Notice to Students
Students are responsible for ascertaining and following the rules, policies, and procedures contained in this Student Handbook and, where referenced, on the Law School’s website. In addition, all students are subject to the rules, policies, and procedures of Golden Gate University, even those not specifically described in this handbook.
The Law School’s website, http://law.ggu.edu, is the online resource for information, policies, and services referenced in this handbook. In addition, the website provides access to GGU4YOU, Golden Gate University’s web portal to the administrative database.
A new edition of this handbook is published at the beginning of each academic year. All students should carefully review the new edition each year as all students are subject to all sections of the current handbook, except for continuing students who matriculated in prior academic years are governed by the Grading Polices portion of the Academic Standards of the current handbook and by all other portions of the Academic Standards in the handbooks for their respective matriculation years.
The provisions of this Student Handbook are subject to change at any time. The Law School expressly reserves the right to change the requirements for continuation at the School of Law or graduation, the right to modify the offering, timing, and content of courses, the right to modify scholarship policies, and the right to change regulations affecting the student body, including but not limited to the requirements relating to academic standing, disqualification, and graduation. Such changes shall become effective whenever the administration deems appropriate and may operate retroactively. Any changes to the Student Handbook made between the annually published versions will be noticed to students via email or Law School News.
Emergency Services
In case of medical or family emergencies, the following telephone numbers can be used to reach GGU Staff, who will attempt to get a message to the student. Please note that, due to federal regulations, no contact information, course schedule or other information about students will be released to anyone without the express, written permission of the student.
- Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm
Contact Law Student Affairs at 442-6615 or the Dean’s Office at 442-6600.
- Other times when the university is open (nights and weekends)
Dial “0” from any campus phone or 442‐7000 from an outside phone.
- When the university is closed
Leave a message on the Law Student Affairs or Dean’s Office voicemail, or contact GGU security services by calling 442-7093.
A student with a potential health emergency should, when possible, inform the Law Student Affairs Office ahead of time so that appropriate action can be taken in the event such an emergency does arise.
Security
Students with a security problem, including lost or stolen articles, should contact the switchboard operator by dialing “0” from a campus phone or 442‐7000 from an outside phone. After regular hours (after 10 pm Monday through Friday and after 3:30 pm on weekends) a GGU security staff member may be contacted by calling 442-7093.
Escort Service
As a courtesy, the university operates a security escort service to accompany students from the university to their means of transportation after dark, within a reasonable distance. To request an escort, students may either call the operator or go to the information desk on the first floor. While it is unusual, sometimes (typically on Friday evenings) no escorts are available. Students should arrange in advance for escorts on weekends.
Escort service maps, which show the range of services, are available from the information desk on the first-floor lobby.
Lost and Found Items
The university’s lost and found area is located at the Business Services and Facilities Office front counter in room P-63 (on the Plaza Level). Items can be turned in or retrieved from that office during its normal hours of operation. The front counter is open from 10 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday. At all other times, please contact the operator by dialing “0” from a campus phone or 442-7000 from an outside phone for additional information and assistance. Students also may check with Law Student Affairs about lost items.
Personal Property Insurance
The Law School does not assume responsibility for loss or damage to personal property belonging to students. Students should inspect their own insurance policies to determine any such coverage.
Campus Security Information
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, Golden Gate University publishes a set of crime survey statistics for the campus and surrounding area. That information, and other important security information, is available in Street Smarts, a document published annually by Business Services and Facilities. Street Smarts is available online via Golden Gate University’s website, under “About GGU.” Hard copies of Street Smarts are also available upon request from Business Services and Facilities.
Administrative Offices
The majority of the School of Law’s faculty and administrative offices, including classrooms and the Student Bar Association, are located on the second and third floors of the building at 536 Mission Street. The entrance to the Law Library is on the street level, in the main lobby adjacent to the university switchboard and information desk.
Mailing Address
The mailing address for all offices and departments within the School of Law is:
Golden Gate University School of Law
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
Phone Number
The phone number for the main university switchboard is 442-7000, and the law school’s main phone number is 442-6600. All telephone numbers referenced in this handbook are in the 415 area code.
Facility Hours
536 Mission Street: Monday through Friday - 7:30 am to 11 pm; Saturday - 7:30 am to 8:30 pm; Sunday 11 am to 6 pm
School of Law Offices
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
442-6699 or hvaranini@ggu.edu
Hours: Hours may vary, but will be posted on the office door. Please email for specific information.
ADMISSIONS
442-6630 or lawadmit@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm
ALUMNI SERVICES
442-7824 or alumni@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5 pm
BAR EXAM SERVICES
369-5384 or rboujaoude@ggu.edu
Hours: Hours may vary, but will be posted on the office door. Please email for specific information.
THE CAREER CENTER
442-6625 or lawcareer@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm; Evening hours by appointment
DEAN’S OFFICE SUITE
442-6600
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm
EXTERNSHIPS
442-6698 or externships@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5 pm
FACULTY CENTER
442-6640
Hours: Monday through Thursday - 8:30 am to 6:30 pm; Friday - 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
FINANCIAL AID
442-6635 or lawfao@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and by appointment
GRADUATE LAW PROGRAMS
442-7234
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 6:30 pm
LIBRARY
442-6680
Hours: Monday through Thursday - 7:30 am to 10:30 pm; Friday - 7:30 am to 9 pm; Saturday - 10 am to 7 pm; Sunday - 11 am to 6 pm (Hours are extended during exam study periods and restricted on holidays, semester breaks, and in the summer.)
Computer Lab: Monday through Thursday - 7:30 am to 10:15 pm; Friday - 7:30 am to 8:45 pm; Saturday - 10:00 am to 6:45 pm; Sunday - 11 am to 5:45 pm.
LITIGATION CENTER
442-6668 or info@ggulitigation.com
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm
ON-SITE LEGAL CLINICS
442-6647
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5 pm
REGISTRAR’S OFFICE
442-6620 or lawreg@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Thursday - 9 am to 6:30 pm; Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm
STUDENT ACCOUNTING SERVICES
442-7839 or sas@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm.
STUDENT AFFAIRS, LAW SCHOOL
442-6615 or lawstudentsupport@ggu.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday - 9 am to 5:30 pm. Evening hours by appointment. Any variations to these hours will be posted on the office door.
Student Communication
Student Email Accounts
All students are required to have a valid email and mailing address on file with the Registrar’s Office at all times. Email is the primary mode of communication with students. All students are required to check this email account regularly. Students should send messages from the addresses on record in order to verify their identities. Students who send messages from addresses other than those that are on record will not be given confidential information.
Law School News
Law School News (LSN) is a weekly newsletter published by the School of Law. Students are required to read LSN on a regular basis to keep up to date on important policies, deadlines, and time-sensitive information. In addition, the Student Handbook is subject to change at any time during the year. Students will be notified of changes to the handbook through notices in LSN.
Aside from providing important administrative information about policies, courses, examinations, deadlines, review sessions, etc., LSN includes announcements of social events, on-campus speakers, career development programs, and other important news. All notices published in LSN are considered to have been communicated to all students.
LSN is published weekly during the fall and spring terms while classes are in session. It is distributed via email to all law students’ registered e-mail accounts. LSN also is available on the “Organizations & Student Life” section of the Student Affairs website in myGGU under the GGU4YOU icon.
Faculty, staff, and student organizations may submit announcements for publication in LSN pursuant to the guidelines posted under the “Organizations & Student Life” section of the Student Affairs website.
myGGU
myGGU is the university’s online service system. User accounts are created automatically at the time of admission. User names and passwords are sent to students’ e-mail address on record at the time of account creation. Students who do not receive their myGGU account information or have any other questions may e-mail help@ggu.edu for assistance.
Students may use the myGGU system to update their address and contact information, view course schedules, register for courses, see their grades, view degree program evaluations, order transcripts, view financial aid information, and make credit card payments.
myGGU is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but access to registration and adding/dropping courses is subject to the published priority registration dates. Although traditional in-person services are available, students are strongly encouraged to use myGGU for registration and other matters.
Flyers & Digital Signage
Members of the GGU Community may post approved flyers in authorized locations and submit materials to be displayed on the second and third floor digital signs in accordance with the policies and procedures posted under the “Organizations & Student Life” section of the Student Affairs website.
Student Messages and Announcements
Changes in classroom locations or times, class meeting cancellations, and other important notices will be posted outside the classroom door and/or emailed to affected students as needed.
Lockers
Each law student may be assigned the use of one individual on-campus locker at no charge. Lockers are assigned randomly during new student orientation or may be requested during the year by contacting Law School, Student Affairs. Locker assignments typically remain the same throughout a student’s career at GGU, but the administration reserves the right to change student lockers if needed. Advanced notification will be provided prior to any such change. There is no seniority or priority for any students for locker size or location, with the exception of students with a verified disability. Students are not permitted to use more than one locker or to use a different locker than the one assigned. Student Affairs reserves the right to cut locks and remove belongings kept in unauthorized lockers without prior notification. GGU is not responsible for items kept in unlocked or unauthorized lockers. Confiscated belongings will be held for one week only. Unclaimed items will be destroyed or donated.
Lockers must remain locked at all times. If Student Affairs or security staff observes a locker unlocked after the second week of the academic year, they may lock the locker. It is then the student’s responsibility to contact Student Affairs to reclaim the locker. Students must relinquish their assigned lockers on the last day of final exams of their last academic term, unless granted an extension by Student Affairs. GGU is not responsible for any belongings left in locked or unlocked lockers after rights have been relinquished upon withdrawal, disqualification, or graduation.
Food, beverages, and used food containers may not be stored in lockers at any time.
Violation of these rules, including tampering with lockers, graffiti, or use of stickers, is strictly prohibited and may forfeit the student’s right to use a locker and/or result in discipline under the Standards of Student Conduct.
Health Insurance
GGU Law does not provide nor require students to have health insurance. However, you are strongly encouraged to have coverage throughout law school. Accidents and illnesses can happen, and having insurance can help you keep your focus on law school and avoid large medical bills.
Computer and Technology Use
Computer Network Access
Network resources are intended for educational and research purposes. To ensure that a computer connected to our network does not negatively impact other computers, students are required to have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on their laptop computers prior to connecting to Golden Gate University’s academic network (wired and wireless). Anyone using the network should also take proper precautions against malicious spyware or viruses. Any student whose improperly protected laptop computer disrupts network performance may be held responsible for any damage to university resources. Students must not use peer-to-peer file sharing applications when connected to the GGU network (see below). Use of network resource intensive applications such as web servers, ftp servers and audio/video conferencing software is inappropriate.
Audio Recording of Classes
The faculty has adopted a general policy permitting the use of audio recorders in class. Faculty members who do not wish to have a class recorded will announce this on the first day of class and list it in their syllabi. Recording of lectures or class presentations is authorized solely for students currently enrolled in that course section, for the purpose of studying. Recordings may not be posted, uploaded, distributed, or shared by any means without the express permission of the professor. Distribution of class recordings without permission violates university policy and may constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal and/or state law.
Unauthorized Distribution of Copyrighted Material
Unauthorized distribution (downloading or uploading) of copyrighted material over the Internet, including peer-to-peer file sharing, is considered copyright infringement. Copyrighted material that may not be shared without authorization includes recorded music (often in the form of MP3 or MP4 files), movies, television shows, digital books, or magazines. Copyright infringement may subject a student to civil and criminal liabilities.
Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or statutory damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.
Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.
For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ’s at www.copyright.gov/help/faq.
Institutional Penalties for Copyright Infringement
Students who use the university’s network to engage in unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material are in violation of the Standards of Student Conduct and will be disciplined accordingly and possibly reported to licensing organizations, such as the State Bar.
Legal Alternatives for Acquiring Copyrighted Material
A fairly exhaustive list of web sites from which you may legally obtain copyrighted material is published by EDUCAUSE.
Counseling & Advising
Academic Advising
The Associate Dean and the Director of Student Affairs, Law School are available for private academic advising throughout the year. All JD students are invited to seek advice regarding course selection, progress towards degree completion, or general academic concerns. JD students entering their final year of study are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
To schedule an in-person or telephone appointment, students should drop by Student Affairs, Law School, room 2333, or call 442-6615. Student Affairs is open Monday through Friday and additional evening hours are available upon request.
Students are responsible for enrolling in required courses and monitoring their progress towards completing their degree requirements by their anticipated graduation dates. Academic program evaluations are available on myGGU by accessing “Student Planning” and then “My Progress.”
Upper division students may select their own course schedules, as long as they conform to the required course guidelines, unit loads based on their program status, and any conditions imposed by the Academic Standards Committee. Most upper division students take some elective and required courses each semester.
Students should carefully read the following:
- The Student Handbook from your year of your matriculation (available online here), particularly the “Academic Standards” section and “Schedules and Course Descriptions” section;
- Current course descriptions and syllabi, available on myGGU and the website;
- Law School News (available online)
Students are responsible for knowing all information contained in these and other School of Law publications.
General questions about courses and scheduling that are not otherwise addressed in this Handbook or other publications should be directed to the Registrar, Associate Dean or Director of Student Affairs, Law School, faculty advisors for the various certificates of specialization, or LLM or SJD Program Directors. Detailed questions about a particular course should be directed to the instructor or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
International students with questions regarding F-1 and J-1 visas should refer to the International Students section of this handbook for more complete information.
Individual Counseling
- Courses
Whenever possible, a student with a concern about a particular course should discuss the issue with the instructor and, if appropriate, follow up with the Director of the relevant program. If this is not possible, or if these discussions do not resolve the problem, the student should meet with the Associate Dean or Director of Law School, Student Affairs, the LLM Program Director, or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students needing substantive help with course material should contact the course professor and/or the Academic Development Program staff.
- Financial Aid
Students with financial aid concerns should speak directly with a financial aid counselor. If this does not resolve the problem, students should speak with the Director of Financial Aid. Questions or problems with student accounts should be directed to Student Accounting Services.
- Personal Concerns
Students with personal concerns that are interfering or may interfere with their ability to attend classes, study, or take exams should promptly contact the Associate Dean or Director for Student Affairs, Law School to discuss how to address the situation. Student Affairs does not engage in long-term counseling, but may direct students to outside resources to help them resolve their concerns. To schedule an in-person or telephone appointment, students should drop by Student Affairs in room 2333 or call 442-6615. If the situation is urgent, the student should let someone in Student Affairs know that more immediate assistance is needed.
Student Organizations
One of Golden Gate University School of Law’s great strengths is its active and enthusiastic student body. Student organizations serve the interests of a diverse population and spend a significant amount of time and effort developing programs and organizing activities to support their members and enrich the law school experience for everyone. Student groups publicize their activities in the Events Calendar, in Law School News, and by posting approved flyers and digital signage. Each organization has a mailbox in the Student Bar Association (SBA) Lounge.
SBA meetings are public, and all students are encouraged to attend and participate in SBA meetings and events. All students are eligible to vote in SBA elections, which are held every spring.
A portion of each student’s fees goes to the SBA, whose officers make decisions about what activities and programs to fund throughout the year, including allocations to SBA-approved student organizations. Any student organization planning to raise or collect funds aside from the SBA funds allotted to the organization must coordinate appropriate accounting policies with the Director of Administration and Technology Services. Student organizations are not permitted to maintain bank accounts.
Student organization leaders are expected to collaborate and communicate regularly with their faculty and OCS staff advisors. This is especially important when members of the student organization invite attorneys and other VIP guests to campus.
A list and description of all student organizations recognized by the School of Law may be found on the website. If you wish to start a new student group, revive a group that has been inactive, or update the name or description of your student organization, please contact the SBA President or Student Affairs, Law school.
Career Center
The Career Center partners with students and alumni to address their career development needs. The office is located in Suite 2333 and is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm and may be reached at 442-6625. Evening appointments are available by prior arrangement.
The Career Center staff provide comprehensive career services to law students and graduates. Students have access to individual career coaching, a review of application materials, recruiting and employment opportunities, career resource library, and a variety of programming and online resources. Students also have access to GradLeaders, a platform providing access to employment opportunities, programming, and a wide variety of career-related resources.
The Career Center educates students about potential legal careers, the job search process, and continuing career development through workshops, panels, programs, and one-on-one appointments with students. In addition, the Career Center promotes a variety of networking and professional development opportunities through bar associations, mock interview events, and other programs.
The Career Center aims to interact with all students throughout their time in law school, offering individualized support and resources to meet student needs. The Career Center is also available to alumni after graduation to assist with refining career goals, planning and implementing job search strategies, and continued career growth.
Eligibility for Assistance
The services and resources of the Career Center are available to all students currently enrolled in the JD, LLM, or SJD programs at Golden Gate University School of Law, as well as alumni of these programs. Students and alumni of other ABA-accredited law schools may request access to the resources of the Career Center through the terms of a reciprocity agreement between Golden Gate and their school. Access to the office is limited to the terms specified in the reciprocity policy, available from the Career Center.
Use of Career Center
Students may use the resources of the Career Center for job search-related activities only. The computers, telephone, scanner, fax machine, photocopier, letterhead, supplies and other resources of the office are not for personal use. Students using the Career Center resources must agree to abide by all policies posted in the office regarding the use of office equipment and resources.
JD Student Employment Limitations
GGU prohibits JD students from being employed for pay in excess of 20 hours per week during any week in which the student is enrolled in more than 12 semester units. (Hours worked for academic credit are not counted towards the 20 hours.) First year full-time students may not be employed for pay at all. Failure to comply with this requirement may be considered a violation of the Standards of Student Conduct.
Career Center Resource Library Circulation Policy
The Career Center Resource Library, which is located in the Center for Student Success, is integrated with the Law Library’s collection. Students may search the Library’s online catalog to identify resources housed at OCS.
Students must have a valid Golden Gate ID card or membership card to borrow books. Many Career Center materials do not circulate but may be used on the premises and, in some cases, copied. Students should consult the Law Library’s circulation policy for details regarding the length of resource loans, overdue fines, and other relevant information.
Possible consequences of failing to return items or pay fines include loss of Law Library borrowing privileges or blocked grade reports, transcripts, registration, or graduation.
GradLeaders and Recruiting Programs
GradLeaders is the official platform for all information regarding recruiting programs, job listings, programming reservations, and coaching appointments. All students will be assigned a username and password for access to GradLeaders. Students will be required to maintain an updated profile, including a current email address. Students are required to have a resume and at least one cover letter approved by the Career Center if they wish to participate in on-campus recruiting programs. Failure to have application materials approved may result in exclusion from on-campus recruiting programs.
Interview Cancellation Policies
In the event that a student needs to cancel a job interview arranged through the Career Center’s recruiting programs or sponsored job fairs, the student must provide at least 48 hours’ notice to the Career Center (and to the employer for interviews located at the employer’s office). A student who does not attend a scheduled interview, or cancels an interview fewer than 48 hours in advance, will be required to send a letter of apology to the employer and provide the Associate Dean for Career Services with a copy. The student will not be permitted to participate in the on-campus interview program until the Associate Dean receives a copy of the apology letter. Cancellations, especially with short notice, reflect poorly on the student and on the School of Law.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Employers who utilize the Career Center have agreed to abide by the School of Law’s nondiscrimination policy:
Golden Gate University’s Career Center does not make its facilities or services available to employers who discriminate on the basis of race, sex, creed, religion, age, color, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, ancestry, national/ethnic origin, nationality/citizenship, political affiliation, marital status, medical condition, or any other status protected from discrimination by federal, state, or local law.
The use of Career Center services constitutes adherence to this policy.
In the event an employer acts in a manner inconsistent with this policy or places a student in an uncomfortable situation, the student should contact the Career Center immediately. The Associate Dean for Career Services will determine a remedy for the situation.
Employment Surveys and Requests for Information
On a periodic basis, the Career Center will request that students provide information regarding their employment experiences. We encourage students to be both honest and professional when preparing these evaluations.
Following graduation, The Career Center will also seek information from students regarding their post-graduate employment status. The Law School is required to collect and report this information anonymously to the ABA and NALP. The Law School also presents this information in an aggregated form to US News & World Report, employers, current students, alumni and prospective students to provide insight into hiring practices and salary trends.
Students are required to comply with these information requests in a timely fashion and in an honest manner
Standards of Student Conduct
Actions that bear upon students’ ethical and moral fitness (i.e., honesty and integrity) to practice law, even though such actions do not occur on the property of Golden Gate University, are subject to the School of Law’s Standards of Student Conduct. This may include (but is not limited to) interactions involving employers, externship supervisors, pro bono activities, job fairs and conferences. Students are required to review the Standards of Student Conduct in their entirety.
Accreditation
Golden Gate University School of Law is fully accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA), the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State of California, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). GGU Law is also a member in good standing of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). GGU Graduates qualify to take the bar exam in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia.
American Bar Association (ABA)
Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-988-6738
Fax: 312-988-5681
Email: legaled@americabar.orgWASC Senior College and University Commission
1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-748-9001
Fax: 510-748-9797
The State Bar of California (Main Office)
180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-538-2000
American Association of Law Schools (AALS)
1614 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: 202-296-8851
Fax: 202-296-8869
Email: aals@aals.org
Student Consumer Complaints
ABA Student Complaint Policy and Procedures
ABA Standard 510 requires law schools to develop and maintain a policy and procedure for handling student complaints about significant problems regarding the law school’s program of legal education and compliance with all ABA Standards. This policy, described below, is in addition to the policies on handling complaints related to sexual harassment and disabilities, outlined in the Discrimination & Harassment Policy and the Policy and Procedures for the Provision of Services to Students with Disabilities, respectively.
- Filing of Written Complaint
Students who wish to report a problem with the law school’s program of legal education or its compliance with the ABA Standards should file a written complaint with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Law School. (As appropriate, the Associate Dean may appoint a designee to fulfill his/her role in these complaint procedures.) The complaint may be submitted via email, US Mail, or personal delivery. The complaint should identify and describe in detail the problem, and explain how the matter implicates the law school’s program of legal education and compliance with specific ABA Standard(s). The complaint also should include the student’s contact information to facilitate further communication in regards to the complaint. The Associate Dean will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within five business days.
- Investigation and Response to Complaint
The Associate Dean will investigate the complaint. The Associate Dean will then set up a meeting with the student or, alternatively, provide the student with a written response to the complaint, within 30 days of receipt of the complaint. In the meeting or the written response, the Associate Dean will provide a substantive response to the complaint, describing the steps taken to investigate the complaint, as well as any steps taken or to be taken to address the complaint.
- Optional Appeal
If the student is dissatisfied with the Associate Dean’s response to, or resolution of, the complaint, the student may file a written appeal with the Dean of the law school. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the Associate Dean’s response to the complaint. In response to the appeal, the Dean shall either affirm or reverse in whole or in part the Associate Dean’s determination. The Dean’s response to the appeal will be communicated to the student within 30 days of receipt of the appeal. The Dean’s decision shall be final.
- Record
The law school will maintain a record of all complaints filed pursuant to this procedure. The record shall be kept in the Associate Dean’s office for a period of 10 years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.
California
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
Address: 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834
Telephone: 888-370-7589/916-574-8900
FAX: 916-263-1897
Online complaint form: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml
Website: www.bppe.ca.gov
Connecticut
Emily Bjornberg
Senior Consultant
Academic Affairs
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Blvd, Suite 707
Hartford, CT 06103
Telephone: 860-575-1127 (cell); 860-947-1824 (office)
Email: Emily.Bjornberg@ct.gov
Oregon
Higher Education Coordinating Commission
ATTN: Complaints-ODA
3225 25th St. SE
Salem, OR 97302
Complaint email address: complaints@hecc.oregon.gov
Online complaint form: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Pages/complaints.aspx
Washington
Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Complaint email address: complaints@wsac.wa.gov
Online complaint form: www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints
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