissal does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the program of legal education and be admitted to the bar. For every such applicant admitted, the School of Law must place a statement of the considerations that led to the decision in the admitted applicant's file.

Adopted by the Faculty February 14, 2020

Effective Fall 2020

Amended by the Faculty October 16, 2020

Effective Immediately

Amended by the Faculty April 22, 2022

Effective Fall 2022

A student may be admitted to the School of Law with advanced standing based upon credit received from a law school that is not accredited by the ABA or from a law school located outside the United States, in accordance with applicable ABA accreditation standards. No more than one-third of the credits required for graduation from this law school may be awarded as advance standing. Course grades will be transferred to UND with the grades earned or their equivalent, if such can be extrapolated. Courses in which the student was awarded a grade lower than “C” or its equivalent will not be accepted.

A student in good academic standing at another ABA-accredited law school may be admitted to this law school in a transient or visiting student status. Written certification of good standing and permission to enroll at UND must be provided by the student’s home law school. The courses taken and grades received at this law school will be transferred to the student's home law school. 

A UND law student may request transient or visiting student status at another ABA- accredited law school. All UND requirements for the Juris Doctor degree must be satisfied. Up to one-third of the credits required for graduation from this law school will be accepted, provided that the student's course of study at the other law school is approved by the Dean (or his/her designee). 

1. General Policy

The School of Law is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities to qualified students with physical or mental disabilities, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accordingly, the School of Law provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of individual students with documented disabilities to ensure access to its services, programs, and activities. In providing reasonable accommodations, the School of Law reserves the right not to waive any requirement essential to the curriculum or educational mission.

2. General Process for Students Seeking Accommodations

This section of the Policy Manual outlines the University’s and School of Law’s general process for students seeking classroom accommodations, examination accommodations, and accommodations related to accessing the University’s facilities. More specific information about the process is available on the UND Student Disability Resources website.

The process is a collaborative one that involves UND Student Disability Resources, the Law School’s Office of Student Life (OSL), the students, and faculty.

a. Student Responsibilities before Receiving Accommodations

Students with disabilities warranting reasonable accommodations must initiate contact with UND Student Disability Resources. To provide the accommodations in a timely manner, newlyadmitted students should register with UND’s Accessibility for Students about their need for accommodations after matriculating and registering for classes. Students who become disabled post-matriculation, or think they need accessibility services that they previously did not receive, should contact UND’s Accessibility for Students as soon as practicable after learning of their need for accommodations.

The student seeking accommodations must comply with UND’s Accessibility for Students process by providing appropriate documentation and information, including the reason for the request and specific type of accommodation requested. If UND’s Accessibility for Students determines that a student qualifies for accommodations, it will issue a Verification Document to the student identifying accommodations that may be appropriate and reasonable.

The student then must provide a copy of the Verification Document to the School of Law’s OSL and their instructors as soon as possible. Depending on the outcome of discussions about potential accommodations, OSL can arrange for anonymous graded assessment and examination accommodations and the professor can coordinate classroom and non-anonymous graded assessment accommodations. The student does not need to disclose the diagnosis to the professor or the OSL in order to receive accommodations; however, the student should be able to explain how the accommodation gives the student access or removes a barrier to the student’s learning.

As noted above, in providing reasonable accommodations, the School of Law reserves the right not to waive any requirement essential to the curriculum or educational mission. For examination accommodations, the student should try to provide a copy of the Verification Document to the OSL at least 30 days before the date set for taking examinations. Accommodations are not granted retroactively.

b. Student Responsibilities after Receiving Accommodations (Renewal)

Qualified students must renew requests for accommodations each semester that they attend the School of Law.

c. Confidentiality

Information about a student’s disability is kept private by UND Student Disability Resources and not shared with the School of Law. However, one’s status as an accommodated student and the type of accommodation(s) recommended by UND Student Disability Resources will be shared with School of Law faculty and/or staff in order to discuss and implement accommodations. Also, one’s status as an accommodated student may become apparent to other students in certain circumstances, for example, when the accommodation involves providing extra time for an in class assessment or separate facilities for exam-taking.

All personal information shared with the School of Law remains confidential, including information regarding students’ disabilities and requests for and receipt of reasonable accommodations. In particular, the OSL will maintain disability and accommodation information in a file separate from the student’s academic file. Neither UND’s Accessibility for Students nor the School of Law will disclose such information unless required to protect the safety and welfare of either the student or others.

UND Student Disability Resources and the School of Law’s confidentiality responsibilities do not preclude a student from disclosing disability and accommodation information to persons within the School of Law.

The University of North Dakota School of Law is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in legal education for all persons. Further, the School recognizes the educational richness that results from including human experience from diverse perspectives. A law school community that welcomes, promotes, and respects diverse viewpoints enhances the quality of educational experiences for all those within that community, and enhances the legal profession and communities outside of the law school by preparing students to be more culturally respectful, professionally competent, and civically responsible leaders. The University of North Dakota School of Law is therefore committed to achieving a diverse law school community in terms of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, veteran’s status/military status, and socioeconomic status. In furtherance of this commitment, The University of North Dakota School of Law has adopted a diversity policy to guide our efforts.

Amended by vote of the faculty on April 9, 2013; April 16, 2021; and April 22, 2022. 

The UND School of Law adopts the following principles within the law school community, the law school curriculum, and the law school’s active participation in the larger community.

I. DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL COMMUNITY AT THE SCHOOL OF LAW THAT ENCOURAGES AND VALUES DIVERSITY

The School of Law is committed to fair and just treatment of every person at the law school. We value diversity and the individual differences that enrich the law school community. We seek to build a diverse community defined by intellectual inquiry and respect for all points of view. In accordance with these aspirations, the School of Law will strive (A) to raise awareness of the value and importance of a diverse law school community, (B) to encourage the open-mindedness essential to professional development, (C) to recruit and retain a diverse student body, faculty, and staff, and (D) to expand and develop law school services, practices, and policies that support diverse members of the law school community.

II. PROVIDE A CURRICULUM THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY AND IS CONDUCIVE TO SUCCESSFUL TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ALL LAW STUDENTS

As a part of its commitment to building and maintaining a law school climate that is inclusive, safe, and respectful of all people, the School of Law seeks to provide a course of study inside and outside of the classroom that promotes and reflects deep respect for diversity and maximizes the educational and professional development of all students. In accordance with these aspirations, the School of Law will strive to develop and maintain inclusive learning opportunities in curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular contexts that nurture diversity and explore its legal, social, and professional implications.

III. DEVELOP AND REINFORCE THE LAW SCHOOL’S ROLE AS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE LARGER DIVERSITY COMMUNITY

The School of Law is committed to promoting diversity at the University, state, regional, national, and international levels. In accordance with these aspirations, the School of Law will strive (A) to increase faculty, student, and staff interaction with members of diverse communities beyond the law school itself and (B) to develop diversity initiatives through external collaborative relationships.

BACKGROUND

The University of North Dakota School of Law has a long-standing commitment to diversity.1 As the faculty reaffirmed in its most recent Diversity Mission Statement (2022):

1 See UND School of Law Affirmative Action Recruitment and Programming Plan adopted in 1983, the UND School of Law Affirmative Action Implementation Plan for American Indian Legal Education adopted in 1992, and the UND School of Law Diversity Mission Statement as adopted in 2002. 

The University of North Dakota School of Law is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in legal education for all persons. Further, the School recognizes the educational richness that results from including human experience from diverse perspectives. A law school community that welcomes, promotes, and respects diverse viewpoints enhances the quality of educational experiences for all those within that community, and enhances the legal profession and communities outside of the law school by preparing students to be more culturally respectful, professionally competent, and civically responsible leaders. The University of North Dakota School of Law is therefore committed to achieving a diverse law school community in terms of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, veteran’s status/military status, and socioeconomic status.

These values are consistent with the diversity and pluralism mission statement the UND Senate and President previously released in December 2006:

The University of North Dakota takes pride in its mission to meet the individual and group needs of a diverse and pluralistic society through education, research, and service. The peoples served by and associated with the University vary widely; all must be valued for the richness their different cultures, heritages, perspectives, and ideas bring to the community. The University is in part, a conduit through which individual perspectives and global interrelationships are enhanced by a learning and teaching environment that is aware of and sensitive to the diversity of its constituents. Diversity in the University is constituted by the full participation of persons of different racial and ethnic heritage, age, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, and sexual orientation; of persons with disabilities; and of people from other countries. Of special and particular importance is the University's longstanding commitment to the education of American Indian students and the cultures and traditions of the American Indian people. In addition, the University's commitment to diversity extends to historically underrepresented populations such as African Americans, Latino Americans, and Asian Americans. Furthermore, the University embraces our international student population as they enhance the culturally rich learning environment of campus. The University is committed to providing learning and teaching experiences which enhance all students' self-determination, educational advantages, and professional opportunities. Policies and procedures of the University oblige its students, faculty, staff, and alumni to foster the awareness and sensitivity necessary for acceptance and understanding of all people in society. The University of North Dakota strongly disapproves and does not tolerate acts of racism, sexism, bigotry, harassment, and violence in any form and actively uses its human and other resources to provide opportunities for its constituents and public to learn and appreciate the values of a diverse and multicultural world.2

The School of Law endorses the values embodied in these statements and seeks to further its commitment to diversity through the adoption of the above principles.

Adopted by the Faculty on April 9, 2013; amended on April 16, 2021 and on April 22, 2022.

2 Mission Statement: Diversity and Pluralism. University of North Dakota. http://und.edu/provost/diversity/mission-statement.cfm

Core Values

The governing authority within the University of North Dakota School of Law is vested in the dean and the faculty. For purposes of this policy, the faculty consists of individuals who hold tenured, tenure-eligible, and full-time special appointments in the School of Law.

For purposes of this policy, the faculty consists of individuals who hold tenured, tenureeligible, and full-time special appointments in the School of Law. Changes or exceptions to the definition of faculty for purposes of this policy may be made only by a vote of the tenured or tenure-eligible faculty.

Recommendations concerning the selection, retention, promotion, and tenure of members of the faculty are reserved to the tenured and tenure-eligible faculty and the dean.

Students and staff of the School of Law are vested with the role of providing advice to the dean and faculty on all issues bearing on the institution and its people. Matters may be referred to the faculty for its consideration by students and staff in accordance with procedures and practices adopted by each group for making such recommendations. Consultation may also be initiated by the dean and faculty referring matters to students, staff, or both, for requested advice, with such referrals to be treated in accordance with the procedures and practices adopted by each group. At least once each semester, the dean shall convene an informational forum for faculty, staff, students, and administrators. 

I understand, as a student entering the University of North Dakota School of Law, that I am both joining an academic community and embarking on a professional career.

I acknowledge the privileges inherent in becoming a lawyer and willingly accept the responsibilities that accoompany those privileges.

I promise to do my utmost to live up to the highest ideals of the legal profession and to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty and ethical practice throughout my legal training and my professional life. To this end, from this moment onward, I promise to abide by all provisions of the University of North Dakota School of Law Honor Code.

I understand the special role of the legal profession in contributing to a strong and flourishing community, and I will conduct myself with dignity, and respect the dignity of others, in my professional and personal life. To strengthen the law school community, I will conduct myself with integrity and will treat all of my colleagues - students, staff, and faculty - with courtesy, civility, and respect.

As a lawyer-in-training, I pledge my best efforts to pursue these values, so as to bring credit to the University of North Dakota School of Law and the legal profession.