IX. Voluntary Withdrawal and Readmission

A first-year student who withdraws before the last instruction day of the first semester in which he or she matriculates is entitled to readmission one time either  as a first year student in the fall semester one year after matriculation or in the fall semester two years after matriculation. The Assistant Dean for Student Services must certify at the time of withdrawal that the student had a valid reason for, and was a good faith student before withdrawal.   The student must notify the School of Law in writing of his or her intent to return not later than April 15 preceding the academic year for which the student wishes to return.

A first-year, first-semester student who withdraws before the last instruction day of the first semester a year or more after he or she first matriculated shall be entitled, for any reason, to withdraw from the School of Law at any time before the last instructional day of the semester by providing written notice to the Assistant Dean for Student Services.  Readmission is governed by the Five-Year Rule, and such a student may seek to continue his or her legal studies upon written request for readmission to the Assistant Dean for Student Services no later than April 15 before the fall semester.

A first-year student who withdraws during the second semester and has completed the first semester with a grade point average of 2.5 or above is entitled to readmission one time either as a first-year student for the fall semester at the beginning of the academic year one year after matriculation or for the fall semester at the beginning of the academic year two years after matriculation.  The student must notify the School of Law in writing of his or her intent to return no later than June 1 proceeding the academic year in which the student wishes to return. 

A first-year student who withdraws during the second semester a year or more after he or she first matriculated shall be entitled, for any reason, to withdraw from the School of Law at any time before the last instructional day of the semester by providing written notice to the Assistant Dean for Student Services.  Readmission is governed by the Five-Year Rule, and such a student may seek to continue his or her legal studies upon written request for readmission to the Assistant Dean for Student Services no later than April 15 before the fall semester.  A returning student does not have to repeat first term courses that he or she passed, with the possible exception of the first semester of a year-long, first-year course.  The Assistant Dean for Student Services, in consultation with year-long, first-year faculty, will make any such determination.

A first-year student who withdraws during the second semester and has completed the first semester with a grade point average below 2.5 may apply for readmission as a first-year student for the fall semester at the beginning of one, but not both, of the next two succeeding academic years.  The student must notify the Assistant Dean for Student Services of the School of Law in writing of his or her intent to apply for readmission not later than June 1 preceding the academic year for which readmission is sought.  Readmission is at the discretion of, and subject to any special conditions imposed by the Assistant Dean for Student Services, and is governed by the Five-Year Rule.  If the Assistant Dean for Student Services authorizes the discretionary readmission of a student with a grade point average of below 2.5, the student must retake all first-year courses, and the grades previously received in those courses will be disregarded for all purposes but not removed from the transcript.

A second- or third-year student shall be entitled, for any reason, to withdraw from the School of Law at any time before the last instructional day of the semester by providing written notice to the Assistant Dean for Student Services. Readmission of a second- and third-year student who has voluntarily withdrawn is governed by the Five-Year Rule, and such a student may seek to continue his or her legal studies upon written request for readmission to the Assistant Dean for Student Services no later than April 15 before the fall semester or October 15 before the spring semester in which the student wishes to recommence his or her legal studies.

A withdrawal or leave of absence does not extend the time limit for the completion of requirements for the Juris Doctor degree.

A student returning to the Law School after an absence of more than two consecutive standard-term semesters must fulfill the degree requirements that apply to the expected graduating class that the student is joining.