Policies and Procedures

The Informal Process

1. A student who believes that he has been aggrieved must first attempt to seek an informal resolution with the other party involved in the dispute, e.g., grade dispute with instructor.

2. If the student is unable to resolve the dispute with the primary party of the dispute, then he is advised to seek the intervention of his department chairperson.

3. All disputes which are not resolved at the departmental level are then brought to the Dean’s Office, whereupon the Dean or his designee will seek to reach an informal resolution through mediation between the parties.

4. If the mediation at the Dean’s level fails, then the student’s grievance is consigned to the committee designated by the school to address student grievances herein referred to as the Student Grievance Committee.

The Formal Process

1. Student grievances which are consigned to the Student Grievance Committee must be specified in writing and given to the Dean or his designee.

2. A student’s written statement, along with supportive evidence constitutes a case document, which will be submitted to each member of the committee.

3. The second party to the dispute is also requested to provide the Office of the Dean with his or her account of the matter in dispute, which becomes apart of the case document that is forwarded to the committee.

4. The Student Grievance Committee is then required to set a date for convening a meeting to hear the case(s) as expeditiously as possible.

5. After the date has been set, each party to the dispute is sent a certified letter which informs him or her of the charges, and the date of the meeting as well as a statement requesting his or her presence.

6. During the hearing, the student presents his case; after, the accused party is allowed to present the other side. Each side is permitted to have witnesses.

7. Following the hearing, members of the committee, after deliberation on their assessment of the case, reach a decision on how the case should be resolved.

8. The committee’s decision is sent to the Dean of the School in the form of a recommendation.

9. The Dean then informs the student in writing of the decision, which may be based upon the committee’s recommendation or upon a modification of it. 

Howard University School of Law Student Handbook Rule 303 (excerpted here):

303     Registration, Add/Drop, Leave of Absence, Withdrawal from School

303.1 Registration Procedures and Requirements

1.   The details of registration procedures and requirements are established by the 
   School of Law and University administrators.
2.   This Handbook describes the registration process in general and establishes certain 
   regulations regarding registration.
3.   Students are cautioned to obtain all necessary information and forms needed for registration and to follow the procedures 
   established by the School of Law administration.

303.2 First-Year Students

1.    Each first-year student must register for and attend all the prescribed first-year courses, except in a rare case presenting special or
   unusual circumstances.
2.    Requests under this provision are to be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs who has final authority
   to act on the request.

303.3 Approval of Academic Programs for the Student’s Second Year

1.   A first-year student must obtain approval of the student’s first-semester second- year academic program from a faculty
   advisor prior to registration in accordance with the dates prescribed on the academic calendar.
2.   The student is required to meet with a faculty advisor at least once before or during the registration period. 
   Approval by the faculty advisor does not constitute a waiver of the requirements for graduation.

303.4 Approval of Academic Programs for the Student’s Third Year

1.    Each second-year student must complete a degree program self-audit and secure approval to register from the
   Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to or during the spring registration period for the first semester of the student’s third year.
2.    The purpose of the self-audit is to help ensure that all requirements for graduation have been or will be met.
   Responsibility for compliance with the 
   requirements for graduation rests on the student and cannot be waived by administrative approval of the
   student’s academic program.

303.5 Add/Drop Period

1.    For fall and spring semesters, the Add/Drop Period is generally set in accordance with the
   Howard University schedule. It is announced on the HUSL Academic Calendar.  
2.    Courses cannot be added after the Add/Drop Period at the start of each semester.
3.  Withdrawing from Courses after the Add/Drop Period:
   1. After the end of the Add/Drop Period, an upper-division student may withdraw from a course or
      courses and receive a grade of “W” up to the end of period established by the University.

   The University establishes the deadline for withdrawing from a course.

   • Absent extraordinary circumstances, permission generally will not be granted if withdrawal from
     the course will reduce the student’s course-load below the minimum required credits to
     remain a full-time student.
   • The student must obtain permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to withdraw 
     room the course. Students must complete withdrawal forms and seek the signature of the
     Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
4. An upper-division student may not drop a first-year course in the absence of special or unusual circumstances.
   A request to drop a first-year course  is to be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who has final
   authority to act on the request.A first-year student may not drop a first-year course, except as provided above.

Howard University School of Law Student Handbook 308 Attendance Policy

308.1 Statement of Policy Regular and punctual attendance is an important part of a student’s legal education. In addition, a student’s participation in class affects other students. As a prospective attorney, a student should develop strong habits of regular attendance. For these reasons, the American Bar Association and the Howard University School of Law require regular and punctual class attendance. In addition, some Bar examiners require the Dean to certify that a student has regularly attended classes before they allow a graduate to sit for a bar examination.

“Regular attendance” in a course means attending at least 85 percent of scheduled classes during the semester. The percentage of absences is intended to account for the range of minor illnesses, family obligations, interviews, and unplanned events that occur.

Clinics and externships may define “regular attendance” as requiring more than 85 percent of scheduled classes if that definition is clearly set forth in the course syllabus.

Absences due to curricular and co-curricular requirements will not be counted if the absence is due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict which neither the professor nor the student controls and the notice requirements set forth below are satisfied. Examples of curricular and co-curricular requirements that might cause the type of conflict to which this provision applies include, inter alia, emergency court appearances, moot court competitions, and mock trial competitions. If an absence is due to a scheduled curricular or co-curricular requirement, then the student must ask the professor of record for the class with the curricular or co-curricular requirement to notify the professor of record for the missed class in writing before the absence. If an absence is due to an unscheduled or emergency curricular or co-curricular requirement, then the student must ask the professor of record for the class with the curricular or co-curricular requirement to notify the professor of record for the missed class in writing within 48 hours of the absence.

Absences due to religious holidays will not be counted if the student notifies the professor(s) before the absence(s) of the student’s intention to miss class because of a religious holiday.

Covid-19 Amendment as of Fall 2021

We are conducting courses fully in-person. There is no remote option to attend classes unless otherwise noted on the Fall 2021 course schedule. Thus, “Attendance” means attending a class in person, except for the following documented circumstances:

1. (a)  Any student who is not cleared to attend classes via the daily Bison Safe app self- assessment.

   OR

2. (b)  Any student who, due to significant health concerns due to Covid-related caretaking

   responsibilities of a family member

may be granted permission to
(i) attend class remotely (e.g., via synchronous Zoom) if the professor has made that

option available; or

1. (ii)  satisfy the attendance requirement by viewing/listening to a class recording; or

2. (iii)  satisfy the attendance requirement by receiving class notes and assignments from a

   classmate.

The mode of how the material is provided ((i), (ii), or (iii)) is at the discretion of the professor and is subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (Dean Olivares). Faculty members are not authorized to grant any additional exceptions to the Attendance Policy absent prior written approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

In each of the above circumstances, the student must provide as much advance notice as possible and request for approval to attend in one of the above modes. (The faculty member will determine the mode(s) of alternative attendance.). The student must provide this notice and request to their professor(s) and to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Further, in each of the above circumstances, the student must provide documented evidence to support the request to Dean Olivares. Note that there are no excused absences or a right to an alternative mode of attendance; the request may be denied if not documented or credible; and the request may be limited to a certain time period and/or other conditions. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they provide the necessary documentation and quickly reply to any further inquiry. Dean Olivares or her designee will provide the result of the request to the student and professor.

Howard University affirms that the central purpose of a university is the pursuit of truth. The discovery of new knowledge through scholarly research. The teaching and overall development of students and the transmission of knowledge and learning to the world at large. The establishment and maintenance of a community where there is freedom to teach and to learn, however, is dependent on maintaining an appropriate sense of order that allows for the pursuit of these objectives in an environment that is both safe and free of invidious disruption.

Rules and regulations are necessary to mark the boundaries of this needed order. However, the rights of the individual demand that honest}’, integrity. Responsibility, and respect for persons and property must form the core values upon which those rules and regulations are based. All members of the University Community share a mutual responsibility to practice these values.

It is expected that student conduct will be in concert with and supportive of the University’s central purpose and core values. Examples of prohibited student behavior are described in this Student Code of Conduct (“Code”). Circumstances that reasonably indicate a violation of the Code will give rise to the immediate consideration of adjudication through the University’s judiciary system.

The Code is applicable to all validated officially enrolled students and all persons admitted to any academic program- activity or event. The terms ‘student” or “students” as used in this Code refer only to those who meet this definition.

It is the responsibility and duty of students to become acquainted with all provisions of the Code. It is presumed that every student, from the date of his/her initial enrollment at the University, has knowledge of the Code, the Academic Code of Conduct, the University Code of Ethics and Conduct, as well as policies and procedures contained in the H-Book, the Bulletin and the Student Reference Manual and Directory of Classes. All students are deemed to have agreed to the Code and are required to adhere to the Code as a condition of their enrollment as a student of the University.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW CREDIT HOUR POLICY AY 2023-2024[1]

Howard University School of Law (HUSL) adheres to the federal and ABA definitions of a credit hour. ABA Standard 310 states, “(a) A law school shall adopt, publish, and adhere to written policies and procedures for determining the credit hours that it awards for coursework. (b) A ‘credit hour’ is an amount of work that reasonably approximates: (1) not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for fifteen weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in subparagraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”  While Interpretation 310-1 notes that “[f]or purposes of this Standard, fifty minutes suffices for one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction…[a]n ‘hour’ for out-of-class student work is sixty minutes. In addition, the fifteen-week period may include one week for a final examination. Finally, Interpretation 310-2 permits a school to “award credit hours for coursework that extends over any period of time, if the coursework entails no less than the minimum total amounts of classroom or direct faculty instruction and of out-of-class student work specified in Standard 310(b). 

The HUSL academic year is comprised of three semesters.

AY 2023-24: The Fall semester is 14 ½ weeks (not including final exams weeks). The Spring semester is 14 ½ weeks (not including the week of spring break or the final exam weeks). The Summer semester is 8 weeks.

The School of Law defines an in-class hour as requiring a minimum of 50 minutes. Note that, depending on the days of the class meeting(s) and considering holidays, the number of class meetings may be different than that reflected below. Professors are encouraged to plan accordingly, considering pedagogical and learning goals for the course and in line with the ABA interpretations regarding out-of-class student work. Please consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs if you have specific questions.

For reference:

4-credit class should meet for at least 2,800 minutes (with an exam) and up to 3,000 minutes (without exam or equivalent out-of-class work as detailed above).

3-credit class should meet for at least 2,100 minutes (with an exam) and up to 2,250 minutes (without exam or equivalent out-of-class work as detailed above).

2-credit class should meet for at least 1,400 minutes (with an exam) and up to 1,500 minutes (without exam or equivalent out-of-class work as detailed above).

1-credit class should meet for at least 750 minutes.

Fall 2023

• August 14 – November 22, 2023 (14 ½ weeks, not counting exam weeks)
  5. 4 credit hours at 3 times per week – 42 class days at 75 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  6. 3 credit hours at 3 times per week – 42 class days at 50 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  7. 3 credit hours at 2 times per week – 30 class days at 75 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  8. 3 credit hours at 2 times per week – 28 class days at 80 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  9. 3 credit hours at 1 time per week – 15 class days at 140 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  10. 3 credit hours at 1 time per week – 14 class days at 150 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  11. 2 credit hours at 1 time per week – 15 class days at 95 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  12. 2 credit hours at 1 time per week – 14 class days at 100 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  13. 1 credit hours at 1 time per week—15 class days at 50 minutes per class [classes without exams]

Spring 2024

• January 8– April 24, 2024 (14 ½ weeks not including spring break or exam weeks)
  5. 4 credit hours at 3 times per week – 42 class days at 75 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  6. 4 credit hours at 2 times per week--   29 class days at 100 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  7. 3 credit hours at 3 times per week – 42 class days at 50 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  8. 3 credit hours at 2 times per week – 30 class days at 75 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  9. 3 credit hours at 2 times per week – 28 class days at 80 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  10. 3 credit hours at 1 time per week – 15 class days at 140 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  11. 3 credit hours at 1 time per week – 14 class days at 150 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  12. 2 credit hours at 1 time per week – 15 class days at 95 minutes per class [classes with exams]
  13. 2 credit hours at 1 time per week – 14 class days at 100 minutes per class [classes without exams]
  14. 1 credit hours at 1 time per week—15 class days at 50 minutes per class [classes without exams]

• Summer 2024

May 13, 2024- July 14, 2024 (TBD)

• 4 credit hours at 2 times per week (M/W or T/Th) – 15 class days at 200 minutes per class
• 4 credit hours at 1 time per week – 9 classes at 120 minutes per class (externships only)[2]
• 2 credit hours at 1 time per week – 9 class days at 240 minutes per class
• 2 credit hours at 1 time per week- 6 class days at 250 minutes per class

[1] Last updated July 10, 2023.

[2] Students should allocate an additional hour of outside class work for class purposes.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

HUSL Amended Covid Policy 

Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing Program AND LWIII Guidelines

Howard University School of Law seeks to maintain a conducive learning environment. If you feel that goal has been missed, please click the following link to file a complaint.

Student Complaint Policy Pursuant to ABA Standard 510

1. Any student with a complaint or concern, that implicates one or more of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools, should bring the complaint or concern to the attention of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions.
2. The Student Complaint Form, located in Appendix N, must be completed to initiate a complaint for investigation.
3. If the complaint concerns the actions or behavior of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, then the matter will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
4. If the complaint is to be filed with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs then the responses, set forth below, will be provided by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
5. Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions shall contact the student who filed the complaint, and the Associate Dean shall initiate an investigation.
6. For the purposes of this Policy, the “initiation of an investigation” may include directing the student’s complaint to an existing Law School or University complaint or grievance procedure.
7. If the complaint is re-directed, the student’s completion of the form located in Appendix N shall suffice to initiate the student’s complaint or grievance under such existing Law School or University complaint or grievance procedure.
8. If there is an existing complaint or grievance procedure, and such procedure contains a provision for the appeal of the student’s complaint or grievance, that appeal, if any, shall apply to a complaint or grievance initiated under this Policy.
9. This Policy, however, shall not create any new complaint or grievance procedure; nor shall this Policy add to, delete, or modify any existing Law School or University complaint or grievance procedure.
10. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions shall provide a written response to the complaint within 30 days, unless notice of a need for additional time is provided to the student. K. If the Associate Dean finds that the complaint or grievance is covered by an existing Law School or University complaint or grievance procedure, the written response to the student will be in accordance with the procedures of that existing complaint or grievance procedure.
11. The Associate Dean’s response to a complaint or grievance filed pursuant to this Policy shall, in any case, inform the student of the next step(s) in the process to resolve the complaint or grievance. In addition, the written response shall convey the relevant facts and circumstances discovered thus far during the investigation.
12. In no case shall a complaint or grievance be deemed untimely because the complaint or grievance was initiated by the student pursuant to this Policy rather than through an existing Law School or University complaint or grievance procedure.

Howard University School of Law Student Handbook Rule 303 (excerpted here):

303.7 Leave of Absence

1. A student who wants to take a leave of absence must request the leave from the Office of Academic Affairs. 
   The request for the leave must be made in writing and  must include an explanation of the reasons for the request.
2. A leave of absence without the need to apply for readmission will be granted for no more than two semesters, 
   excluding the summer semester.
3. If a student intends to be absent from school for more than two semesters, the student must withdraw from the 
   school and then apply for 
   readmission in accordance with the rules for readmission.
4. Once a student has been granted a one- or two-semester leave of absence, the student must complete  the 
   University’s total withdrawal process.
5. The student’s failure to complete this process can result in adverse financial consequences to the student.

303.8 Total Withdrawal from School

1. A student who seeks to formally withdraw from school must comply with the rules of
   Howard University and of Howard University School of Law.
2. See the process below for more information. Failure to comply with the procedures may preclude the 
   student from being considered for readmission.

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from all their classes for the current semester or for a subsequent 
semester for which they have already registered must complete a Total Withdrawal Request Form. This form 
must be submitted by the end of the 12th week of classes for the semester
in which they wish to withdraw. The withdrawal form and instructions are available online. See the Office of
Academic Affairs for more information.  

Students who are physically unable to complete the withdrawal in person, students who are administratively 
withdrawn, and students who have special needs due to extenuating circumstances should contact the
Office of Academic Affairs or Office of Student Affairs for assistance.

Students considering a total withdrawal should note the following: 

• The effective date of the withdrawal will be the date on which EM/Records 
receives the completed withdrawal request form.

• By registering for courses, students accept financial responsibility for payment for those courses and for
any other charges incurred while they are enrolled.

• Financial aid may be adjusted or canceled as a result of withdrawal and may require repayment of loan
funds. Adjustments to financial aid awards will be calculated according to University and Federal refund
guidelines based on the official withdrawal date.  

• Once the withdrawal has been completed, students will receive a grade of “W” for each course.

• Students who reside in University housing are required to check out of their residence hall within
24 hours of completing the total withdrawal process.

• Completing a total withdrawal from the University requires that students surrender all University property,
including, but not limited to library books, room keys, computer cards, and identification/access cards.

• Students who complete a total withdrawal from the University must apply for or request readmission to
the University by published deadlines.  The procedure for readmission depends on the length of the
student’s absence from the University.

• Students should go to the Office of Academic Affairs or the Office of Student Affairs and/or review online
to obtain a Total Withdrawal Request Form,  and to discuss the reasons for and the implications of the withdrawal.
Students who decide to continue with the withdrawal process should have the  withdrawal form signed by
the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; obtain readmission instructions, and then proceed as follows to the offices
that correspond with their student status:

• Veterans, students with disabilities, and students who have judicial stipulations should report to the
Office of Student Services. More information can be found at https://studentaffairs.howard.edu/departments/office-student-services

• International students must report to the Office of International Student Services in Blackburn Center

• Students who reside in University housing must report to the Office of Residence Life

• Students who received any type of financial aid (including scholarships, grants, and loans) must report to the
Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Student Employment, Rm. 205 Administration Building to discuss the
effect of withdrawal on their award(s) and potential financial aid over payment

• All students must report to the Office of Student Financial Services. Rm. 218, Administration Building to discuss
the status of and adjustments to their account.

• All students must report to EM/Records, Rm. 104 Administration Building to submit the completed Total Withdrawal
Request form and surrender their Capstone Card.

303.9 Readmission after a Total Withdrawal

See below for the process to seek readmission after a total withdrawal. Contact the Office of Academic
Affairs if you need further information.

Howard University Email Management Policy