Student Handbook: General Information H-M

Fall 2024 Semester

Spring 2025 Semester

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The degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.) will be awarded to candidates who have successfully completed three consecutive academic years of law study, have met the course requirements and have successfully completed 90 semester hours of credit and all other requirements.

After the first year, a student may not take fewer than 12 or more than 18 credit hours of courses during a semester. Different rules may apply to the joint degree programs, see Joint Programs under the Academic Policies tab of this Handbook.

(a)  Regular attendance is required in all courses. Failure to maintain regular attendance may be grounds for exclusion from a course. A student who misses class in a single course more than twice the number of times per week that the course meets will be referred to the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success, who may impose the sanction of exclusion from the course. Regardless of the Assistant Dean’s decision to impose such sanction, a faculty member retains the discretion, consistent with his or her individual policy, to factor attendance into a student’s grade consistent with paragraph (d) of this Rule. This rule includes all classes, both on-campus or online/virtual sessions. See Academic Policy below for further details, including excusable absences.

(b)  Conformity to standards of professional responsibility, civility, and respectful behavior and to any rules published by the instructor concerning student conduct in connection with the course is required in all courses. A student whose behavior in a course does not meet such standards or the published rules for the course may be excluded from the course.

(c)  In trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, seminar, practical writing courses, clinics, or in any course in which students are informed that part of the grade will be based on student participation, a student who interferes with the academic process by either frequently declining to participate or by unsatisfactory participation may be excluded from the course.

(d)  A faculty member assigning a grade in any course may factor into the student’s grade attendance, class preparation and participation, and conformity with published rules for the course (i) by increasing or decreasing by one step what would otherwise be a student’s grade; or (ii) in a course in which the grade is not otherwise based entirely on an exam, by adjusting a student’s grade according to the professor’s individual published policy. The faculty and Dean when deciding honors, awards, scholarships, and similar matters also may take into account a student’s record of attendance, class preparation and participation, and conformity with published course rules.

A student may enter or withdraw from an elective course during the first week of the semester. In the event a course does not meet during the first week of the semester, a student may withdraw within two class days of the first meeting and may enter another elective course within such two-day period, after which a student may not drop or add a course under any other circumstances without permission from the Professor and the Office of Academic Affairs. A student may not withdraw from a class after the final class meeting for the semester.

The Law School applies the following grading system:

Grade   Quality Points                                      

A                      4.00                                                     

A–                    3.67                             

B+                    3.33                                                     

B                      3.00                                                     

B–                    2.67                                                     

C+                    2.33                                                     

C                      2.00

C–                    1.67 – minimally acceptable work

D                      1.00 – unsatisfactory work

F                       0 – work not acceptable for academic credit

The faculty adopted a recommended grade distribution policy. The policy applies only to classes in which an examination is given and that have an enrollment of 30 or more students. It is a recommended distribution pattern only, and reflects the general consensus of grading patterns at the Law School over the past several years. It is not designed either to raise or lower the GPA. The recommended distribution of grades is:

A                      10%

A–                    15%

B+                    15%

B                      25%

B–                    15%

C+                    10%

C                      5%

C–, D, F           0 to 5%

The recommended distribution contemplates variations of plus or minus two percentage points at any grade level, and provides for rounding up or down at the faculty member’s discretion. It specifically does not recommend that any grades below C be awarded in any class to be consistent with the grade distribution, but it is the consensus of the faculty that the grades of C–, D and F should be assigned for work that does not meet acceptable academic or professional standards.

An average, weighted in proportion to the credits earned in each course, will be computed for courses taken in each year.

A cumulative weighted average, calculated by weighting the average for all courses taken at the Law School, is used for determining class rank and any matters dependent upon class rank.

At the end of the first year, a student must achieve a weighted average of 2.00. Failure to meet this GPA benchmark will result in exclusion.

At the end of the second year, a student must achieve a cumulative weighted average and an annual weighted average of 2.00. Failure to meet either GPA benchmark will result in exclusion.

At the end of the third year, a student must achieve both a cumulative weighted average and an annual weighted average of 2.00. Failure to meet either GPA benchmark will result in exclusion and the student will not be eligible for graduation.

No student who has been excluded under Rules 8, 9 or 10, or for any other reason may be reinstated except upon favorable action on a petition to the Dean stating and fully documenting reasons in support of such petition. Such petitions will be granted only in the most extraordinary circumstances. [See Readmission After Exclusion under the Academic Policies tab of this Handbook.]

A student who fails to take a final examination because of illness or other imperative cause, promptly and properly substantiated, may request permission to take a make-up examination.

A student who fails a required course but is otherwise eligible to continue in the Law School must retake the class the next time it is offered and achieve a grade of “C” or better in the class. The “F” will show on the transcript, and will calculate into the weighted average (GPA). If the student attains a “C” or better on the re-examination, the student will receive credit for the course, which will show as a “pass” (“P”) for the course on the transcript.

A student who fails Legal Analysis, Writing and Oral Advocacy I (Legal Writing) shall not be permitted to continue in Legal Writing II or take Legal Writing III. Instead, the student must successfully complete the Legal Writing Remediation Program during the spring semester of the student’s first year. Upon successful completion of the Remediation Program the student must retake Legal Writing I in the fall of the student’s second year, take Legal Writing II in the spring of the student’s second year, and take Legal Writing III in the fall of the student’s third year. A student who fails Legal Writing II must retake it in the spring of the student’s second year. Instead of continuing in Legal Writing III during the student’s 2L year, a student who earns a grade of F in Legal Writing II must successfully complete the Legal Writing II Remediation Program in the fall term of the student’s second year.  Upon successful completion of the Remediation Program, the student will then repeat Legal Writing II during the spring term of the student’s second year. If the student successfully completes Legal Writing II, the student will take Legal Writing III during the student’s third year. When retaking either Legal Writing I or Legal Writing II, the student must earn a “C” or better in the repeated course to earn credit and satisfy the requirement (consistent with Rule 13), and if the student does so, a “P” will show on the retake. The “F” will remain on the transcript and will calculate into the student’s GPA. A student is not eligible for Journal membership or to participate in the Reimel Competition until the student has successfully completed both Legal Writing I and II. Legal Writing I and II are not prerequisites for either the practical writing or research paper courses; therefore, students who fail either Legal Writing I or II are permitted to take practical writing and research paper courses at any time during their second or third year of law school. A student who does not pass either Legal Writing I or II on the second attempt will be excluded from the Law School.

General Rule. Any student whose cumulative grade point average places them in the bottom twenty (20) percent of the class at the end of the first, second, third, or fourth semester of law school will be required to participate in programming administered by the Academic Success Program for the following semester.

Programming under this rule shall be administered by the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success. All students to whom this rule applies must comply with all requirements established by the Assistant Dean. Failure to comply with all requirements may result in a record of the student’s lack of compliance in the student’s academic file.

Dedicated Classes. Any student whose cumulative grade point average places them in the bottom ten(10) percent of the class at the end of the second or fourth semester of law school must register for and successfully complete courses designated by the
Academic Success Program. For example, any student whose cumulative grade point average places them in the bottom ten (10) percent of the class at the end of the fourth semester of law school must register for and successfully complete the Strategic Legal Analysis course during the third year of law school.

A student admitted with advanced standing (transfer students) will not be given a class rank based on cumulative weighted average and will not be eligible for prizes or awards based thereon. Transfer students will be eligible for summa, magna and cum laude honors at graduation, applying a formula that compares the lower of either the student’s three year GPA (original school plus Villanova Law) or the student’s two year GPA (only the Villanova GPA) to the cut off GPA of cumulative ranked students awarded honors.

For a regularly scheduled class, students should expect to attend 12 hours of class (as calculated above) and spend at least 30 hours preparing for class for each academic credit. Thus, for a three-credit classroom course, a student should expect to attend 36 hours of class and spend at least 90 hours outside of class preparing. 

For courses that do not have a final exam, additional time will be added during the 13-week semester to make up for the final exam time. 

Two-credit Seminar courses are required to meet for at least seven two-hour sessions. Three-hour Seminar courses are required to meet a minimum of twelve two-hour sessions. The additional award of credit recognizes the amount of out-of-class time students are expected to spend preparing for class, conferencing with the professor, and writing their paper(s) for the class. 

Faculty are required to have at least four conferences with their students. The award of academic credit recognizes the amount of out-of-class time students are expected to spend writing their research paper. A minimum of 90 hours, including the four conferences, is required for academic credit. See DIRECTED RESEARCH for additional guidance.

Students enrolled in Clinics should expect to devote at least 45 hours per credit awarded to class attendance, preparation for class, and work on clinic cases. Students should understand, however, that in some cases the time required may exceed the baseline of 45 hours per credit due to the demands of representing clients.

See the Externship Policy available on the Law School website under Externships. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may approve an externship for any credit amount between 3-12 credits. The appropriate work time requirement, equal to 45 hours per credit, would attach to any such externship. E.g., 135 hours for 3 credits, 180 hours for 4 credits, 270 hours for 6 credits, and 540 hours for 12 credits.

For co-curricular activities such as membership on a Journal or Moot Court Board, students should expect to devote at least 45 hours of relevant work for each credit awarded. Students will be required to keep track of their time via timesheets to ensure that the minimum number of hours are being completed.

Students may receive one academic credit across a semester or academic year for academic work assigned by a Center Director for a Center Fellowship.  Students will only be allowed to enroll in the Student Fellows Program once.  This limitation applies across all Centers collectively.  Students will be required to keep track of their time via timesheets to ensure that the minimum number of hours are being completed.

Modules and accelerated courses must meet for an equal amount of time over the shorter time period and require the same out-of-class preparation as regularly scheduled classes. 

Class time will be computed by assessing the “time on task” that an average student spends on watching videos, reading assignments, listening to podcasts, posting to discussion boards, participating in live online sessions and all similar work that is relevant to the learning and teaching goals of the course.

Students are expected to invest at least 45 hours of time in class attendance, assignments, and self-directed learning for the award of one credit in Professional Development II and III. PD II and PD III are each one academic credit for the entire academic year, therefore, students will invest 22.5 hours per semester in each of these courses.

Any degree that is awarded by the College of Liberal Arts or Business School will comply with the General University Credit Policy. This applies to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Taxation degrees.

Academic Rule 3 requires regular attendance by students and imposes sanctions – including exclusion from class or lowering of the grade – for non-attendance and lack of preparation and participation. To implement this policy, the Rule provides that a student who misses more than twice the number of weekly classes in a course will be referred to the Assistant Dean of Student and Academic Success, who will determine the extent to which the student’s absences are for excusable reasons and decide whether the sanction of exclusion is appropriate. A faculty member may, by individual policy published to the class, reduce the number of absences that will constitute a violation of the regular attendance requirement if the faculty member judges that the needs of the course require it. A student who is present for less than one-half of a class will be deemed to be absent from that class. A student whose non-attendance has been referred to the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success should notify the Assistant Dean of any basis for excusable absences. Faculty will record attendance, by various means, in each class.

Excusable reasons for an absence include but are not limited to illness, quarantine, Covid-related conflicts (child-care issues/elder or family care), injury, religious observances, client meetings or court appearances (for students participating in clinics), job interviews, and taking the MPRE.

Illness or Quarantine. Students who are ill or need to quarantine may not attend on-campus class sessions. Students who cannot attend an on-campus class session due to illness or need to isolate/quarantine are to 1) request and review the course recording (contact your professor), or 2) if permitted by the professor, attend the class remotely.  Absences from class because of illness, quarantine, or self-isolation will be excused, and the student will be permitted to make up the work without academic penalty.

Students may not enroll in courses where class schedules conflict and preclude the possibility of full attendance in all classes. Students engaged in clinics and externships must ensure that their regular clinic or externship schedule does not conflict with regularly scheduled classes.

(a)        All regularly matriculated J.D. students may audit any course with the consent of the professor and the permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. The professor may impose terms upon granting of this consent. A student auditing a course must register for that course as an auditor, and must maintain regular attendance. Students may not audit a course that conflicts with a regularly scheduled class in which a student is registered or with regularly scheduled sessions of clinics and externships. Auditors normally will not take the exam for the course, but this may be a requirement imposed by the faculty member as a condition for granting permission to audit.

 (b)       Successfully completed audited courses appear on the student transcript with the notation “AU.” No credit or grade is awarded.

 (c)       A student who has audited a course may not later take that same course for credit, nor may a student who has taken a course for credit later audit the course.

First-year students are assigned a faculty member as an advisor by the Registrar. Students may access advisors’ names on Novasis. The faculty advisor’s core role is to (i) be a resource for a student who has academic questions, including course selection for the second and third years of law school, or who has personal concerns, and (ii) serve as faculty for the Professional Development Course. The role of the faculty advisor with respect to academic issues is to be a resource regarding academic policies and course selection in general rather than to offer any advice as to questions related to the subject matter of any law school course other than the Professional Development Course. The faculty advisor does not provide any substantive academic instruction to advisees. The role of the faculty advisor as a resource with respect to personal concerns is to be able to identify appropriate help within the Law School structure (for example, the Director of Student Affairs and Wellbeing, the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the University Counseling Center).

Course evaluations are administered at the end of every semester for each course. All students are urged to complete this anonymous evaluation for each of their courses. These evaluations provide useful information to both the faculty members and the administration, and are also helpful to students when choosing a course and/or professor.

To register for Directed Research, a student must obtain approval of the sponsoring faculty member and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs using the Directed Research form on the Registrar’s website. If a student is registered for Directed Research in a particular semester, the paper must be completed and a grade turned in for that semester. No incomplete is permitted.

• Students must dedicate at least 90 hours to research and writing of the Directed Research project to obtain two credits.

• Students must produce an in-depth research paper of at least 9,000 words inclusive of footnotes or endnotes.

• The Student must conference with the faculty advisor a minimum of four times per semester to discuss progress on the Directed Research project.

• A faculty member must approve a student proposal for Directed Research before the student may register for Directed Research.

• Approval must be obtained before the end of the drop/add period.

• No student may undertake more than one Directed Research project with a particular instructor while at the Law School.

• No student may receive credit for more than two Directed Research projects while at the Law School.

• No student may receive credit for more than one Directed Research project in a semester.

• No student may take more than six total credits of Directed Research and Research Paper Courses (not including practical skills courses) while at the Law School.

• Only full-time members of the faculty, including Legal Writing Professors, may supervise a student in a Directed Research.

Admission to the Law School requires that an official transcript verifying all academic credits undertaken and degree(s) conferred be on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to Orientation. As noted in the acceptance letter, admission is contingent upon receipt of all transcript(s). In the event that a student does not fulfill this requirement, the student will be administratively withdrawn on or before October 15, to comply with accreditation standards of the American Bar Association. Transcript(s) must be sent directly from your undergraduate institution and must contain the date your degree was conferred. 

Incoming students must be present and must sign-in on the first day of Orientation in order to hold their seats in the incoming class.

First year students take a set curriculum and are assigned to classes by the Registrar. These assignments are not modifiable.

All information pertaining to registration can be found on the Registrar’s webpage. It is especially important that students observe the dates set for priority registration, including early registrations for clinics and externships; students registering after these dates will greatly reduce their chances of getting the classes they want. Students should consult with their Faculty Advisers or other faculty members regarding course selections. Students are further required to read the course descriptions before registering, as there are prerequisites and other conditions that apply to many of the classes. The dates for dropping and adding courses are in the registration materials.

While upper level students are not required to be present for a specific registration day, they are required to obtain first-day assignments, books and materials before classes begin, and to be fully prepared for the first meeting of every class in which they are enrolled.

Students may not drop a course after the final class meeting for the semester. (See Academic Rule 4 for the withdrawal process.)

Concurrent enrollment prohibited: No student may take more than one experiential class (clinic or externship) in a single semester.

Credit limits for experiential courses:
Total credits: No more than a combined total of 17 credits from clinics and externships will be counted toward the total credits needed for graduation.
Annual credits: No more than a combined total of 14 credits from clinics and externships taken in a single academic year will be counted toward the total credits needed for graduation.
Credits for externships: No more than a total of 9 credits from externships will be counted toward the total credits needed for graduation.
Exemption from credit limitation: In some circumstances, such as participation in a full-time semester externship, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may grant an exemption from the above limitations.  Please see the Director of Experiential Learning.

Grading: Grades for clinic courses, as well as the Philadelphia Defender Association externship and the Troutman Pepper Law & Entrepreneurship externship, follow the regular grading scale. Other externships have four grading options: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, and Fail.

Law Review: Students are eligible for an invitation to join Law Review based on grades at the end of the first year of law school. In addition, students may compete for a position on Law Review by participating in an open writing competition at the end of the first and second years of law school. 

Environmental Law Journal: Students may compete for a position on the Environmental Law Journal by participating in the open writing competition at the end of their first or second year of study. 

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal: Students may compete for a position on the Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal by participating in the open writing competition at the end of their first or second year of study. 

Moot Court Board: Students are eligible for an invitation to join the Moot Court Board at the end of their first year of law school by participating in the open competition sponsored by the Board at the end of their first or second year of law school. Students who advance to the semi-finals and better in the Reimel Competition are invited to join the Board. 

Limitation on Co-Curricular Activities: Students may not participate simultaneously on more than one of the following co-curricular activities: Environmental Law Journal, Law Review, Moot Court Board, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal. Further, a student who has accepted an editorial position on the Environmental Law Journal, Law Review or the Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal, or an executive board position on the Moot Court Board, may not participate in an open competition and may not accept an invitation to another co-curricular activity that would, under the policy stated, require resignation from the position previously accepted.

Credit Limitations on Non-Instructional Courses (Including Co-Curricular Activities and Experiential Courses): No more than a combined total of 26 credits in total of courses that fall within the following categories will be counted toward the total credits needed for graduation without the permission of the Academic Dean: externships, journals, moot court, and courses taken in parts of the university outside the Law School for which credit toward the J.D. degree is granted.

Students participating in Judicial Externships may receive credit for a second judicial externship only if that externship is served with a different court at a different level (for example, a first externship with a trial court and a second with an appellate court). To be eligible for a second judicial externship, the student must obtain written permission from the Director of Experiential Learning verifying that the second externship will be served with a different court at a different level. In some circumstances the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may approve a second externship semester in the same judicial chambers or court upon a showing that the experience in the second semester will involve significant additional development of the student's knowledge, experience, and skills beyond what the student achieved during the first semester.

All students traveling by vehicle to participate in co-curricular activities outside the Law School must become University Approved Drivers in order to operate any Villanova owned, leased or rented vehicle in connection with such travel (this includes vehicles rented from such companies as Avis, Hertz, etc.). Please see Anthony Cancelli, Director of Business Support Services, for further information.

Time and Place: All students must report to regularly assigned exam rooms unless otherwise instructed by the Registrar. Students must report to the assigned exam room prior to the time specified by the Registrar, allowing enough time for students to set up and to hear the exam instructions. Computer users who arrive without leaving enough time to set up their computers may be required to write the examinations. (See Computer Use During Exams, below.)

Accommodations: See Accommodations under the Other Academic Policies tab in this Handbook.

Computers may be used to take exams only as part of the Law School’s computer exam program or as specified for take-home exams. Computers may be used as a resource (material permitted) if the professor so specifies. See the exam regulations published each term for more specific information. Students participating in the computer exam program must register and complete online training during each semester in which they wish to use a computer. Training will not be waived under any circumstances.

Students participating in the computer examination program must use their own laptops. These must be approved as suitable by Academic Computing. A limited number of computers are available for students who do not own laptops, and are assigned on a first come, first served basis. All efforts are made to insure that there are no problems with saving and retrieving examinations, and someone from Academic Computing is on call while exams are being administered. In virtually all instances, Academic Computing has been able to resolve problems with exams on computers. In the rare instance where an answer is irretrievably lost, the student assumes the risk of a lost examination, including the possibility that the student may have to retake the examination. Should a problem with a computer arise during an examination that the Academic Computing team determines presents too great a risk of possible loss, the student will, at the sole discretion of Academic Computing, be required to complete the examination using pen and paper.

Ebooks, or ereaders, such as the Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, or Apple iPad, may not be used to access materials, such as your textbook, during exams.

Should an emergency or serious illness arise preventing a student from getting to school to take an exam, the student must immediately contact the Registrar (610-519-7017) or, in her absence, the Office of Academic Affairs (610-519-7053). The student must not speak to the Professor whose exam may be affected, as this may interfere with the Law School's anonymous grading policy. Written documentation of the illness will be required.

Should an emergency or serious illness arise during an examination, the student must immediately contact the Registrar or, in her absence, the Office of Academic Affairs or the Honor Board Proctor. The student must not speak to the Professor whose exam may be affected, as this may interfere with the Law School’s anonymous grading policy.

Examinations are graded anonymously using numbers instead of names. These numbers are available to students each semester on their class schedule in Novasis. The Registrar’s Office cannot distribute exam numbers on the same day the student is taking the exam, nor during the time just before exams are being administered. Examination numbers only, and not names, must be typed into the exam software, written on blue books or answer sheets and on the examination.

Improper Disclosure: Because of scheduling conflicts and other matters, some students may not have taken exams that others have finished. Students must not disclose the form, content, degree of difficulty or any other information pertaining to an examination, or discuss the exam with students who have not taken the exam.

Honor Code Violations: All students are bound by the Code of Conduct. It is published in this Student Handbook and all students are deemed to know the Code’s provisions. Students are required to report Code violations of which they are aware.

Authorized examination materials and equipment for each examination will be posted on the Registrar’s website, and stated in the Professor’s examination instructions. Use of unauthorized materials in an examination is a violation of the Code of Conduct. Students may not possess mobile phones of any type nor other electronic devices of any kind during examinations unless their use is explicitly approved in the examination regulations/materials permitted. Students will be required to leave all such devices at the front of the examination room and may claim them after the examination is over.

When examination regulations/materials permitted specify that the use of a hand held calculator is permitted, this refers to a non-memory basic mathematical calculator only.

Some exams from past semesters are available from the online exam database. Exams are provided at the discretion of the course professor and are only available to current law students.

All questions during a scheduled exam are handled only by an Honor Board Proctor or the Registrar, who may contact the Professor, the Registrar or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students must not attempt to contact the Professor directly during the examination. Honor Board members will be available throughout the exam outside the examination room.

Examinations are rarely rescheduled. A student may request a reschedule if two or more exams directly conflict (same time, same day). In extremely rare circumstances, a student may request a reschedule because of a direct conflict with a compelling personal obligation that cannot be rescheduled. If the reschedule is approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the rescheduled examination will be administered on the next available exam day or on the reschedule day at the discretion of the Office of the Registrar.

Take home examinations are distributed electronically. Each student must download their own exam (and only for the student’s own use) according to the instructions specified by the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office carefully monitors when each student downloads each examination question and uploads their examination answer and reports any anomalies to the Office of Academic Affairs for appropriate action. Students are not permitted to collaborate on take home exams.

If a required religious observance conflicts with a regularly scheduled exam, including fasting, the student should contact the Registrar as soon as possible. The Registrar will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the student’s needs.

All students must ensure that they meet all graduation requirements. The Registrar’s Office will provide students with the information it has, but responsibility for verifying that the requirements are met remains solely with the student. Students should access the on-line degree audit in NOVASIS to help them verify degree requirements.

All regular J.D. students must satisfactorily complete 90 credits over the course of three years of full-time study and must complete six consecutive full-time semesters to be eligible for the Juris Doctor degree. Except for leaves of absence granted for good cause shown, the degree must be completed in three years. In no case will the period of time in which to complete the degree be extended beyond five years from the original matriculation. The first-year required curriculum consists of 31 credit hours of study. In addition, the following upper level courses are required:

• For the Class of 2024 and 2025, Constitutional Law II;
• Legal Writing III (must be taken in the fall or spring of the second year);
• Legal Profession;
• A Practical Skills Writing Course (any class that is a 5000 level course, including Clinics. A clinic satisfies the practical writing requirement and counts towards the experiential learning requirement. In other words, a clinic “double counts” towards both practical writing and experiential learning);
• A Seminar Course or Directed Research (any class that is a 6000 level course) or a second Practical Skills Writing Course (any class that is a 5000 level course, including Clinics); however, participation in a journal or law review does not fulfill this requirement, and similar to above, a clinic satisfies this writing requirement and counts towards the experiential learning requirement;
• Professional Development (each year is worth one credit);
• 1L and 2L modules; and
• Six (6) credits of experiential learning may be earned in a clinic or externship.

Several courses, though not required, are considered basic foundation courses, and students are advised to take them: Administrative Law, Business Organizations, Decedents’ Estates and Trusts, Evidence, Introduction to Federal Taxation and Trial Advocacy. These courses provide the conceptual building blocks upon which other areas of legal study and legal practice build.

J.D. students may be eligible for Latin Honors and may be invited to join Villanova’s chapter of Order of the Coif after final grades have been compiled and final rankings are calculated. 

To graduate summa cum laude, students must graduate in the top 1% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. 

To graduate magna cum laude, students must graduate in the top 10% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. 

To graduate cum laude, students must graduate in the top 25% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. 

To be invited to Villanova’s chapter of Order of the Coif, students must gradate in the top 10% of all graduating students and pass faculty vote. (Please note that the number of graduating students is typically larger than the number of ranked students such that the standards for Coif and magna cum laude are not identical). 

Transfer students are eligible for honors. Academic Rule 16 requires that "[a] student admitted with advanced standing (transfer students) will not be given a class rank based on cumulative weighted average and will not be eligible for prizes or awards based thereon. Transfer students will be eligible for summa, magna, and cum laude honors at graduation, applying a formula that compares the lower of either the student’s three year GPA (original school plus Villanova Law) or the student’s two year GPA (only the Villanova GPA) to the cut off GPA of cumulative ranked students awarded honors.

Students who participate in the J.D./LL.M. International Studies program will be eligible to graduate from Villanova with Latin Honors based upon their cumulative grade point average earned during their two years of study in residence at Villanova Law School, when compared with the three-year cumulative grade point average of their original graduating class. Students in the J.D./LL.M. program will also be eligible for membership in the Order of the Coif.

Students accepted into the J.D./LL.M. program may work toward an LL.M. degree in Taxation while completing their J.D. degree. The J.D./LL.M. program provides students with a broad based and advanced skill set in taxation, which will promote employment opportunities for students interested in a career in Tax Law. J.D./LL.M. students who take Graduate Tax Program (GTP) courses prior to the fall on-campus-interview sessions will enhance their prospects for tax related summer internships or full time offers. In addition, the J.D./LL.M. program offers summer semester evening and online courses, which J.D./LL.M. students can attend without interfering with summer internships or employment.

The J.D. degree is awarded upon the completion of six semesters of full-time study, and the LL.M. degree is awarded when the 24 credit hour requirement for the LL.M. degree is completed. During the regular three years of law school, J.D./LL.M. students may complete the LL.M degree with a combination of GTP courses and approved J.D. Tax courses. Up to 12 credits of the combination of GTP courses and J.D. Tax courses can count both as elective credits toward the J.D. degree, and credits toward the 24 credit hour requirement for the LL.M. degree. The remaining 12 credits from GTP courses will count towards the LL.M. degree only. For the 12 credit hours that double count towards both degrees, the grade from a course will only be counted towards the cumulative GPA for one degree. For example, a student enrolled in the J.D. Introductory Tax course will receive credit for the course on the J.D. and GTP transcripts, but the course grade will only be included in the grade point average of the J.D. transcript. Similarly, a student enrolled in a GTP course will receive credit for the course on the J.D. and GTP transcripts, but the course grade will only be included in the grade point average of the GTP transcript. J.D./LL.M. students must obtain the permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Faculty Director of the Graduate Tax Program to enroll in more than 12 credit hours from GTP courses during the regular three years of law school. Students will need to meet with the Law School Registrar to confirm the additional GTP courses will not negatively impact J.D. requirements or degree completion. Any such credits earned from GTP courses in excess of the 12 credit hour limit will only count toward the GTP degree and GPA, and will be billed as additional GTP tuition.

Students must have a minimum cumulative J.D. GPA of 2.67 as a prerequisite for admission to the LL.M. program, earn a minimum of a B grade in Introduction to Federal Tax, and must request and submit official college transcripts to the Graduate Tax Office. Prospective students are encouraged to meet with the Faculty Director of the Graduate Tax Program prior to applying, and admitted students are expected to meet with the Director of the Graduate Tax Program once a semester to discuss course selection and registration. To optimize the benefits of the program, a J.D. student should consider applying for the joint degree the beginning of the spring semester of the 2L year. Further information is available from the Graduate Tax Office, Room L30 on the Lower Level.

Students accepted into this J.D./LL.M. program receive their J.D. degree from Villanova and their LL.M. in a general or specialized area of international law from either the University of Edinburgh or Leiden Law School in three academic years and approximately three additional months. The students spend the first two years at Villanova, during which time they must successfully complete all first-year courses and upper-division graduation requirements. During the summer of the post-1L year, students may apply for admission into the J.D/LL.M. International Studies program. Admission is competitive, and enrollment is limited. The Director of International Programs makes admission decisions based on a student’s application and academic record (including classwork, grade point average, and professors’ recommendations). To be eligible to participate in the program, students should be within the top third of their class following their 1L year. Students outside the top third may receive a discretionary waiver to participate in the program, provided that the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs determines that their cumulative GPA and rank likely places them on track to become competitive candidates following a third semester of grades. Students with a GPA below 3.0, however, are ineligible to participate or to receive a waiver to participate in the program. Admitted students spend their third year of law study abroad. Students must earn two-thirds of the credits that Villanova requires for graduation prior to studying abroad for their third year.

Awarding of the J.D. and LL.M. degrees is conditioned upon successful completion of all courses at Villanova and all courses and requirements, including successful completion of any thesis or dissertation requirement, at the host law school abroad. That is, the courses successfully completed at the LL.M. host law school may be applied toward the requirements of the Villanova J.D. degree. Because ordinarily it would require four years to earn both credentials separately, the joint degree program may result in an overall cost savings.

Students who participate in the program will be eligible to graduate from Villanova Law with Latin honors based upon their cumulative GPA earned during their two years of study at Villanova Law. That cumulative GPA will be compared with the three-year cumulative GPA of their original graduating class. Students in the J.D./LL.M. program will also be eligible for membership in the Order of the Coif. But students admitted into the J.D./LL.M. program should understand that they will be ineligible for membership on the editorial board of one of Villanova’s law journals or on the Executive Board of the Moot Court Board. But students may, at the discretion of the journals, serve on the staff of the Law School’s journals. Admitted students will complete their LL.M. degree after their original J.D. class cohort graduates from Villanova Law. Nonetheless, admitted students may walk with their class at graduation if they have substantially progressed toward the completion of the LL.M. degree. Please note: due to the variation in schedules between Villanova and the host schools, students will be unable to sit for the July bar examination that follows their J.D. cohort’s graduation date. The following February bar examination is the earliest date they may sit for the bar.

Students who transfer to Villanova Law after completing a year of study at another law school are ineligible to enroll in the J.D./LL.M. International Studies Program.

For more information, please contact the Director of International Programs.

Students accepted into the J.D./M.B.A. Program receive their J.D. degree from the Law School and their M.B.A. degree from the School of Business. The J.D. will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of 6 semesters in residence at the Law School and all J.D. requirements (including credits earned through the M.B.A. program which apply toward the J.D. program). J.D./M.B.A. students must complete the first year of law school in the regular course. After successful completion of the first year, they may begin taking M.B.A. courses while remaining full-time students at the Law School.

J.D./M.B.A. students must take at least 10 credits in every semester (including those M.B.A. courses which count toward the J.D. degree). They may take no more than a combined total of 18 credits counting toward the J.D. degree, considering courses taken in both schools, during any semester. Any student wishing to register for more than 18 credits (including credits earned toward both the J.D. and M.B.A.) must obtain approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In no case, however, will a student be permitted to take more than a combined total of 21 credits in any semester.

The Law School will accept 12 credits for courses taken at the School of Business, and the School of Business will accept a maximum of 9 credits taken at the Law School, providing the courses are selected from the list of courses approved for joint credit published by each school. Contact the Director of the Reza Taleghani JD/MBA Program for more information.

Students accepted to the J.D./M.P.A. Program receive their J.D. from the Law School and their M.P.A. from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Twelve Law School credits will count towards the J.D./M.P.A Program and twelve  M.P.A. credits will count towards the J.D./M.P.A Program Only students enrolled in the J.D./M.P.A. Program may have twelve credits in each program double counted as described above.

The M.P.A. Director and the School of Law’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs identify the Law and M.P.A. courses that may count in each program. The School of Law will accept the twelve M.P.A credits toward the J.D/M.P.A. Program as long as the students earns a “C” or better.. The School of Law will allow the M.P.A. courses to appear as a Law courses on the transcript, but the grades for those courses will not affect the Law School grade point average (GPA). The Arts and Sciences Graduate Dean will accept twelve Law credits toward the M.P.A.so long as the student earned a “C” or better. The Registrar will list the Law courses as Law courses on the M.P.A. transcript, but the grades will not affect the M.P.A. Program GPA. In short, the Law courses will be treated as “transfer” credits. Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA in the School of Law and a 3.00 GPA in the M.P.A. Program in order to remain in the J.D./M.P.A. Program. Students may complete one of Villanova’s joint graduate programs. For example, students may complete the JD/MBA or the JD/MPA, but not both. While completing the J.D. degree, students must complete at least the twelve M.P.A. credits that will count only in the M.P.A. Program and the twelve M.P.A. credits that will count in both programs. The remaining twelve M.P.A. credits may be taken after completing the J.D. degree. The M.P.A. degree must be completed within the normal timeframe stated by Graduate Studies. Students may not take M.P.A. courses at another institution to complete the degree. If a Law student works an externship approved by the Law School and by the M.P.A. Director, then M.P.A. 8010 will be waived. Otherwise, the student must complete an internship for an additional 3 M.P.A. credits.

A J.D. student enrolled in a joint program who engages in misconduct (whether academic or non-academic) in the non-Law School part of the program will be subject to disciplinary proceedings and possible penalty under the Law School’s policies independent of whether or not action was taken and/or a penalty imposed by the authorities at the other school.

Students involved in joint programs must promptly notify the Office of Academic Affairs in writing if any incidents occur or information develops in the non-Law School part of the program, including while in attendance at partner schools, that relate to character and fitness, as laid out in the policy on Candor and Disclosure under the General Information C tab in this Handbook.

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law strives to provide an environment for the personal and intellectual growth of all its students, and also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In order to meet these commitments, Villanova offers educational opportunities and reasonable academic accommodations for the needs of qualified students with disabilities. The standards for academic credit should not be modified for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities have fulfilled the same entrance requirements, have the same range of backgrounds and experiences as other students at Villanova, and should be fully capable of meeting Villanova's standards. The Law School’s goal is to provide access and reasonable accommodations in helping the students achieve those expectations.

Students seeking academic accommodations must submit current documentation, including supporting reports of tests and other measurements and assessments provided by a qualified treating professional, and transmitted directly from that professional with an original cover letter signed by the treating professional, to the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success. The request and supporting documentation will be considered by the Assistant Dean, in consultation with the Office of Learning Support Services and/or the Office of Disability Services, as applicable. The Assistant Dean, in consultation with the Office of Learning Support Services and/or the Office of Disability Services, as applicable, may request additional information if necessary, as the process contemplates collaboration among the treating professionals, the Law School, and the student. The student may be asked to sign releases to allow the free exchange of information among all those involved with meeting their needs. The Assistant Dean in consultation with the Office of Learning Support Services and/or the Office of Disability Services, as applicable will make a determination of what accommodations will be offered. If a student is dissatisfied with the academic accommodation, concerns may be addressed to the Dean and the Office of Academic Affairs. The process contemplates an ongoing assessment of needs and the reasonable means of meeting those needs. The current policy and forms are accessible on the Academic Success Programs webpage.

The granting of academic accommodations is strictly confidential; faculty members are not notified unless the particular accommodation requires cooperation of the faculty member, and then disclosure is limited to only what is necessary.

Students with physical disabilities that require accommodations unrelated to the academic program are coordinated through the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success or the Office of Disability Services.

All requests for exam accommodations should be submitted no later than one month prior to the last day of classes for the semester.

Students must have current local and permanent addresses, email addresses and mobile phone numbers on file with the Registrar’s Office at all times including summer and vacation. Students can update their information using the Emergency Contact Form on the Registrar’s webpage.

Second and third-year students may take one Distance Education Course (“DEC”) per semester. In extraordinary circumstances and for good cause shown, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs may permit a student to take a second DEC in the same semester. This limit applies only to J.D. courses, and does not apply to M.B.A., M.P.A., or grad tax courses. Students are responsible for knowing state bar admission requirements, including any distance learning limitations, which can be found here: https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/provost/resources/education-requirements/jurisdoctorate.html. Students must attend the synchronous portion of a DEC in a manner to facilitate full engagement; students may not participate in other activities, such as driving or exercising. All policies of the Law School, including but not limited to the Academic Code of Honor, apply in all distance education courses

A student is in academic good standing if the student is enrolled and has maintained an annual and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater. Letters of good standing that are to be sent to other educational institutions are issued by the Office of the Registrar. Requests must be submitted in writing to that office and must include the exact name(s) and addresses of the party to whom the letter must be sent. A letter of good standing issued by the Law School will state that the student is actively enrolled in the Law School and will be sent directly to the school. If a disciplinary matter (academic or non-academic) is pending or an investigation is underway, the matter may be disclosed. If a Disposition Report has been placed in the student’s file, the Disposition Report may also be disclosed.

Students requesting letters of good standing for transfer must follow the Transfer Procedure. Students considering transfer are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Affairs to discuss the process and consequences of transfer.

Enrollment certifications for attendance (for insurance or loan deferral purposes) can be downloaded through your NOVASIS account via a link through the National Student Clearinghouse.

See Academic Rule 5 for the letter grade array. Please note that the Law School does not have an “Incomplete” grade. All course work must be finished in the semester during which the student is registered for the course.

Grades in examination courses are entered anonymously. Law School policy permits Professors to raise or to lower an anonymously entered grade one step (i.e., from a C to a C+, from a C to a C–) based on class performance and attendance. The policy also allows for in-class performance, exercises, midterm or other methods of evaluation to be considered in assigning a grade. The time, place and manner for the distribution and availability of grades will be announced by the Registrar. Grades will be posted to your Novasis account.

Grades for clinic courses, as well as the Philadelphia Defender Association externship and the Troutman Pepper Law & Entrepreneurship externship, follow the regular grading scale. Other externships have four grading options: High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, and Fail.

In the spring semester, the grade reports for third year students are distributed on or before Commencement Day. First and second-year grade reports are posted, generally during the second or third week of June.

After final grades have been submitted, a student’s grade can be changed only if there is a clear clerical or arithmetic error, and only with the approval of the Academic Dean.

The University reserves the right to refuse to release grade reports, transcripts, bar certifications, and diplomas for a student with delinquent financial obligations to the University.

Name changes must be reported to the Registrar’s Office immediately. You must provide supporting documentation which consists of the original purpose of the name change (i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court ordered) AND another source of identification in which the name has already been changed officially (i.e., driver license, passport, Student Visa, or work ID (not Wildcard). For information on use of a preferred name, please view the University’s Preferred Name Policy.

Villanova University’s Mission Statement, embraced by the Law School, calls on us “to reflect the spirit of St. Augustine…by respect for individual differences, and by adherence to the principle that mutual love and respect should animate every aspect of University life.” As a Catholic and Augustinian Law School, Villanova seeks to support and respect the diverse religious beliefs and traditions of all members of our community.

As part of this commitment, the Law School makes every reasonable effort to allow members of the community to observe their religious holidays and days of observance, consistent with the Law School’s obligations, responsibilities, and policies. Students who expect to miss a class due to the observance of a religious holiday should discuss the matter with their professors as soon as possible. Absence from classes for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the absence. Faculty, if possible, will try to accommodate students with make-up work, with reasonable alternative opportunities to complete their academic assignments, and by recording the class when possible. Deadlines typically will not be extended for long term assignments.

If a required religious observance conflicts with a regularly scheduled exam, including fasting, the student should contact the Registrar as soon as possible. The Registrar will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the student’s needs.

Part-time employment during the school term should be undertaken with great care since the study of law requires a full-time commitment. This is particularly important for first-year students, who are strongly discouraged from working during their first year, even in a part-time capacity.

During the second and third year, absent special circumstances, Villanova law students are discouraged from engaging in employment for more than 20 hours per week in any week in which the student is enrolled for more than twelve credits.

Employment does not constitute an excusable absence from class attendance.

A J.D. student may take courses in the Graduate Tax Program (GTP) for credit towards the J.D. degree. However, the student must obtain the permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Faculty Director of the Graduate Tax Program. A letter grade and credit will be awarded, but the grade for the GTP course will not be included in the student’s J.D. grade point average. Transfer credit for the J.D. degree will only be awarded if the student earns a “C” or better.   GTP courses taken by students as part of the J.D. program will not count toward the LL.M. degree, unless the student later enrolls in the J.D./LL.M. program, and is formally accepted during the time they are enrolled in law school. 

Typically, a J.D. student who is not in the J.D./LL.M. program will be approved to take no more than two GTP courses for J.D. credit at no additional cost. Students who earned the J.D. within the last two years and who decide to apply for the LL.M. post-graduation may submit a written request to transfer up to 6 credit hours from either advanced J.D. tax courses or GTP courses into the LL.M. However, tuition for the remaining required coursework will be based on the per credit hour tuition rate for GTP courses.

A student may receive up to six credits for attending an ABA-approved summer abroad program offered by another accredited American school of law, provided that a student achieves the equivalent of a “C” grade or better, for each course for which credit is sought. The student must obtain advance permission from the Director of International Programs to participate in the summer abroad program by submitting a request detailing the program and the courses desired, using the online form. The student alone remains responsible for any lost costs, deposits, or program fees that they may incur where they have enrolled in study abroad programs without first having obtained the Director’s permission to participate in the program. Typically, only courses that do not duplicate courses offered at the Law School will be approved, although exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the Office of Academic Affairs. Credit will be recorded, and the course will appear on the student’s Law School transcript as “transfer” credits upon receipt of an official transcript from the host school, but any grade(s) earned in that program will not be included in the student’s GPA. If the program abroad has an experiential learning component, the student should also submit the request to the Director of Experiential Learning for review and possible approval.

Students requesting permission to visit for a semester or a year at another law school must obtain permission from the Office of Academic Affairs. Permission will be granted only if the student shows the most compelling reasons for the visit, has completed all required courses, and has at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

A J.D. student may take up to six credits of graduate-level course work in other colleges for credit toward their J.D. degree. Students would take such courses in their second or third year. For students interested in taking courses in Graduate Arts and Sciences, the following policies and procedures apply:

1.  Prior Approval

• Law Students must obtain prior approval for the course from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Law School.
• Once approval has been granted, the student then submits a request to the Dean of Graduate Studies, who will seek the approval of the graduate program director. Students should specify which courses they seek to take and provide copies of the undergraduate transcripts so that the program director can evaluate whether the student has the necessary background for the course.
• If the graduate program director and Graduate Dean approve the request, the Graduate Dean will contact the Registrar to have the law student registered in the course and inform the Bursar’s Office to coordinate the billing.
• Because the Communication Master’s program is an entrepreneurial (self-financing) program, law students will not be permitted to take individual graduate courses in Communication. They may take courses in this program if they seek to earn a graduate certificate (five courses) or Master’s degree (ten courses), in which case they must apply to the program.

2.  Tuition

• Tuition for a graduate course in Arts and Sciences taken by a law student is covered by the student’s Law School tuition, with no transfer of funds from the Law School to Graduate Arts and Sciences, as long as the course is taken in the fall or spring term.
• Tuition for graduate courses in Arts and Sciences taken in the summer term are not covered by Law School tuition. Law students wishing to take a graduate course in the summer will be billed at the Graduate Arts and Sciences tuition rate.

3.  Grading: The Law School will allow the Graduate Arts and Sciences courses to appear on the transcript, but the grades will not affect the Law School grade point average (GPA). A “T” will appear on the transcript to indicate transfer credit. Students may request a separate transcript from the University Registrar for a record of the grade received in the Graduate Arts and Sciences course.

4.  Academic Calendar: Law students who take a graduate course are expected to follow the academic calendar used by Graduate Arts and Sciences.

5.  A J.D. student enrolled in a course in CLAS who engages in misconduct (whether academic or non-academic) will be subject to disciplinary proceedings and possible penalty under the Law School’s policies independent of whether or not action was taken and/or a penalty imposed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

6.  Students must promptly notify the Office of Academic Affairs in writing if any incidents occur in any course taken in the CLAS that relate to misconduct (whether academic or non-academic).

Transfer applications will be considered only when the student has successfully completed all the courses required in the full-time 1L year of the home school.

Application Requirements

The law school from which the applicant seeks to transfer must be able to certify that the applicant has completed all requirements and credits for that school's full-time first year program.

Transcripts reflecting grades for all courses taken must be submitted to the Admissions Office by July 15.

Transfer applicants must be in good standing at a law school that is both a member of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) and approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Applicants will not be reviewed until we have received transcripts for both fall and spring semesters of the first year of law school. Decisions are made on a rolling basis. You must apply online.

Transfer applicants are required to provide the same documents that are required for first year applicants (i.e. completed application form, application fee, personal statement(s)); Credential Assembly Service Law School report; academic transcripts from all institutions attended; and one letter of recommendation - preferably from a law professor). Additionally, transfer applicants must provide a letter from the appropriate dean or administrator at the home law school indicating they are in good academic standing and eligible to continue their studies. 

Transfer of Credits and Course Work

Villanova Law will only accept credit or credits for a course in which the student receives a grade of C, its equivalent, or better.

The number of credits transferred will equal the number of credits successfully completed in that program.

If there are differences in the 1L curriculum between the home school and Villanova Law, transfer students will be required to complete any required Villanova Law 1L coursework as part of their upper-level coursework, with the exception that students do not need to take Professional Development I or the IL elective. Unless a comparable financial literacy course was taken at the home school, as determined by the Academic Dean, transfer students will be required to take the 1L module in their 2L year and the 2L module in their 3L year.

Eligibility for Honors, Awards, Journals, and Moot Court

Transfer students are eligible for participation in journal and moot court competitions provided that they are able to meet the established deadlines.

Transfer students may participate in OCI (On Campus Interviews) provided that they have been admitted and have committed to attend the Villanova Law School before interview deadlines.

Transfer students are eligible for graduation honors and Order of the Coif.

Academic Rule 16 requires that "A student admitted with advanced standing (transfer students) will not be given a class rank based on cumulative weighted average and will not be eligible for prizes or awards based thereon. Transfer students will be eligible for summa, magna, and cum laude honors at graduation, applying a formula that compares the lower of either the student’s three year GPA (original school plus Villanova Law) or the student’s two year GPA (only the Villanova GPA) to the cut off GPA of cumulative ranked students awarded honors."

Except as provided under Summer Abroad Programs, the Law School does not accept transfer credit for courses taken by Villanova Law School students at other law schools. This does not apply to students accepted with advanced standing (transfer students).

Students considering transferring after the first year are strongly encouraged to consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to discuss the consequences of transferring.

All Requests for transfer documentation must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs by filing a Transfer Request Form. The Law School will complete the transfer packet including official transcript, letter of good standing, and any forms required by the transferee school. Individual letters of recommendation must be arranged by the student and are not part of the package. The student must include all forms required by the transferee schools with the Transfer Request Form, and must be sure to complete the student-supplied information and signatures as required. All letters of good standing issued to educational institutions for transfer will state that the student is actively enrolled in the Law School. Packets will be sent directly to the schools, using the address supplied by the student. An administrative fee of $35 will be charged for each packet (that is for each school to which the student applies). The usual turn-around time for transfer packets is 5 full business days. The student must complete one (1) Transfer Request form per school, must include a check for $35 made out to Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law for each school to which the student is applying and submit their completed Student Records Release Form (one form for each school to which the student is applying). The Request form(s), check(s) and Student Records Release Form(s) must be submitted along with any additional forms needed to be completed to the Office of Academic Affairs, Suite 370.

Students who have accepted judicial externship placements for either the summer or the upcoming academic year commit to fulfilling those placements and therefore cannot transfer from the Law School. Students who have accepted judicial externship placements for the summer and fail to return to the Law School for the Fall Semester for any reason will not receive credit. Federal regulations require the termination of work study funds once a student decides to transfer, and Research Assistantships, as a form of financial aid, will also be terminated as soon as a student formally notifies the Law School that the student is transferring.

There are other issues and consequences that may apply for students applying for transfer so it is important to discuss plans to transfer with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Students who apply to transfer must notify the Office of Academic Affairs in writing within 3 days of accepting the other law school’s offer. A student is considered registered until written notification to the contrary is received by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Students considering transfer must inform programs in which they are involved such as journals, moot court, clinics and the on-campus interviewing program of their plans, and must be considerate in giving timely notice of decisions to such programs.

Villanova recognizes that it is sometimes necessary for students to interrupt their enrollment for a period of time and take a leave of absence. Students may take a non-medical leave for a variety of reasons including, for example, to attend to academic, personal, or financial matters.

A student who wishes a non-medical leave of absence must (1) submit a completed “Request for Non-Medical Leave” to the Assistant Dean of Students, and (2) meet with the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee.  Requests for non-medical leaves must be submitted before the final class of the semester. Once the semester is over and the reading and examination period has begun, a student may not request a non-medical leave except in the most extraordinary circumstances.  

If the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee finds good cause, a leave may be granted.  Because every student’s situation is different, the terms of a non-medical leave will be determined individually, including any restrictions from coming on campus or attending University events and including any conditions for the student’s eligibility to return to campus following the leave.

A non-medical leave may be granted for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of one year.  Only in extraordinary circumstances will the Assistant Dean of Students permit one additional year, for a total of two years.  

The process for returning from a non-medical leave is covered in the Return Following a Leave section.

Students may request a medical leave of absence (MLOA) if they experience health situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. 

MLOA Process:

A student seeking a MLOA must take the following steps:

• submit a completed MLOA Request Form to the Assistant Dean of Students; and
• meet with the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee to review the request.

The student may be asked to schedule and undergo an evaluation by the Student Health Center and/or the University Counseling Center. This evaluation will occur after the student has met with the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee. The student must sign a release allowing the Student Health Center and/or the University Counseling Center to discuss their evaluation of the student with the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee who is reviewing the request.

After evaluating the student, the Student Health Center and/or the University Counseling Center will determine whether a significant health issue has compromised the student’s health, safety or academic success, and will submit an individualized recommendation to the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee regarding the student’s request for a MLOA.

The Assistant Dean of Students or their designee reviewing the request will make the final determination whether to grant the MLOA and will notify the student of the decision in writing. Because every student’s situation is different, the terms of a MLOA will be determined individually, including the duration of leave, any restrictions from coming on campus or attending Law School or University events, and any conditions for the student’s eligibility to return to campus following the MLOA.

Students may request a MLOA at any time during the semester but must complete such requests – including any requisite evaluation and related paperwork for the Assistant Dean of Student’s office – no later than the last day of classes in a semester. If a student does not complete a MLOA request by the last day of classes, the Law School will deem the request late and consider it for the following semester, barring exceptional circumstances.

A medical leave may be granted for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of one year.   Only in extraordinary of circumstances will the Assistant Dean of students permit one additional year, for a total of two years.

If a student is unable or unwilling to take a voluntary leave of absence, the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee may initiate an individualized assessment to determine whether the student should be involuntarily separated from the University.

The Assistant Dean of Students or their designee may place a student on an involuntary leave of absence (ILOA) in situations where a student does not want to take a leave voluntarily and current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that

• the student poses a significant risk to the health, functioning, or safety of others; or 
• the student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses an actual risk to the student’s own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations about individuals with disabilities.

In no case will the Law School require a leave based on a student’s mental or physical condition itself.

ILOA Process:

Except in emergency situations, before placing any student on an ILOA, the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee will (a) notify a student in writing that the Law School is seeking to determine whether the student should be required to take a leave of absence, and (b) conduct an individualized assessment.

In making this individualized assessment, the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee will

• consider available information and documentation regarding the student’s behavior;
• if feasible, hold a meeting with the student that, upon the express written consent of the student, the student’s spouse and/or parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may attend, and allow the student to provide any information the student believes is relevant to the determination;
• consult with other appropriate Law School and University members, which may include, but are not limited to, professors and representatives from the Student Health Center, University Counseling Center, Department of Public Safety, Office of Disability Services, and/or the Academic Affairs Office. The Assistant Dean of Students or their designee may require that the student receive an evaluation by the Student Health Center and/or University Counseling Center and to authorize the Student Health Center and/or University Counseling Center to share the results and recommendations of their evaluation with the Assistant Dean of Students and/or their designees. If a student refuses to participate in the evaluation or to authorize the release of the evaluation results, and there is an actual or imminent health risk, the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee may restrict the student’s access to educational programs and activities, University services, and entry to the campus;
• carefully consider the opinions and recommendations of the student’s treating providers, if available, along with the opinions and recommendations of any other healthcare professionals consulted by the University.

The Assistant Dean of Students or their designee will consider factors such as the following: the nature of the student’s conduct; the impact of the student’s conduct on others in the community; the nature, duration and severity of the risk; the likelihood of potential injury; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures will mitigate the risk and allow such student to continue to attend classes and otherwise participate in the Law School and University’s educational programs.

Reasonable modifications do not include changes that would fundamentally alter the Law School’s or University’s academic program or unduly burden its resources or staffing capabilities or, with respect to the required level of care or monitoring, that would exceed the standard of care that a university health service or counseling can be expected to provide. A student’s failure to comply with reasonable modifications may result in the student being asked or required to leave the Law School.

The Assistant Dean of Students or their designee will determine whether the student (1) may remain in attendance without conditions or restrictions, or (2) may require a reasonable accommodation or accommodations to continue in attendance, or (3) may not continue in attendance or participate in educational programs and activities or use University services. The Assistant Dean of Students will notify the student in writing of the decision. If a leave is required, the decision will specify the duration of the leave, any restrictions from coming on campus or attending University events, any conditions for the student’s eligibility to return to the Law School following the ILOA, and available appeals procedures. These determinations will be made on an individual basis.

Some students who take a leave will have no requirements attached to their return. However, students may be subject to specific requirements for return based on the circumstances of their departure. Any conditions or requirements for return will be based on an individualized assessment of the student, including consideration of current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence. The goal of these conditions is to prepare the student for a successful return to the Law School.

A student who has taken a leave of absence for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, may apply for return by writing to the Assistant Dean of Students. The student must demonstrate that he or she has met any conditions or requirements, if any, that were specified for the student’s return to the campus community.

For health-related leaves, the student may be required to provide documentation from treating providers regarding (a) the treating provider’s work with the student and the student’s clinical status; (b) an opinion as to the student’s readiness to resume academic studies, with or without reasonable accommodations; and (c) an opinion as to the student’s ability to function as a successful member of the campus community, with or without reasonable accommodations, and (d) a completed Community Provider Report Form for Student’s Requested Return. Any documentation from treating providers must be signed, dated, and (other than the Community Provider Form) submitted on letterhead. Because the Law School must consider the opinion of a student’s treating providers, the student will also be asked to sign releases allowing appropriate Law School professionals to communicate directly with the student’s treating providers.

The Assistant Dean of Students, in consultation with the Student Health Center and/or the University Counseling Center, will carefully consider the opinions and recommendations of the student’s treating providers, if available, and any other health care professionals consulted by the University. The Assistant Dean will notify the student in writing of the return decision, including appropriate appeal procedures if the request is denied.

Students on leave must complete their request for return submissions by the dates specified in the letter granting the leave (typically November 15 for the spring semester, and by July 15 for the fall semester). These deadlines ensure that the appropriate Law School and University officials have enough time to review the student’s request. The Law School and University will attempt to be flexible and review requests completed within a reasonable time after the relevant deadline. Nevertheless, if there is information missing from the request, and/or the Law School or University needs additional time to contact the student’s treating provider(s) (for health-related leaves), the University may consider the student’s return for the following semester than the semester for which the student initially sought to return.

A student may file an appeal regarding (a) his or her placement on an involuntary leave, or (b) the denial of his or her request for return from any leave, whether voluntary or involuntary. The student must submit the appeal in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the decision being appealed. Appeals must be directed to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.   The student may not remain on campus during the appeal period.

Appeals should clearly state the specific grounds for appeal and should present relevant information, including medical or clinical evidence, in support of the student’s position. The student may be required to sign a release to enable the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to consult with the student’s health care providers. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will review the record and any additional information submitted by the student in the appeal and will render a written and final decision within ten (10) business days of receiving the appeal. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs may extend the time limits set forth above as necessary.

The Law School does not readmit students who have been excluded for failure to achieve the required grade point average or for other reasons, except upon favorable action on Petition for Readmission. That Petition must demonstrate the most extraordinary circumstances caused the failure. The decision to readmit or not is within the sole discretion of the Dean (see Academic Rule 11). If a student is readmitted, the student is considered to be in good standing and making satisfactory progress. In some instances, the student will be required to meet special conditions, repeat all or some courses, or enter a special program.

Villanova recognizes that students who serve in the U.S. armed forces may be required to take a leave from their program or course of study due to military service. Military service refers to service, whether voluntary or involuntary, in the armed forces, including service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal authority, for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days under a call or order to active duty of more than thirty (30) consecutive days. This does not include National Guard service under state authority.

Student Responsibilities:

The student must provide notice of any military leave as far in advance as is reasonably possible under the circumstances. This notice (a) should be directed to the Assistant Dean of Students or their designee, (b) may be provided by the student or any warrant, commissioned, or noncommissioned officer authorized to give such notice, and (c) does not need to indicate whether the student intends to return to the school. In circumstances where military necessity precludes the student from providing advance notice, such as service in operations that are classified or would be compromised by such notice, the student should provide notice to the Assistant Dean of Students as soon as possible, including an attestation of military service that necessitated the student’s absence.

The student must provide notice of intent to return to the Assistant Dean of Students within three (3) years after the completion of the period of service. Any student who experiences an illness or injury incurred or aggravated during the period of service must notify the Dean of Students within two (2) years after the period needed for recovery from the illness or injury. If the student fails to provide notice as required in this paragraph, the Law School’s standard procedures for return following a leave will apply.

Notices made under this section may be oral or in writing, although written notice is preferred to the extent possible.

Military Leave Process and Return:

Following notice of intent to resume studies, the student may return to the Law School with the same academic status and standing as the student had prior to taking the military leave.

The cumulative length of absence and all previous absences from the Law School for military service may not exceed five (5) years.

International students who are studying in the United States on a student visa should contact the International Students Services Office before submitting a leave of absence request, as taking a leave of absence can have significant visa-related implications.

A student wishing to withdraw must notify the Assistant Dean of Students and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in writing.  A student who withdraws without obtaining a leave of absence and who later wishes to return to the Law School must petition the Assistant Dean of Students for return to the Law School.  Such petitions ordinarily will not be granted.

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1  Applicability.  This Code of Conduct governs the conduct of students of the Law School in matters related to the academic integrity of Villanova Law School and its educational programs. A person enrolled in one or more courses in the J.D. program is a student of the Law School. 

1.2  Honor Board.  The Honor Board is established by the Faculty of the Villanova Law School to: (a) administer, in conjunction with the Faculty, this Code of Conduct; (b) assist the Administration of the Villanova Law School in the administration of examinations; (c) administer student elections in cooperation with the Student Bar Association; and (d) review this Code of Conduct periodically and recommend amendments. 

1.3  Officers.  The Honor Board shall have a Chairperson and other officers as provided for in the bylaws of the Honor Board.

1.4  Bylaws.  The Honor Board may adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations governing its activities and proceedings that are consistent with this Code of Conduct. 

1.5  Definitions.  As used in this Code of Conduct, unless the context otherwise clearly requires: 

(a)  “Accused” means any student of the Law School accused of a violation of the Code.

(b)  “Board” means the Honor Board established pursuant to section 1.2

(c)  “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board, or any member of the Board acting as Chairperson in accordance with the bylaws of the Board. 

(d)  “Incident Report” means a written report prepared by the Academic Dean or the Faculty Advisor as required by section 4.1(b). 

(e)   “Code” means this Code of Conduct.

(f)  “Dean’s Designee” means the faculty member designated by the Dean to carry out the functions provided in section 4.3 of this Code for that academic year or an alternate designated by the Dean to serve in place of the Dean’s Designee. 

(g)  “Disposition Report” means the written report of the Dean’s Designee as required by section 4.3(d).

(h)   “Faculty” means the full-time members of the Faculty of the Law School.

(i)   “Faculty Advisor” means the faculty member designated by the Dean to carry out the functions provided in this Code or faculty member designated by the Dean to serve in place of the Faculty Advisor.

(j)  “Hearing Board” means the three students and three faculty members appointed under section 4.4.

(k)   “Hearing Board Report” means the written report of the Hearing Board required by section 4.6(d). 

(l) “Investigation Report” means the written report of the Academic Dean of Faculty Advisor required by section 4.1(d).

(m)  “Law School” means the Villanova Law School.

(n)  “Law School Academic File,” means the file retained by the Law School after a student graduates which contains a student’s academic transcript and other records. 

(o)  “Probable Cause Report” means the written report of the Academic Dean or Faculty Advisor required by section 4.2(c).

(p)  “Student” means a person who is matriculating in the Law School’s J.D. program or enrolled in a course in the Law School’s J.D. program.

(q)   “The permanent Honor Board file” means the confidential file containing all documents in all Honor Board matters retained by the Office of the Academic Dean. This file is distinct from the file of Honor Board records from the current academic year maintained by the Faculty Advisor. Only the Academic Dean, the Faculty Advisor, and the Dean’s Designee shall have access to the permanent Honor Board file. 

(r)  “Notice of Dismissal” means a written notice prepared by the Academic Dean or the Faculty Advisor as required by section 4.2(b). 

Chapter Two: Violations of the Code of Conduct

2.1  Obligation of Student.  Students must familiarize themselves with the Code and with the published rules governing examinations or other academic activities in which they participate. Students must also familiarize themselves with the rules for citation, correct citation form, and proper attribution.  Students are responsible for being able to paraphrase, summarize and quote sources accurately and responsibly.  A student certifies that all words and ideas not identified as another’s using attribution are the student’s own by placing her or his name on any work submitted to fulfill any academic or co-curricular requirement.

2.2  Student’s Knowledge or Belief.  The acts or omissions set forth in section 2.3 are infractions of the Code whether or not a Student

(i)   knows an act or omission is an infraction of the Code or the published rules governing examinations or other academic activity;

(ii)   knows or believes an act or omission is contrary to accepted standards of honesty, or

(iii)  intends by an act or omission to gain academic advantage.

2.3  Infractions.  The following acts or omissions of a Student are infractions of the Code:

(a)  giving or securing any information about an examination except as authorized by the examining professor;

(b)  consulting or copying from any books, papers, notes or other materials of any kind (whether in paper or digital form) during an examination except as authorized by the examining professor;

(c)  retaining possession (defined as within sight or reach of the student’s seat) during an examination of any paper or electronic materials or devices, other than those authorized by the examination instructions, whether consulting them or not, after being instructed to store them in a specific place for the duration of the examination;

(d)  continuing writing an examination answer after the permitted time has expired;

(e)  violating any other rule of the Law School applicable to examinations, if the conduct is contrary to accepted standards of honesty;

(f)   unauthorized taking, concealing, withholding, destroying, mutilating or abusing Law School property;

(g)  submitting in an academic activity the work of another as one’s own work, with or without the consent of the author of such work;

(1)  “Submitting in an academic activity the work of another as one’s own work” includes the following:

A.   Quoting the words of another without using quotation marks, even if the writer includes a citation;

B.   Quoting the words of another without attribution;

C.   Paraphrasing the words of another without attribution;

D.   Closely following the structure of another source’s argument (structural plagiarism); and

E.   Using the idea of another without attribution.

(2)  The term “structural plagiarism” refers to the act of following a source’s argument too closely, even with proper attribution.  When a writer reproduces the structure of a source’s argument, the writer is likely reproducing the source’s argument rather than producing original work, which is why structural plagiarism counts as an infraction.  Some exceptions may be made if a writer is discussing a well-settled topic in the law, but students should check with a supervising faculty member before assuming one applies to their work.

(3)  Students should construe the terms “sources” and “the work of another” broadly.  “Sources” and “the work of another” include information, ideas, and opinions learned from others, as well published works and authorities. This section does not include sample forms and other written materials commonly used in practice.

(h)  permitting one’s work to be submitted in an academic activity as the work of another;

(i)   concealing, withholding, destroying, mutilating, or the unauthorized taking or using of another Student’s property, including, without limitation, books, briefs, class notes and outlines (whether in paper or digital form), if the conduct is contrary to accepted standards of honesty;

(j) misrepresenting in an academic activity a material fact with respect to work performed or required, including misrepresentation of any kind on a timesheet required to be kept in an academic course or co-curricular activity that is awarded academic credit;

(k)  signing in for another student or having a person sign in for you on class attendance sheet;

(l)  violating a published rule of the Law School or a student organization applicable to a participant in or a member or candidate for membership on a journal, the Moot Court Board, the moot court program, or a legal writing or skills competition, whether or not academic credit is given, if the violation is contrary to accepted standards of honesty;

(m) failing to report, in accordance with the provisions of the Code, a violation of the Code by another Student;

(n)  failing to produce evidence or respond to questions when called upon to do so during an investigation conducted under the Code, or failing to appear as a witness, testify, or produce evidence in any proceeding when called on to do so in accordance with the Code; except that an Accused commits an independent violation of the Code only if they fail or refuse to appear at any proceeding conducted under the Code;

(o)  making or giving a false or materially incomplete report of a violation of the Code, statement to a member of the Board during an investigation, or testimony as a witness in any proceeding under the Code;

(p)  attempting to obstruct or hinder an investigation or other proceeding conducted by the Board;

(q)  breaching any duty of confidentiality imposed by the Code;

(r)   engaging in any other conduct in an academic activity which is contrary to accepted standards of honesty;

(s)   attempting to commit a violation of this section 2.3; or aiding or abetting a violation or attempted violation or agreeing or conspiring to commit a violation of this section 2.3.

(t)  No unauthorized recording of classes is permitted.  Students may only record classes (1) with express written permission from the professor, or (2) as part of a reasonable accommodation approved in writing by the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success.  Any authorized course recording is solely for the student’s educational use for personal study for the course; a course recording may not be 1) reproduced or uploaded to publicly or privately accessible web environments or networks; 2) shared with others; or 3) exchanged or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes, with or without compensation, for any purpose.

2.4  Violation.  A Student’s infraction of the Code is a violation of the Code subject to sanction under Chapter Five only if, with respect to each element of the infraction, the Student’s act or omission was voluntary and either intentional or reckless.

Chapter Three: Retained Jurisdiction

3.1  Other Student Conduct.  The Faculty and Administration of the Law School retain exclusive jurisdiction over conduct of Students that is not an infraction of the Code.

3.2  Grading.  Nothing contained in the Code limits the authority of the Faculty with respect to grading.

Chapter Four: Honor Board Procedure

4.1  Reporting Procedure

(a)  A Student must promptly report an infraction of the Code to the Academic Dean or her designee. A faculty member or other person shall promptly report an infraction of the Code to either the Academic Dean or the Faculty Advisor. 

(b)  The Academic Dean or Faculty Advisor shall meet promptly with the person making the report and prepare a written Incident Report. The Incident Report shall include: 

(1)  the name of the person making the report;

(2)  the name of the Accused;

(3)  the date and place of the alleged infraction; 

(4)  a narrative statement of the relevant facts;

(5)  names and addresses of other persons who may have relevant information;

(6)  the original or a copy of any documentary evidence and any other physical evidence;

(7)  a reference to the alleged infraction of the Code; and  (8) the signature of the person reporting the infraction, the signature of the Board member or Faculty Advisor preparing the Incident Report, and the date. 

(c)  As soon as reasonably possible after the Incident Report is prepared, the Academic Dean or her designee will consider the Incident Report.

(d)  The Academic Dean shall determine whether the Incident Report alleges an infraction of the Code. If the Academic Dean determines the Incident Report does not allege an infraction of the Code, the matter shall be closed. If the Academic Dean determines an infraction of the Code has been alleged, the Faculty Advisor shall give the Accused a copy of the Incident Report and advise the accused that a written response may be submitted to the Academic Dean. If the Academic Dean determines that further investigation is appropriate, the Academic Dean or her designee shall conduct the investigation.

(e)  The Academic Dean shall establish a date for the submission of the Accused’s response and the Investigation Report.

4.2 Preliminary Determination

(a)  The Academic Dean and Faculty Advisor shall promptly determine whether there is probable cause to believe that there has been a violation of the Code, whether further action under the Code is appropriate, and whether suspension or expulsion is a possible sanction because of the nature of the violation.

(b)  If the Academic Dean and Faculty Advisor finds there is not probable cause to believe that there has been a violation of the Code, or that no further action is appropriate, the Faculty Advisor shall prepare a Notice of Dismissal stating that the charges have been dismissed and providing a brief explanation. The Notice of Dismissal shall be provided to the Accused and the Dean. The Notice of Dismissal shall be retained in the Accused’s Law School Academic File and in the permanent Honor Board file.

(c)  If the Academic Dean and Faculty Advisor  find there is probable cause to believe there has been a violation of the Code and that further action is appropriate, the Faculty Advisor shall prepare a Probable Cause Report that lists the violation(s) for which there is probable cause and sets forth the evidence which supports the finding of probable cause. 

(d)  The Academic Dean  and Faculty Advisor shall refer the matter to the Dean’s Designee for Administrative Review under section 4.3 unless they determine that suspension or expulsion is a possible sanction because of the nature of the violation. The Academic Dean and Faculty Advisor hall refer the matter to the Board for a Board Hearing under section 4.4 if the Charge Panel determines suspension or expulsion is a possible sanction because of the nature of the violation.

(e)  Promptly after the Academic Dean and Faculty Advisor refer the matter for Administrative Review or a Board Hearing, the Faculty Advisor shall notify the accused of the accused’s right to counsel under § 4.3(a) or 4.5(e). 

(f)   The Incident Report, the Investigation Report, the Accused’s response, any documentary or physical evidence, and the Probable Cause Report shall be provided to the Dean, the Chairperson, the Accused, and, the Dean’s Designee or the Hearing Board, whichever is appropriate. These documents shall be retained by the Faculty Advisor to the Honor Board and should also be included in the permanent Honor Board file. These records shall not be included in the Accused’s Law School Academic File, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. 

(g)  If the matter is referred for Administrative Review, the Accused may request a Board Hearing at any time before the earlier of five days after the Probable Cause Report is provided to the Accused or the start of the first meeting with the Dean’s Designee. 

4.3 Administrative Review

(a)  The Dean’s Designee shall meet with the Academic Dean, the Faculty Advisor and the Accused. The Accused may be represented by counsel or by a student selected by the Accused. The Accused may submit documents or other physical evidence and designate witnesses. The Dean’s Designee shall hear any available witnesses designated by the Accused and may decide to hear other witnesses. The Accused, or counsel for the Accused, may question witnesses and make a statement.

(b)  The Academic Dean and the Accused may agree to (i) the disposition, (ii) the sanction, or (iii) both the disposition and the sanction. 

An agreement to a sanction only does not constitute an admission of a violation by the Accused, proof of a violation, or a finding of a violation. If the Dean’s Designee does not approve an agreement, the Charge Panel and Accused may submit another agreement to the Dean’s Designee for approval. If the Dean’s Designee approves an agreement, the matter shall be terminated in accord with the agreement. 

(c)  If there is no agreement or the Dean’s Designee does not approve an agreement, the Dean’s Designee shall decide whether any charged violation has been proven by clear and convincing evidence. If the Dean’s Designee finds there was a violation of the Code, the Dean’s Designee may impose a sanction under § 5.2.

(d)  The Dean’s Designee shall provide a written Disposition Report to the Dean, the Board, the Faculty Advisor and the Accused. The Disposition Report shall be retained in the Accused’s Law School Academic File and in the permanent Honor Board file. 

(e)  After the Disposition Report has been provided in accordance with section 4.3(d), the Dean’s Designee shall post a notice on the Law School bulletin board that sets forth the date of the administrative review meeting, the alleged violation, and the disposition. The notice shall not disclose the identity of the Accused. 

(f)   The determination of the Dean’s Designee is final.

4.4  Hearing Board.  The hearing shall be conducted before Hearing Board consisting of three members of the Honor Board appointed by the Chairperson and three members of the Faculty appointed by the Dean. The members of the Hearing Board shall select a member as the Hearing Chairperson and another as reporter.

4.5  Hearing Board Procedure

(a)  The Hearing Board shall ascertain the availability of the witnesses and counsel and schedule the hearing, to the extent reasonably possible, to accommodate both the witnesses and counsel.

(b)  The Hearing Chairperson shall preside over the hearing.

(c)  Only members of the Hearing Board who are present for all of the hearing may participate in Board deliberations and vote on whether a violation has been established. A hearing may begin if four members of the Hearing Board are present. The Hearing Chairperson shall recess and reschedule a hearing if only three or fewer members of the Hearing Board are present at any time during the hearing. If a Hearing Board is unable to proceed promptly with a hearing, the Chairperson shall notify the Dean and the Dean may direct that a new Hearing Board be appointed.

(d)  A member of the Charge Panel shall be selected to be the Prosecutor, and another member may be selected to assist the Prosecutor. The Prosecutor shall notify all witnesses who have already been identified, as well as any person designated as a witness by the Accused, of the date, time, and place of the hearing and provide the names of these witnesses to the Hearing Board and the Accused.

(e)  The Accused may retain counsel. If requested, the Honor Board shall assist the Accused in obtaining the assistance of another Student to act as counsel. The Accused shall, promptly after selecting counsel, notify the Hearing Chairperson and the Prosecutor who will be counsel for the Accused.

(f)   The Accused and counsel have the right to be present at all times during the hearing. The Accused may testify or remain silent.

(g)  The party calling the witness shall first conduct direct examination and then the opposing party may conduct cross examination. Members of the Hearing Board may question a witness during the course of the examination.

(h)  The Hearing Board is not bound by the formal rules of evidence. Evidence may be admitted by the Hearing Chairperson based on relevance and fairness.

(i)   The Hearing Board may request the Accused to testify or produce evidence. If the Accused declines to testify or to produce evidence as requested by the Hearing Board, the Hearing Board may draw an adverse inference against the Accused on the issue of whether the Accused violated the Code and, if appropriate, when imposing a sanction.

(j)   The Prosecutor, the Accused, and the Accused’s counsel may make a closing statement.

(k)  The hearing shall be recorded. The Hearing Board’s deliberations shall not be recorded. The recording shall be destroyed upon final disposition of the case.

4.6  Hearing Board Findings.

(a)  The Hearing Board shall determine by majority vote whether the factual elements of each alleged violation were established by clear and convincing evidence.

(b)  If the Hearing Board finds there was no violation, it shall dismiss the charge and promptly notify in writing the Accused, the Prosecutor, the Dean, and the Board. The notice of dismissal shall be retained in the Accused’s Law School Academic File and in the permanent Honor Board file.

(c)  If the Hearing Board finds that an alleged violation has been committed, the Accused may address, personally and by counsel, the issue of sanction. The Prosecutor may also address the issue of sanction. The Hearing Board shall determine by majority vote the sanction(s) for the violation.

(d)  The Hearing Board shall submit a written Hearing Board Report which shall include: (1) a reasonably detailed summary of testimony given at the hearing; (2) the Hearing Board’s findings of fact; and (3) a statement of the sanction imposed. The votes of individual members of the Hearing Board shall not be disclosed, but a member’s separate statement shall be included in the Hearing Board Report.

(e)  The Hearing Board shall provide copies of the Hearing Board Report to the Accused, the Dean, the Board, the Prosecutor, and the Faculty Advisor. The Hearing Board Report shall be retained in the Accused’s Law School Academic File and in the permanent Honor Board file.

(f)   If the sanction imposed by the Hearing Board is suspension or expulsion, the Hearing Chairperson shall advise the Accused and counsel for the Accused in writing of the Accused’s right to request Faculty Review pursuant to Chapter Six.

(g)  After the Hearing Board Report has been provided in accordance with section 4.6(e), the Chairperson shall post a notice on the Law School bulletin board that sets forth the date of the hearing, the alleged violation, and the Hearing Board’s disposition of the case. The notice shall not disclose the identity of the Accused.

Chapter Five: Sanction for Violation

5.1  Factors in Selecting Sanction. In choosing a sanction, the Dean’s Designee or the Hearing Board may consider any relevant information and shall consider:

 (a) the nature and seriousness of the violation, including the degree of potential harm which the violation posed to the academic integrity of the Law School community;

(b)  the circumstances of the violation; including any aggravating or mitigating factors;

(c)  the need to uphold and promote respect for the Code and to deter future violation by the Accused and others;

(d)  whether a sanction will reconcile the Accused with the Law School community;

(e)  whether the Accused reported the violation to the Board, and, if so, when the report was made;

(f)   the extent to which the Accused cooperated and was forthright during the investigation and Administrative Review, and whether the Accused declined, after a request by the Hearing Board, to testify or produce evidence;

(g)  any comments of the Accused and counsel for the Accused relevant to the question of sanction; and

(h)  whether or not the Accused gained, or acted with the intent to gain, academic advantage or benefit by the violation.

5.2  Sanctions Imposed by Either the Dean’s Designee or a Hearing Board.  The Dean’s Designee or a Hearing Board, upon finding of a violation of the Code, may impose a sanction or sanctions, including, but not limited to:

(a)  compensatory damages or restitution;

(b)  a reprimand to be included in the Accused’s Law School Academic File or noted on the Accused’s transcript, or both;

(c)  a reprimand not to be included in the Accused’s Law School Academic File or noted on the Accused’s academic transcript;

(d)  suspension or denial of library or other Law School privileges or offices;

(e)  dismissal from the journal, board, or other activity to which the violation related;

(f)   denial of credit for a course;

(g)  an incomplete grade with or without the opportunity to retake the examination, take the next scheduled examination, or to redo the work involved;

(h)  appropriate compulsory service to the Law School community;

5.3  Sanctions Imposed Only by a Hearing Board.  A Hearing Board, upon a finding of violation of the Code, may impose the sanction of suspension or expulsion.

5.4  Length of Sanction.  The Dean’s Designee or the Hearing Board may impose any sanction on a probationary or temporary basis.

Chapter Six: Review of Hearing Board Decisions

6.1  Faculty Review of Suspension and Expulsion.  The Hearing Board’s decision is final, except that, if the Hearing Board imposes the sanction of suspension or expulsion, the Faculty shall review the Hearing Board’s decision on petition of the Accused. A petition for review by the Faculty shall state with specificity the grounds for review and must be filed with the Dean within five school days of delivery of the Hearing Board’s Report to the Accused.

6.2  Disqualification.  The Faculty Advisor and the members of the Faculty who served as members of the Hearing Board that heard the case that is the subject of Faculty review shall not attend or participate in the Faculty’s review of the case.

6.3  Record.  The record on review by the Faculty is (1) all reports and other material delivered to the Hearing Board under section 4.2(e); (2) the recording of the hearing before the Hearing board and any exhibits from the hearing; and (3) the Hearing Board Report.

6.4  Right to Address Faculty.  The Accused, counsel for the Accused, or a Student representing the Accused may address the Faculty. A member of the Charge Panel may address the Faculty.

6.5  Standard of Review.  The Faculty shall approve the Hearing Board’s Report, including the sanction imposed, unless a factual finding or findings are clearly erroneous, the Hearing Board’s interpretation of the Code or a published rule governing examinations or an academic activity is erroneous, or the Hearing Board clearly abused its discretion in a manner prejudicial to the substantial rights of the Accused.

6.6  Remand.  If the Faculty, by a majority vote, disapproves the Hearing Board’s Report or any part of that report, the Faculty may remand the matter to the Hearing Board for further proceedings, or may consider and dispose of the matter either on the record before the Faculty or after the conclusion of any additional proceedings which the Faculty determines are appropriate under the circumstances of the case.

6.7  Proceedings on Remand.  If the matter is remanded to the Hearing Board for further proceedings, the Faculty shall provide the Hearing Board and the Accused with a written statement of the reasons for the remand and whether and how the record should be supplemented.

6.8  Disposition: Notice and Publication.  The Faculty shall provide a written statement of its disposition of the case to the Accused, the Honor Board, the Hearing Board, and the Faculty Advisor. The statement of disposition shall be retained in the Accused’s Law School Academic File and in the permanent Honor Board file. Notice of the Faculty’s disposition shall be posted on the Law School bulletin board in the same manner and form as provided in section 4.3(e).

Chapter Seven: Periodic Reporting

7.1  Faculty Advisor Report.  The Faculty Advisor shall report to the Faculty and Board from time to time on the operation of the Code but shall not disclose the identity of Accused persons.

Chapter Eight: Confidentiality

8.1  All Proceedings Confidential.  All proceedings under the Code are confidential and may be disclosed only as provided by this Code, as reasonably necessary in the administration of the Law School or University, and as required by law.

Office of Academic Success Programs

Matthew Carluzzo, Assistant Dean of Students & Academic Success
Rebecca Scalio, Associate Director of Academic Success

The Office of Academic Success Programs provides services to students through an academic mentor program, study skills seminars, instructional materials, one-on-one meetings, and an informational website. For guidance regarding grades and studying in general, students are encouraged to contact Matt or Rebecca.

Book an appointment with Matt

Office of Financial Aid 

Kristina Wilhelm-Nelson, Director of Financial Aid
Jennifer Wong, Associate Director of Financial Aid
Christopher Nicholson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid

Office of the Registrar

Susan Mesick, Registrar
Patty Trask, Assistant Registrar

Office of Student Affairs

Nancy Whalen, Director of Student Affairs & Wellbeing

The Office of Student Affairs is dedicated to assisting law students make the most of their experience at Villanova. Nancy provides counseling to students and provides leadership and support to the Student Bar Association.

Campus Minister, Father Aldo Potencio

Father Aldo is an Augustinian friar who is available for spiritual counseling and confessions. His office is in the Student Services Suite and he can be reached at aldo.potencio@villanova.edu.

Director of Experiential Learning, Matthew McGovern

Matt manages the Law School’s Externship Program and teaches the classroom component of the judicial and non-judicial externship courses.

Student Services Administrator, Emmy Bebee

Emmy provides support to the offices within the Student Services Suite and assists with event planning. She can be reached at emelia.bebee@law.villanova.edu. 

The Office of Academic Success Programs is designed to help students achieve academic success in law school. The Office of Academic Success Programs provides services to students through study skills seminars, structured study groups led by upper class students, instructional materials, one-on-one meetings, Bar preparation, and an informational web page. See Academic Rule 15 regarding the Academic Success Program.

Campus Ministry engages in every aspect of University life and addresses the spiritual needs of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, including the Law School. Retreats, sacraments, worship, prayer, spiritual direction and opportunities for service and advocacy are all offered throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more or finding out how you can get involved in Campus Ministry, contact Fr. Aldo Potencio, OSA (aldo.potencio@villanova.edu , 610-519-6261).

Sunday Masses are typically celebrated at 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., as well as 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church.  There is a Saturday evening vigil Mass celebrated in Corr Chapel in Spanish at 5:30 PM.  Daily Mass is celebrated at 12:05 p.m. every day that the University is open and 5:30 p.m. when classes are in session in Corr Chapel. Students, faculty, and staff serve as Liturgical Ministers and Pastoral Musicians. Mass is also celebrated in the Law School Chapel at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday when classes are in session. For updated information on liturgy times, please visit the Campus Ministry Website campusministry.villanova.edu. To learn more about Catholic worship or to get involved, contact Mat Verghese (mathew.verghese@villanova.edu).

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m., and Thursdays 8-9 p.m. We will also have the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Law School Chapel on Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 p.m. or by appointment: please contact Fr. Aldo Potencio, OSA (aldo.potencio@villanova.edu).

Campus Ministry seeks to support students of all faith traditions through on-campus programming and partnerships with our neighbors.  During the academic year, students of diverse Christian backgrounds have opportunities to pray, study and serve with groups like Intervarsity, Young Life, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and more. Jewish students gather with friends in Hillel for Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations. Muslim Jummah Prayers are held Fridays at 1:30 p.m. in the Prayer Room in John Barry Hall and are open to the community. There are also many churches, synagogues, masjids, and other houses of worship in the Villanova area, with which Campus Ministry can help you to connect. Contact Rev. Julie Sheetz, Campus Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Outreach, to explore interfaith opportunities and for further information (julia.sheetz@villanova.edu, 610-519-4085)

The Room for Interfaith Prayer and Meditation is located in Room L04 on the Lower Level of the Law School. This quiet space is available for individual or small group prayer. Please feel free to use as needed. For regular use or to ensure specific times, the room may be reserved by contacting emelia.bebee@law.villanova.edu.

The Office of Career Strategy and Advancement provides information on full-time and part-time law related jobs and career counseling to Villanova Law students and graduates. Students who wish to participate in programs sponsored by the Office are required to comply with all policies and requirements issued by that Office. Policies are posted on the Career Strategy Blackboard site and are available in the Office. Failure to comply with these policies and requirements may result in revocation of all on-campus interviewing privileges and access to other Career Strategy services and programs.

Work-study jobs require special application forms which are available through the Financial Aid Office.

Part-time employment during the school term should be undertaken with great care since the study of law requires a full-time commitment. This is particularly important for first-year students, who are strongly discouraged from working during their first year, even in a part-time capacity.

During the second and third year, absent special circumstances, Villanova law students are discouraged from engaging in employment for more than 20 hours per week in any week in which the student is enrolled for more than twelve credits.

Employment does not constitute an excusable absence from class attendance.

Résumé and Grade Report Accuracy: Students must make certain that all information, particularly grade information, contained in all job application materials is accurate. With respect to grades, grade point average must not be rounded up, and must be reported as it appears on the transcript. Intentionally supplying incorrect information would be an unethical practice. Unintentional inaccuracies reflect poorly upon the individual student as well as all Villanova students and the Law School. Even rare and isolated instances harm the entire community. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken should inaccurate information be discovered on a student’s résumé and other job application materials.

Counseling

The Director of Student Affairs and Wellbeing is a trained counselor who is available for law students who are experiencing personal problems. The University Counseling Center (located in the Health Services Building) provides short term confidential counseling for all Villanova students.

Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center provides services that help students function optimally with regard to emotional, academic, social and psychological issues. The staff is experienced in supporting students through the normal developmental challenges of their current life stage. For students who encounter a more difficult condition such as depression, anxiety, panic, or disordered eating, the staff is also experienced in diagnosis, crisis intervention, and treatment. For students who need longer term or more intensive treatment, the Counseling Center helps find appropriate referrals off campus.  Services are available to all students currently taking classes toward a degree, including all law students. All services are free of charge to current students.

To make an appointment, students should call the Center at 610-519-4050.  All contacts with the Counseling Center are confidential, except in situations where laws or ethics require notification of a third party.

The Counseling Center provides individual personal counseling, referrals, consultations, and educational programs, see the Counseling Center’s website.

The Student Health Center is located on the third floor of the Health Services Building. Visits to the Student Health Center are covered under the Health and Wellness fee (each semester) incurred by full-time Undergraduate and Law Students. Students are financially responsible for the costs of any laboratory tests, some over-the-counter medications, and all prescription medications. The Student Health Center does not bill insurance companies, nor does the Student Health Center operate as a pharmacy. Students who incur charges at the Student Health Center may request reimbursement from their insurance company.

The Student Health Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the academic school year. Exceptions include holidays and scheduled breaks. Summer hours are generally 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. – noon  on Fridays.

Please call the Student Health Center at 610-519-4070 with any questions regarding hours of operation, services available, or to schedule an appointment.

The Student Health Center provides a variety of services including immunizations, allergy shots, women’s health services, and referrals to off-campus specialists.

The Office of Student Affairs and Wellbeing provides a broad range of support services to law students, including on-site counseling and referrals to campus resources. The Student Affairs Office provides leadership and support to the Student Bar Association and other student organizations, and collaborates with a variety of University offices to provide a wide range of programs to help Villanova Law students develop personally and professionally. The office is dedicated to law student wellbeing and assisting students in personal and emotional challenges they may encounter that affect their law school experience. Nancy Whalen, Director of Student Affairs and Wellbeing, can be reached at whalen@law.villanova.edu and her office is located in the Student Service Suite, Room 178.

The Administration has adopted an alcohol policy applicable to student events. The Alcohol Policy is coordinated by the Director of Student Affairs. This policy applies to the Journals, Moot Court, SBA, and all recognized student organizations (each, a “Student Organization”).

Part I: Policy

The Alcohol Policy has been established in an effort to balance the interests of students and those of the Law School community and to encourage responsible decisions about alcohol. Therefore, Law School funds, including the Student Activity Fee Fund administered by the Student Bar Association (SBA), shall not be used to purchase alcohol to be served at any event, except for event authorized by the Dean or the Dean’s designee (as described below in this Part I) and the “Authorized Events” (listed below in Part II).

On Campus Events:

Student Organizations may organize on- campus events at which alcohol may be served to students, provided that the events are approved by the Dean or the Dean’s designee and shall be subject to the requirements listed below.

1. The sponsoring group must submit to the Director of Student Affairs the Alcohol Event Form attached hereto as Appendix A no less than 3 weeks in advance of the proposed event. Failure to timely request approval for any event may result in rejection of the request. Any questions regarding these requirements should be raised with the Director of Student Affairs.
2. The Student Organization’s faculty advisor is aware of the request and approves of the event.
3. Organizations sponsoring events on-campus (in the law school building or grounds) must work with the Director of Events to ensure that the manner in which alcohol is served and liability issues are properly addressed by the vendor. The selection of vendor to serve the alcohol at student organization events in the law school building must be approved by and is at the discretion of the Director of Events, and must be either University Catering or a vendor approved by the University.
4. No alcohol may be served or consumed outside of the approved venue in the law school building, including, without limitation, in any classroom.

Off campus events:

Student Organizations may organize off-campus events at which alcohol may be served to students provided the event is approved by the Dean or the Dean’s designee and shall be subject to the requirements listed below.

1. The sponsoring group must submit to the Director of Student Affairs the Alcohol Event Form no less than 3 weeks in advance. Failure to timely request approval for any event may result in rejection of the request. Any questions regarding these requirements should be raised with the Director of Student Affairs.

2. The Student Organization’s faculty advisor is aware of the request and approves of the event.
3. The fully executed and completed Insurance and Indemnification Statement, Vendor Checklist, Certificate of Insurance, and copy of the Liquor License in form and substance satisfactory to the University Office of Insurance and Risk Management, must be submitted electronically to the Director of Student Affairs no less than 2 weeks prior to the date of the event. Many times certificates of insurance need to be revised to evidence our insurance requirements. Because the venue will need time to review and complete, student groups are reminded to allow enough time in their planning to meet the deadlines required for approval.
4. Student Organizations shall not advertise any event before receiving event approval from the Director of Student Affairs and all required documentation from (c) has been submitted.

Part II: Schedule of Authorized Events:

The following list of Student Organization events have been presumptively approved and may serve alcohol provided that the requirements of Part I are satisfied:

1. Barristers Ball; and
2. Public Interest Auction;

Part III: Travel reimbursement

Law School funds shall not be used to purchase alcohol or reimburse students for the purchase of alcohol in connection with law school-funded student travel.

The rules for admission to the bar differ greatly from state to state. Some states require applicants for the bar examination to register with the bar examiners at the time they begin their law studies, and to take certain courses while in law school. Some states, including Pennsylvania, require additional examinations (such as the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam or MPRE) which are given on dates other than the usual bar examination dates. Students assume responsibility to know and to comply with these bar requirements and should contact the appropriate bar examiners directly. Students must contact the bar examiners for the states they are interested in directly to obtain requirements, deadlines and other necessary information. Students are also advised that all jurisdictions impose character and fitness requirements, and that these differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students should inquire into these requirements early in their law school careers.

Please also note that students undertake a continuing duty to update their answers to the Law School application character and fitness questions (see below Candor and The Bar, and Candor and Disclosure to the Law School).

Candor and The Bar: Many jurisdictions verify bar applications and the criminal background checks that are routinely conducted in conjunction with bar admission against individual applicant’s law school applications to determine whether the applicant was fully candid and forthcoming in applying to law school. Dishonesty may pose an extremely serious obstacle to gaining admission to the practice of law. Students must be sure that they have been fully candid in their applications to Villanova. Contact the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success (deanofstudents@law.villanova.edu) if you think you might need to amend your application. 

Books assigned for the Law School’s course of study are available at the University Shop in Kennedy Hall. Information will be available on the Registrar’s website. Instructors’ materials (course packets) are available through the University’s Graphic Services department. Information on ordering and pickup is available on the Registrar’s website. The University Shop offers in-store and online purchasing, book rentals, and a 5% discount on in-store purchases when you pay with your Wildcard. Visit the University Bookstore website for hours and other information.

A notice posting area, where student organizations and miscellaneous notices may be posted, is located on the ground floor in the locker area. Student groups may display posters, notices, and flyers on the bulletin boards only, not on walls, doors, windows, or painted surfaces anywhere in the building. The organization posting the notice must remove it immediately after the event.

The Law School reserves the right to remove all postings that are not dated and approved, or do not comply with the University’s non-solicitation policy.

All individuals or groups posting notices on the bulletin boards are asked to kindly use pushpins rather than staples on the bulletin boards. To reduce clutter, groups are asked to please remove outdated postings from bulletin boards and not post multiple copies of the same announcement. Please do not cover, deface or take down anyone else’s posting.

In signing the Villanova Law School application, every applicant certifies that all information included is complete and accurate. Further, every applicant undertakes a continuing duty to update the information asked in the character and fitness questions of the application (regarding academic and disciplinary actions in academic institutions, criminal charges, and dismissals from employment, etc.). Admitted students also undertake an ongoing duty to update the information requested in these questions. Thus, every student must promptly notify the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success (deanofstudents@law.villanova.edu) by email if any incidents occur or information develops after submission of the student’s application, including while in attendance at the Law School, that would be responsive to these character and fitness questions.

In addition, if the student believes they did not include something on their original application that should have been disclosed, the student must promptly notify the Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success. If you are unsure as to whether or not you should disclose something, you should discuss the matter with the Assistant Dean. The Assistant Dean may impose a community service obligation, require counseling, or other stipulations as a condition of accepting the disclosure.

Please note that many bar examiners request copies of applicants’ law school applications and match these against the background checks that are conducted in conjunction with bar application. Discrepancies will create significant problems for students seeking bar admission and may have serious consequences with respect to students’ status at the Law School.

In accordance with PA Board of Law Examiners Rules 321-322, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law will certify law students who meet the requirements of Rule 321 and are enrolled in a Law School clinical program or are serving as interns with governmental or nonprofit agencies.

To receive certification under Pennsylvania Rules, the student must complete the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners’ Application for Rule 321 and 322 which can be accessed online at the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners website. The completed form must then be turned in to the Office of Academic Affairs. The Law School also requires the name and attorney number of the attorney who will supervise the student.

Students seeking certification under another Jurisdiction’s rules must follow this procedure and provide a current copy of that state’s certification rules to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Any student of Villanova University who has responsibility for a child as an integral part of a program, activity or service sponsored by the University or comes into direct contact with a child as part of their employment with Villanova, and has reason to believe that the child has been subjected to child abuse, must report the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (“DHS”) toll-free ChildLine at (800) 932-0313. A child is any individual under age 18. Proof that abuse or neglect occurred is not required, and any uncertainty about whether to report suspected abuse or neglect should be resolved in favor of making a report. Within 48 hours of making a verbal report, the student must follow up with a written report to DHS or the county agency assigned to the case and provide a copy of the report submitted to DHS to the University’s Public Safety Director and Chief of Police (610-519-6982; david.tedjeske@villanova.edu) or, in his absence, the Executive Vice President (610-519-4532; roger.demareski@villanova.edu). For additional information regarding what is meant by “child abuse” and the obligation to report child abuse, see the University’s Child Abuse Reporting Policy (the “Policy”) on the University website or contact the University’s Public Safety Director and Chief of Police (610-519-6982; david.tedjeske@villanova.edu).

The use of classroom technology, including lectern computers and control panels, is restricted to Law School faculty and staff, or individuals who have been trained by Academic Computing staff. Wired lecterns may not be moved, rotated, disconnected, or otherwise adjusted by anyone except Academic Computing staff or individuals under the supervision of Academic Computing staff, including student workers serving as representatives of the Academic Computing department.

Computer Facilities

Lexis provides two small printers to which students may print from Lexis only at no charge. They are located in the Library’s second floor copy room. Report problems with the Lexis printers at the Circulation Desk or circulation@law.villanova.edu.

Computers in Class

Students are not required to have laptop computers when coming to Villanova Law; however, many students use laptop computers for taking notes in classes and for Law School exams. Seats in the Law School’s classrooms, seminar rooms and court rooms are wired with AC power outlets for students to plug in their laptop computers. Some professors may not allow laptop use in their classes.

During class, computers should be used only for class-related activities.

Students should be aware that federal law prohibits copying or downloading copyrighted materials, such as computer programs or music files, without a license, unless doing so is a fair use under Federal guidelines.

Law students are able to take final exams on computer, see Computer Use During Exams in the Examinations section under the Academic Policies tab.

A. Reporting a Complaint: The Law School wishes to hear any student concerns about significant problems that directly implicate the school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA’s Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools. Any student having such a concern should submit it in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The complaint should state the facts that form the basis for the complaint and how the matter implicates the Law School’s program of legal education and its compliance with a specific identified ABA standard(s).

B. Resolving the Complaint: When a formal written complaint has been made in accordance with section A, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall investigate as soon as possible, but in no event later than 20 business days after the filing of the written complaint with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall attempt to resolve the complaint, if possible, within the 20 business day period. If resolution is not possible, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may refer the matter to the appropriate administrator, administrative body, or an administrative official designated by the Dean (the “Dean’s designate”).
If referral of the complaint is made as referenced above, the administrator, administrative body or Dean’s designate shall attempt to resolve the complaint as soon as possible, but in no event later than 20 business days after referral by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Upon completing the investigation of the complaint, the Law School shall communicate its findings and, if appropriate, its intended actions to the complainant.

C. Appeal Process: If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome or resolution, that individual has the right to appeal the decision. The complainant should submit his/her written comments in a timely manner to the Dean of the Law School, but in no case more than two weeks after communication to the complainant of the findings of the investigation. The Dean’s decision shall be communicated to the complainant and the investigator(s) within 20 business days and shall be final.

D. Maintaining a Written Record of the Complaint: The Law School shall maintain a complete written record of each complaint and how it was investigated and resolved. Written records shall be maintained in a confidential manner in the Office of Academic Affairs for seven years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.

E. Protection Against Retaliation: The Law School prohibits retaliation by a faculty member, administrator, staff employee, or student against any student who makes a complaint under this Policy.

F. Not Exclusive Complaint Policy or Procedure: The Villanova Law School Student Handbook contains separate Policies, including among others, those pertaining to sexual harassment or other discrimination complaints and complaints under the Academic Code of Student Conduct or Non-Academic Student Misconduct Hearing Procedure. Where more than one Policy may apply to the complaint, the Law School shall follow the Policy that it deems most appropriate to the situation.

Copyright

All University constituents must respect the rights of software developers and legally abide by federal and local intellectual property and copyright laws and comply with the University’s Copyright Policy.

Users who buy their own software agree to comply with all the provisions imposed by the software vendor in the software license agreement. Unless otherwise specified, the provisions ordinarily limit the user’s right to copy software or they define under which circumstances the software can be copied and the number of copies that can be made.

Unless noted otherwise, users are not permitted to copy software made available by the University to any other computer. Many agreements link software licenses to specific computers by serial number. In the event where a computer is replaced and the software is transferred to another computer, the software agreement needs to be changed accordingly.

All software used on all computers on campus must be properly licensed.

Intellectual Property

In the interest of advancing the scholarly activity of our community, promoting academic integrity, and supporting both individual and institutional interests, the University has established intellectual property policies which govern the recognition, disclosure, publication, and distribution of discoveries made in the normal course of activities at the University. Students, staff, and faculty are all protected and bound by these policies. Please consult the University’s Intellectual Property Policy, linked below, for more information.

Students must comply with all laws and University policy applicable to intellectual property. Intellectual property includes copyrights, patents and trademarks, which are further described in the policies at the link below and the following section titled "use of Name and Trademark."

Use of Name and Trademark

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design (or a combination of them) that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others. The University has registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office trademarks for a variety of the names (and nicknames) of the University as well as its logos, brands, seal, emblem and insignia. Students may not use their University status or the University’s name, trademarks, seal, emblem, insignia, or facilities including the Law School seal, logotype and insignias in any print, video or electronic announcement, advertising or promotional material, publication, correspondence or commercial which could in any fashion be construed as implying University endorsement of any product, project, service or activity. Exceptions to the general prohibition may be granted for students at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Life or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Law School, in consultation with the Vice President for Communications and the University’s Vice President and General Counsel. For all requests related to the creation of promotional materials (apparel, accessories, gifts) utilizing Law School or University marks (seal, logo), please refer to the Law School’s Licensing Guidelines, linked below.

The unauthorized copying, sharing or distribution of copyrighted material is strictly prohibited. It is a violation of federal law, the Copyright Act, and of the Policies of the Law School and the University. Students who infringe a copyright may be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Conduct, up to and including expulsion. For further information on the University policy and Villanova’s plan to combat copyright infringement visit Copyright Infringement and Illegal File Sharing.

The University encourages students to report criminal activity immediately to the Department of Public Safety. Public Safety officers are on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to reports of crimes on campus. There are several ways to contact Public Safety to report a crime:

• by calling 610-519-4444 to report a crime in progress;
• by visiting the Public Safety Department in Garey Hall;
• by activating a campus emergency phone;
• through the Department of Public Safety webpage. Crimes may be reported anonymously through the website.

Third-year students who are candidates for a degree must file intent to graduate/ diploma order forms with the Law School Registrar, setting forth the candidate’s name as it is to appear on the diploma together with the candidate’s undergraduate college, degrees received and years of receipt and other relevant information. This form must be filled out and returned before the deadline announced to assure the diploma will be ready. The University reserves the right to refuse to issue diplomas and bar certifications for students delinquent in financial and other obligations to the University.

The Policy on Drug Free Schools and Drug Free Workplace is the University’s response to federal legislation, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. It is distributed annually to all students, faculty, and staff in an effort to educate our community about the continuing commitment to achieve a drug-free environment and to provide effective resources for our community. For further information or for additional copies of the policy, see the Drug Free Schools & Drug Free Workplace Policy or contact the Department of Human Resources or the Dean of Students’ office.

Each student is assigned a Law School e-mail account and is required to check this account at least once each day. Faculty and the Administration use e-mail to communicate with students and to send official notices. Students are deemed to have knowledge of all communications from the Faculty and Administration which are sent to their Law School e-mail address. Additionally, various professors may have more specific requirements with respect to e-mail and Blackboard classrooms.

The Law School has adopted an e-mail policy which is posted on the Law School website under Technology Services. Students using the Law School’s e-mail system must comply with this policy and the University’s policies available via the UNIT website.

Students may not send mass emails to the entire Law School. Mass e-mail from student organizations must be sent through the SBA or the group’s faculty advisor in accordance with the mass e-mail policy listed in the Student Organizations Handbook.

Law students are required to complete the Emergency Contact Information form through NOVASIS. This information will be kept on file with the Registrar.

The University has a detailed emergency plan and representatives from the Law School serve on the University’s Emergency Response Committee. The full text of the University Preparedness Plan is available on the Villanova University web site. Questions regarding the Plan or the Committee should be directed to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration.

An escort is available for students leaving the building late. Call Public Safety at 610-519-6979.

Student organizations, staff, and faculty members planning events which involve food or outside vendors must work with the Law School’s Student Services Administrator, Emmy Bebee. Students must meet with Ms. Bebee at least two weeks prior to the event. She can be reached at 610-519-5576, emelia.bebee@law.villanova.edu, or in the Student Services Suite.

The Director of Operations, Joseph Mariani, has overall responsibility for the building and facilities. For minor housekeeping, maintenance, and facilities issues, please contact Mr. Mariani at mariani@law.villanova.edu or 610-519-3111.

Information about all types of financial aid, including scholarships, loans, and work-study is available in the Financial Aid section of the Law School’s website. In addition, you will also find instructions on applying for financial aid, relevant expenses for attending law school and other information that should be of interest to financial aid applicants.

In order to protect the safety of all students, faculty, and staff, when a fire alarm sounds everyone must evacuate the building immediately and wait outside the building until instructed to return.

Food and drinks are permitted throughout the Law School building. Please do use care with what kinds of food you take outside the Blank Rome LLP Dining Room.

The Blank Rome Dining Room is a full-service cafeteria. Hours of operation will be posted. The Law School also operates a Coffee Bar outside the Library near the Goldberg Commons. A microwave, sink, refrigerator, and vending machines are located in the locker room.

Organizations planning events that involve catering must work through the Student Services Administrator, see Events above.

From time to time, the Law School may issue special directives regarding food products that could be hazardous to community members with severe allergies.

All law students are required to have health insurance coverage throughout their term of enrollment at Villanova.  Health insurance is mandatory for all domestic, undergraduate matriculated students, all international students, and all law school students.  Student must either enroll in the school sponsored plan or waive out of the University sponsored plan by showing proof of comparable coverage.  Failure to waive out of the University sponsored plan will result in automatic enrollment and billing for the University plan at the beginning of the school year. For more information regarding the school sponsored plan, and the enrollment/waiver process, please visit the website www.firststudent.com.

The University has established a Hotline administered by EthicsPoint, a third party provider, available 24/7 to report concerns on an anonymous basis. The Hotline allows a student or employee to report any instance of misconduct in the academic or workplace setting, such as fraud, mismanagement of funds or other violation of law or University or Law School policy. The Hotline, administered by EthicsPoint, also provides a student or employee anonymous reporting options for complaints involving the violation of the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy. 

The Law School administrative offices are typically open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except as otherwise posted. The offices are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. During the summer months, the offices are open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and closed on Fridays.

The Law School building is accessible 24 hours, seven days a week. After 7:00 p.m., students must swipe their Wildcard for entrance to the building. There is a separate swipe card reader for the library and coffee bar at the double doors at the rear of the Goldberg Commons. All entrances are locked between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; classrooms open at 7:00 a.m. and lock at 10:00 p.m. On weekends and holidays the building is open only to the Law School community via Wildcard swipe. These hours are subject to change during the summer, holiday breaks, or as deemed appropriate by the Law School Administration.

Housing information is available from the Admissions Office and is posted online. Other notices about housing are posted on the bulletin board located in the locker room on the ground floor. The University makes no representations with regard to the housing or those providing it. 

Visit the Villanova University Off-Campus Housing Website for more information about off-campus housing.

Students must obtain University-issued Villanova Law Student Identification Cards (Wildcards) which are required for numerous Law School and campus services, including printing/photocopying and after-hours access to the Law School building and Library. Replacement ID cards can be obtained for $30.00 from the Wildcard Office, Dougherty Hall, 610-519-4179.

The Wildcard also serves as a debit card for purchases on campus and with some community merchants. It is accepted at the Law School Blank Rome LLP Dining Room and Coffee Bar. The University Bookstore offers a 5% discount when the Wildcard is used to pay for purchases.

For more information visit the  Wildcard website.

Money can be added to a student’s Wildcard account at the Wildcard Office in Dougherty Hall and through the Wildcard Services website using a Mastercard, Visa, or Discover card, or through ACH or echeck transfers.

Villanova University is committed to upholding the highest standards of honest behavior, ethical conduct and fiduciary responsibility with respect to University funds, resources and property. The University also expects members of the University community to comply with all state, local and federal statutes, rules and regulations when conducting University business. To that end, the University prohibits and does not tolerate illegal, dishonest, or fraudulent conduct of any nature. All members of the University community are expected to uphold this policy. Violation of this Policy by students will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.

Complaint Procedure, Investigation and Corrective Action

The University encourages any person who believes that an incident of illegal, dishonest or fraudulent conduct has been committed to report the incident immediately in accordance with the Complaint Procedure outlined in the Policy. The University has also established a hotline for reporting concerns on an anonymous basis at any time. The Hotline is provided through EthicsPoint, a third party provider, and can be accessed online or 1-855-236-1443. See also Hotline in this Handbook.

Retaliation Prohibited

The University prohibits and does not tolerate retaliation against any individual who files a complaint of illegal, dishonest or fraudulent conduct; is involved as a witness or participant in the complaint or investigation process; or refuses to engage in illegal, dishonest or fraudulent conduct.

For more information, view the full Policy Prohibiting Illegal, Dishonest, or Fraudulent Conduct.

Law Library Study Space Access: Evenings and Weekends

Extended access to the Law Library is available to Villanova Law Students by swiping their Wildcard at the building main entrance AND then at the law library entrance, the double-doors at the back corner of the Goldberg Commons. Law Library access may be limited during holidays, semester breaks, the summer, and examination periods. Information on changes to access hours is available at the Circulation Desk.

Law Library Service Hours

Law Library Reference Librarians are available throughout the week and by appointment on evenings and weekends. Drop-ins are welcomed. For assistance, ask at the Circulation Desk or email reference@law.villanova.edu.

The Law Library Circulation/Reserve Desk is staffed as follows when classes are in session:

     Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM

     Friday 8:30 AM - 6 PM

     Saturday 11 AM - 6:30 PM

     Sunday 1 PM - 8:30 PM

Law Library Policies

The collection in the Law Library is primarily a research collection for students and faculty. Therefore, circulation privileges are limited to the law school community. Use the library catalog to find books. You may then retrieve them yourself and bring to the Circulation Desk to check out OR complete the Request a Book form on the Law Library’s website. You will receive an email with instructions for picking up the requested books in 48-96 hours. Please note due dates. Books on Reserve may be checked out for two hours and are for in-building use only. 

The Law Library is for the use of all members of the Law School community. The successful sharing of the Law Library’s resources depends on cooperation among its users. Students are expected to return materials by the due date and to respond to email and other communications from library staff. Students with outstanding materials will have borrowing privileges suspended and holds placed on their accounts by the Registrar. Please see the Law Library Conduct Policy for additional information about the expectations for and limitations on use of the library and its materials by the community and visitors.

University Library (Falvey)

University Library databases and services are available to law students. Check the Falvey Library webpage for their resources and hours. Note that law student interlibrary loan requests must be submitted through the Law Library, not Falvey.

Lockers are available to all law students. The locker room is located on the ground floor, down the hall from the Blank Rome LLP Dining Room.

The Law School is transitioning to a self-service locker system. For the 2024-25 academic year, second- and third-year students will keep their current locker assignments. First-year students will sign up for a locker at Orientation. Second- and third-year students who want to change lockers or have forgotten their combination should contact Cheryl Baro, Financial and Operations Coordinator, at baro@law.villanova.edu. Mechanical problems with lockers should be reported to Joe Mariani, Director of Operations, at mariani@law.villanova.edu.

Locks must be removed and lockers emptied at the end of each academic year. Any locks remaining on the lockers at the end of the school year will be removed, and those students will need to supply their own locks for the next year.

Lost articles may be temporarily held at the Library Circulation Desk. Items that are unclaimed are forwarded to the University’s Lost and Found managed by the Department of Public Safety. They are located in Garey Hall (call 610-519-6979 for direct contact with their Lost and Found desk).

Student mail, packages, and faxes should be addressed to student residences, not to the Law School.

A US Postal Service drop box is located at the train station. A UPS drop box is located inside the Law School parking garage.

The Law School is committed to the belief that “with respect to the fundamental rights of the person, every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, color, social condition, language, or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent” (Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes No. 29). Therefore, the Law School admits students of any race, color, age, sex, religion or creed, or national/ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available at the Law School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion or creed, national/ethnic origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including identity and expression), or disability in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic, and other Law School programs, or in its employment policies.

Title IX Notice

Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policies and Procedures

The following Law School staff members are Notaries Public:

Cheryl Baro, Financial & Operations Coordinator, Room 141

Andrea Meals, Senior Paralegal, Clinical Programs Office, Room 120

These staff members are generally available during regular business hours; however you must be prepared to make an appointment. There may be times when appointments may not be readily available. Accordingly, please plan well in advance of any deadline. All persons whose signatures are to be notarized must be present and have a photo ID.

The University Public Safety Department supervises all parking areas. Students wishing to use these facilities must register their vehicles with Public Safety. Beginning with Fall 2019 physical hangtags will not be issued. The parking office will be using license plate recognition (LPR) to monitor parking areas. LPR cameras mounted on parking enforcement vehicles will automatically scan license plates of parked cars and alert the enforcement officer to potential violations. The use of this technology will result in faster and more frequent checks of lots throughout the day. This technology requires all vehicle license plates to be visible to the parking enforcement vehicles. To register vehicles or for questions or concerns, please visit the Parking Office website.

Student parking is available in the parking garage (S4) or in the surface lot (S5) in front of the main entrance to the Law School building. Vehicles parked in faculty, staff, reserved or other unauthorized places are subject to fines and may be towed. Owners must make arrangements and pay costs to retrieve towed vehicles. Parking restrictions on the use of reserved areas apply at all times including evenings and weekends. For information, contact the University Public Safety Department at 610-519-6990. The Associate Dean for Finance, Administration and Strategy serves as liaison with the University Parking and Public Safety offices. Visitor parking passes may be obtained from the Library Circulation Desk in advance for the following day.

Romantic and sexual relations between a member of the faculty at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (tenured, tenure-track, non-tenure track, visiting, and adjunct faculty, as well as teaching fellows) and a student currently enrolled at the Law School, who do not have a pre-existing marital or other analogous relationship, violates the faculty member’s ethical obligation under his or her employment agreement with Villanova University. Please consult the University’s Personal Relationships Policy for more information. This policy applies to all faculty members, staff members, and student assistants of Villanova University. Student assistants are not permitted to have sexual or romantic relations with students who are enrolled in their classes or over whom they exercise any other type of supervision or judgment. The prohibition against romantic or sexual relationships with other students who are graduate students, majors, minors, or concentrators in their department or program does not apply unless the student assistants have some supervisory relationship to those students. Otherwise, the same principles apply to student assistants as apply to faculty members.

In keeping with University policy, pets are not permitted in the Law School building. Service dogs are permitted. Emotional Support Animals are subject to the University’s Emotional Support Animal Policy.

Phones should be turned off in classes, lectures, meetings, and other presentations. If a pressing emergency requires a cell phone to be on, it must be a silent signal, and the individual must exit the room to take the emergency call. Please also be considerate of others when using phones in and around the building, being especially aware of how distracting loud conversations can be to others attempting to work or study. Avoid engaging in conversations outside classrooms, offices and in or near the library.

Students may not possess mobile phones of any type nor other electronic devices of any kind during examinations unless their use is explicitly approved in the examination regulations/ materials permitted. Students will be required to leave all such devices at the front of the examination room and may claim them after the examination is over. When examination regulations/materials permitted specify that the use of a hand held calculator is permitted, this refers to a non-memory basic mathematical calculator only.

Wildcard-operated photocopiers with fax capability are located at the end of all three floors of the Law School, at the end of the Cafeteria corridor and throughout the Library. For related information on printing, please refer to Computers under the General Information C tab in this Handbook.

Students attend many events on campus and off campus, including educational, athletic and social events at which photographs or video recordings may be taken by or on behalf of University or Law School personnel or by other students or unaffiliated third parties. Attendance at such an event is deemed to constitute consent by and on behalf of the student to the use of the student’s image, voice or likeness in any live or recorded transmission or photographic reproduction of such event in any media, for any purpose whatsoever, including the commercial purposes of the University, the Law School, its sponsors, licensees, advertisers and broadcasters.

Students must complete a Consent to Disclose Educational Records (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act – FERPA) form when requesting letters of recommendation from faculty or administrators.  Completed forms should be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.

The use of recording devices in classes is permissible only with the prior approval of the professor. The Administration cannot arrange to have individual students’ classes recorded. Students may request that a professor record a class, however, it is the professor’s sole discretion to decide whether to do so.

Rooms may be reserved only for official Law School functions/events and only by faculty, staff, and the officers of officially recognized law student organizations. Student groups seeking room reservations must reserve rooms by filling out the Student Organization Event & Room Reservation Form. Teaching Assistants should contact their faculty member’s support staff (Suite 260) for room reservations.