Leaves of Absence, Probation, & Disqualification
J.D. Policies
- Approved Leaves of Absence from the College of Law.
- Withdrawal Without Law College Approval/Failure to Request Extension of Leave.
- Probation with Conditions and Disqualification by Executive Committee Action.
- Automatic Disqualification.
- Readmission/Limitation on Readmission.
- Finality of Executive Committee Decisions and Reporting Requirements.
- Grade Replacement.
- Definition of Semester.
- Appeal.
LL.M./S.J.D. Policies
- Continuous Enrollment Requirement.
- Enrollment requirements.
- Leave of Absence Policy.
- Withdrawal from Courses and From the Program.
- Probation and Disqualification.
J.D. Policies
Approved Leaves of Absence From the College of Law.
- Leaves During First Year. A first-year student may petition for a leave of absence before completion of the first year. The petition must be filed with the College of Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and must include the reasons for the leave. To receive the leave, the student must show that there is an extraordinary need to delay his or her legal education. The Executive Committee shall decide whether to grant the petition.
- Leaves During Second or Third Years. A second- or third-year student who is not subject to disqualification may file a petition with the College of Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs seeking permission to take a one semester or one year leave of absence. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs may grant such petition if the student shows good cause for the leave. Petitions for a leave of absence of longer than one year shall be decided by the College of Law Executive Committee. Such requests shall be granted only upon a showing of an extraordinary need to delay legal education for longer than one year.
- Conditions for Leave During Course of Semester. If a leave of absence is granted either by the College of Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or the Executive Committee during the course of a semester, the student must file a formal request to withdraw from the University and meet all University requirements for withdrawal. Failure to file a formal withdrawal from the University by the last day of classes shall result in a grade of E being awarded for each of the courses in which the student is enrolled.
- Withdrawal From University. Withdrawal from the University of Arizona must be arranged through the Office of the University Dean of Students. The effective date of withdrawal shall be the date the formal application is filed in the Office of the University Dean of Students, located on the main floor of the Old Main Building. Formal withdrawal from the University of Arizona is required. If a leave of absence is granted either by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (College of Law), or by the Executive Committee (College of Law) during the course of a semester, the student must additionally file a formal complete withdrawal with the University Dean of Students' Office located in the Old Main Building. A student may not withdraw from the University after the last day of classes unless approved by the College of Law Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may not approve such requests unless the student demonstrates that there are extraordinary circumstances that would justify such action.
- Suspension and Dismissal. All students enrolled in the College of Law are subject to University rules and regulations regarding student behavior and reprehensible conduct. Failure to comply with these or any other University rules and regulations may result in a student’s suspension or dismissal from a course or from the University at any time. Such action shall be posted on the student’s academic record. Students suspended from the University are denied student privileges during the period of suspension; may not register for correspondence work except with permission of the dean of the college in which they were previously registered; and may not enroll for continuing education courses or establish credit by examination during the period of suspension.
- Medical Withdrawal. A student may withdraw from the University for medical reasons. However, to be eligible for any refund of fees paid, the student must obtain approval for a medical withdrawal from the University Health Center and otherwise meet University requirements for fee refunds. Students who withdraw from the University for medical reasons must have their readmittance approved by the University Health Center.
Withdrawal Without Law College Approval; Failure to Request Extension of Leave
- A student must re-enroll in the Law College at the beginning of the first semester, excluding summers, immediately following the expiration of the period of an approved leave of absence. A student who fails to do so or otherwise withdraws from the College without the approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs or Executive Committee and later wishes to re-enroll in the College of Law shall file a petition for readmission with the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may act on the petition or, in appropriate circumstances, refer it to the Admissions Committee for action. Petitions for readmission must be filed no later than one month prior to the beginning of the semester for which re enrollment is requested. For purposes of this section, a student withdraws from the College of Law if the student formally withdraws from the University as described above (Approved Leaves of Absence from the College of Law), or fails to continuously enroll in the College for the minimum course load required each semester, excluding summers, after beginning her or his matriculation in the College until the requirements for graduation are completed.
Probation with Conditions and Disqualification by Executive Committee Action
- Probation; Definition of Semester. A student whose cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0, but not less than 1.629, at the end of the first year or any semester thereafter shall be placed on probation with conditions.
- Conditions. A student who is on probation with conditions shall:
- obtain approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs of a course schedule that consists of at least 13 units, unless the student qualifies for a reduced load under the James E. Rogers College of Law By-Laws (College By-Laws), in which case the rules regarding reduced course loads govern the number of required units;
- repeat, during the second-year of law studies, any first-year course in which the student receives a grade of D or E;
- not enroll in any course on a Pass-Fail basis, except for the first semester, first-year Legal Writing course as required under the College By-Laws;
- not take an Incomplete or withdraw from any course without the approval of the Executive Committee;
- achieve a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 for the next semester in which the student is enrolled and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 by the end of the subsequent semester in which the student is enrolled; and
- meet such other reasonable conditions as the Executive Committee may impose on the student as a requirement for continuing in law school.
- Failure of a student on probation with conditions to satisfy any one or more conditions imposed above shall subject the student to disqualification by the Executive Committee.
- First-Year Students. A student who fails to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.629 at the end of the first year or any semester thereafter is disqualified from the College of Law.
- Students on Probation with Conditions. A student on probation with conditions who fails to achieve any grade point average specifically required as a condition of probation for any semester or other period is disqualified from the College of Law.
- Petition for Readmission. Except as otherwise provided in the College By-Laws, a disqualified student may petition the Executive Committee for readmission. The petition shall be filed with the Chair of the Executive Committee no later than one week prior to the semester for which readmission is sought. A student may appear before the Executive Committee at the meeting at which the student’s petition is heard. Communications to the Executive Committee should be sent to the College of Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. Willie Jordan-Curtis, at williejordancurtis@law.arizona.edu.
- Criteria for Readmission. In addition to satisfaction of the conditions for readmission set forth below, a disqualified student may be readmitted to the Law College only if the student persuades the Executive Committee that there were extenuating circumstances, not related to the student’s capacity to perform academically, that resulted in the disqualification, that the circumstances have changed, and that there is a high probability that the student will be able to meet the conditions imposed for readmission.
- Conditions for Readmission of Disqualified First-Year Students. In addition to the requirements for readmission set forth immediately above, a first-year student who is automatically disqualified may be readmitted only on condition that the student:
- repeat the entire first year;
- achieve a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 for the first semester following readmission and an annual grade point average of at least 2.0 for the two semesters of the repeated first year; and
- achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 by the end of the third semester after readmission, such cumulative grade point average to be based on grades received in all courses taken at the Law College.
- All Readmitted Students on Probation. All readmitted students are on probation and, except as otherwise provided immediately above, must meet the conditions specified for students on probation.
- A student who, after having been readmitted, is disqualified, may not again petition for readmission, and the Executive Committee has no authority to readmit the student.
Finality of Executive Committee Decisions and Reporting Requirements
- Decisions of the Executive Committee on all matters of probation, disqualification, and readmission are final. The Executive Committee shall report its decisions on these matters to the faculty at the end of each semester.
Grade Replacement Opportunity (GRO)
- Students not on Probation. A student may elect once to repeat any course in which the student receives a grade below a C. The grade received as a result of repeating the course shall replace the grade originally received in the course. In such a case, only the second grade may be used in calculating the student’s cumulative grade point average and only the units for which credit was received in repeating the course count towards the 85 units required for a J.D. degree. However, the original grade shall remain on the student’s transcript. The election to repeat a course may be exercised during the student’s matriculation at the Law College only for a maximum of 10 credits or, if the courses contain a greater number of units, three courses.
- Students on Probation. Any student required to repeat a course as a condition of probation may elect to replace the grade received in the course on the first attempt with the grade received as a result of repeating the course. In so electing, only the second grade may be used in calculating the student’s cumulative grade point average, but the original grade shall remain on the student’s transcript. Only the units for which credit was received in repeating the course count towards the total units required for a J.D. degree. The election, however, must occur prior to the first day of class in the repeated course and may be exercised during the student’s matriculation at the Law College only for a maximum of 10 credits or, if the courses contain a greater number of units, three courses.
- All students electing or required to use GRO. Students electing or required to use GRO should speak with the College of Law's Registrar for details on the procedure governing this election. Any student repeating a class and pursuing GRO will be assigned to repeat the class with another instructor whenever possible.
For the purpose of the rules governing probation and readmission, particularly as they relate to the 2.0 GPA requirement, work undertaken during the summer will be counted together with work undertaken in the following full semester.
There is no appeal process beyond the Executive Committee.
LL.M./S.J.D. Policies
Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Unless excused by an official Leave of Absence, all LLM and SJD students are subject to the Continuous Enrollment Policy and must pay applicable tuition and fees in order to remain in the program. If the student fails to obtain a Leave of Absence or maintain continuous enrollment, he or she will be required to apply for re-admission, pay the Graduate College application fee, and pay all overdue tuition and fees, including cumulative late penalties. Tuition or registration waivers cannot be applied retroactively.
Enrollment requirements: Because both the LL.M. and S.J.D. programs are full-time programs, students must maintain full-time enrollment during each of the fall and spring Semesters. During the fall and spring semesters, full-time status during their year of residency consists of enrollment for a minimum of nine units of graduate credit per semester. For SJD students who have completed their course work and are in the dissertation phase of their program, full-time status is three units per semester of 900-level enrollment only. LL.M. and S.J.D .students are not required to register for summer hours unless they are 1) graduating during the summer term and/or 2) plan to utilize faculty time or university resources. If either of those situations applies, the student must enroll for a minimum of 1 unit of graduate credit in applicable summer session. These rules regarding full-time status are University policy. Students who are receiving financial aid and/or scholarships from non-University sources are responsible for consulting with their financial aid provider to ensure that enrollment complies with the funder's regulations. International students should check with the University's International Students Office to ensure that their registration is in compliance with their visa status.
Leave of Absence Policy: During the course of their enrollment in the LLM or SJD program, students may be eligible for a leave of absence for academic, medical or personal reasons. Students interested in a LOA should consult the applicable Graduate College Policies and with the appropriate Program Director (IPLP or ITBL). Leaves of Absence (LOAs) may affect the status of a graduate student’s financial aid. Students are responsible for determining the requirements of their funding agency and/or academic unit prior to applying for a Leave of Absence. Failure to obtain a Leave of Absence or remain in continuous enrollment will result in penalties, as described in the Continuous Enrollment policy requirements.
Withdrawal from Courses and From the Program: Withdrawal from a course within the first four weeks after registration will result in the deletion of the course from the student’s academic record. After the fourth week and through the end of the eighth week of classes, the grade of "W" may be awarded to students earning a passing grade at the time of the official withdrawal. A student who elects to withdraw from The University by dropping all classes after having paid registration fees must initiate such a procedure by contacting IPLP’s Associate Director. A withdrawal may not be initiated after the last day of classes of any semester, and must be completed before the beginning of the final examination period. Under extraordinary circumstances, a student may petition for withdrawal after completion of classes for a term. If the student has experienced severe physical or psychological stress of such nature as to prevent satisfactory completion of course work in the semester or term in question, the student may petition for retroactive withdrawal from all courses taken that semester or term. This petition must be accompanied by adequate documentation .
Probation. If a student in the LLM or SJD program fails a class, the Program Director of IPLP or ITBL may place the student on probation and consult with the appropriate College of Law administrators regarding the scope and conditions of that probation.
Updated: 08/11/2010