6.01 Adding or Dropping Courses

1. A first year student must consult with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs before adding or dropping any courses after the semester begins.
2. Second and third year students may add or drop courses prior to the posted University deadlines. Second and third year students considering dropping any course after the second week of class are encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Second and third year students must contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs if they are considering dropping all of the courses in which they are enrolled, or if they wish to drop a course after the University's drop deadline.
3. Withdrawal from a course is not official until the student completes the University's process for dropping a course.
4. The time for submission of the final paper shall ordinarily be fixed by the instructor no later than the end of the final exam period for the semester.
   1. An extension of one full semester may be granted if the instructor believes such an extension is appropriate, given the nature of the course or paper. A further extension of one full semester may be granted by the instructor only if a student individually justifies the need for such an extension based on illness or other serious change of circumstances.
   2. The instructor shall notify the Dean's Office of any extensions of time for the class or for the individuals beyond the date on which grades should be submitted for the semester in which the course is offered.
   3. No extensions beyond those authorized in 6.01(4)(a) shall be given except with the express authorization of the Dean's office.
   4. In no event shall a student under the jurisdiction of the Retentions Committee be allowed to submit a paper at a time beyond the end of classes for the semester in which a course is given.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.02 Penalty for Failure to Complete Course

In any cases where withdrawal is not authorized under Rule 6.01(1) or (2), the student who fails to complete a course or to hand in an examination paper shall receive a grade of "F" (on the 4.3 scale) for such course, unless such failure is excused by the Dean or the Dean's designee.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.03 Rescheduling Examinations

The policy of the law school is that all students must take examinations at the scheduled time and in the format specified for the course unless there exist extraordinary and compelling circumstances, as defined below:

1. A student who is scheduled to take two examinations on the same day may postpone the second examination to the first day on which the student does not have a scheduled examination. A student who has four consecutive examinations may postpone one of the exams for one week.
2. Except in extraordinary circumstances, an examination will not be rescheduled later than the end of the examination period in which the examination is scheduled.
3. An examination may be rescheduled subject to approval of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, in the following circumstances. Students requesting an exam reschedule under these circumstances should be mindful that making a knowingly false statement to a University employee is nonacademic misconduct under Chapter 17 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and students must supply documentation substantiating their reschedule requests when possible.
   1. Where illness or pregnancy of the student actually prevents the student from taking an exam. A student who becomes ill during an examination and is unable to complete it must take a new examination.
   2. Where a member of a student's family, their "significant other," or another loved one has died, and the student is attending the funeral or grieving.
   3. Where a Sabbath or other religious observance precludes a student from taking an examination.
   4. Where a student is attending the birth of their child.
   5. Other circumstances sufficiently similar in gravity to those above that equity requires comparable treatment.
4. The following are examples of circumstances where examinations will not be rescheduled:
   1. Where a student is taking a bar review course.
   2. Where a student has a professional opportunity that conflicts with a scheduled examination.
   3. Where a student is late, oversleeps, is caught in traffic, etc.
   4. Where a student wishes to leave early for the winter or summer break.
   5. Where a student has exams on 3 consecutive days.
5. [Reserved]
6. Whenever possible requests for postponements should be made to the office of the Assistant Dean in the manner specified by the Assistant Dean not later than four weeks before examinations begin or the posted deadline. Students should not request special arrangements for examinations from the instructor in a course. Questions about the meaning or application of these rules should be addressed to the Assistant Dean.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.04 Notice of Intention to Retake

A student eligible to retake a course shall notify the Dean or the Dean's designee in writing of their intention to retake a course by the second week of the semester in which they plan to retake the course and must register again for that course.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.05 Forfeiture of Retake Privilege

A student who has notified the Dean or the Dean's designee in writing of their intention to retake a course and who fails to complete the course requirements shall thereby forfeit the privilege of retaking such course.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.06 Rules for Conducting Examinations

1. No books, paper, outlines or bluebooks shall be brought into the examination room except as authorized in advance by the individual instructor.
2. The Dean or Dean's designee may establish rules for conducting examinations as appropriate.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.07 Examinations in Absentia

A student may, for reasons of illness, death in the family, absence in the military service or other compelling reasons, on sufficient notice to the Dean, be permitted to write examinations in absentia. The examination must be written at the same time it is given at the Law School. This procedure applies to rewrite examinations.

6.08 Instructional Records to be Retained

Instructors shall retain all grade-impacting information for one year from the end of the semester in which the grade was given. Grade-impacting information includes, but is not limited to, students' examination answers, student assignments, papers, grading sheets, student attendance, and student participation records.

[By Faculty action, 1 November 2024. This rule was formerly titled "Examinations to be Kept on File" and stated: "Examination bluebooks shall be kept on file for one year."]

6.09 Retaking Courses

1. A student then eligible to continue may retake one course subject to the following limitations:
   1. A first year course may be retaken only during the second year.
   2. The maximum grade upon retaking shall be a "C" (on the 4.3 scale). Both the original grade in the course and the grade earned on the retake shall be entered into the student's record. The retake grade shall control for all purposes except honorary awards and election to Coif, as to which the original grade shall control.
   3. Students must attend classes when retaking a course.
   4. Special examinations will not be prepared for the purpose of retaking.
   5. A student may not retake under this Section if the student has been required or permitted to retake a course by the Retentions Committee under Section 7.01.
   6. A student may retake Legal Analysis, Advocacy, and Writing under Rule 3.11 without exhausting the retake privilege under this section.
2. Any student may apply to the Petitions Committee for permission to retake any course. The Committee may grant permission to retake in cases where there is reason to believe that the grade received in the original course does not reflect the student's ability and preparation in the course but was caused by circumstances such as serious illness or great emotional distress. The retake grade shall control for all purposes, although both the original grade in the course and the grade earned on the retake shall be entered into the student's record. 
   Example: A student takes an examination. During the course of the examination, the student is notified of a death in the family. The student attempts to complete the examination and turns in an answer. The student fails to ask to be excused from the examination. The student receives a grade of "F" (on the 4.3 scale). The student's average before the examination was 2.7 (on the 4.3 scale). The instructor in the course states that the student made some contribution to class discussion and seemed prepared. The student is able to show that the student exerted adequate effort in studying for the examination. The Committee will grant permission to retake and the grade obtained on the retake will control for all purposes such as honorary awards. The original grade in the course will still appear in the student's record.
3. A non-law student taking a law course is eligible to use the school's retake privilege. The maximum grade on a retake will be limited to "C" (on the 4.3 scale), which constitutes a "B" under the conversion tables in Rule 2.05 or Rule 4.08 (as applicable).
4. A student eligible to retake a course shall notify the Dean or the Dean's designee in writing of their intention to retake a course by the second week of the semester in which they plan to retake the course, and must register again for that course.
5. A student who has notified the Dean or the Dean's designee in writing of their intention to retake a course and who fails to complete the course requirements shall thereby forfeit the privilege of retaking such course.

[Modified by faculty action 12 Sept 2025]

6.10 Identification by Number

Students shall identify themselves on examination papers by number rather than by name. This requirement does not apply to those Law courses offered on a "cross-listed" or "meets with" basis taught by a non-Law School instructor and/or originating from a department outside the Law School.

6.11 No Collaboration Policy

No collaboration with, or assistance from, other persons is permitted on exams, papers, or written exercises, except to the extent that the instructor has granted permission therefore in writing.

Cross-reference

See Appendix A, Appendix B, and the University of Wisconsin Disciplinary Code.