CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Class Attendance
Emory Law does not offer distance education courses other than in the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program. Faculty teaching JD, LLM, and SJD courses are permitted to schedule up to 20% of class sessions as distance education sessions; any increase in this number must be approved by the Vice-Dean in advance.
If the faculty member has scheduled the class session as a distance education session, then participation in that session counts for attendance. A distance education class session requires real-time interaction between the professor and students. Class recordings that involve no interaction between the professor and students do not normally qualify as distance education.
Class attendance is a fundamental part of the learning process and reflects professional responsibility values. Only in-person class attendance counts as attendance, unless the student has an approved accommodation provided under law or under exceptional circumstances. Students are required to inform the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Students, or their designee, if they receive an accommodation providing for distance education so that it may be properly recorded and reported to the ABA and state committees of bar examiners.
Exceptional circumstances will be determined by the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Students, or their designee. Minor illnesses, flight delays, job interviews, or student organization travel do not normally count as an exceptional circumstance. An exceptional circumstance may include serious illness or the death of a close family member. If either the faculty member or student disagrees with the determination of the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Students, they may appeal the decision to the Dean.
Consistent with American Bar Association requirements, the law school requires regular attendance in all courses. A student who attends fewer than 80% of classes in a course, whether due to excused or unexcused absences, is presumed to have excessive absences. Excessive absences can result, without advance notice or warning, in any of the following sanctions:
• reduction of the student’s final grade;
• denial of permission to complete course work, or sit for examinations; or
• receipt of a grade of “F” (Failing), all at the discretion of the faculty member involved.
Students are advised that faculty members may, and often do, establish their own specific attendance and preparation requirements, which may be stricter than this general standard. All faculty members must make their attendance policies clear in the course syllabus and must maintain accurate attendance records throughout the semester as required by the American Bar Association.
A student who has been notified that they will receive a grade of F due to excessive absences may petition the Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs or their designee, prior to the end of the final exam period, to instead receive a grade of “W” (Withdrawn).
It is deemed pedagogically necessary for the course of legal education that students enrolled in a JD program attend all sessions in person. Consistent with applicable ABA Guidelines, if an instructor permits occasional remote attendance, they must affirmatively document all instances in which they permit remote participation in a J.D. course when such participation is counted as regular attendance.
Use of Recording Devices
Students may not record faculty or staff. Students may not record classes except with the express permission of the class instructor. Classes may be recorded in accordance with disability accommodations granted by the Department of Accessibility Services (DAS), or at the discretion of the instructor for such reasons as religious observance, illness, or accident. Instructors may also choose to make class recordings available to all students as a matter of classroom policy.
Collegiality
Students at Emory Law commit to a spirit of collegiality and respect in both residential classes and the online environment. Students will be respectful, positive, and constructive when responding to peers, instructors, and Emory Law staff and administrators.
Humor and Extraneous Comments
In an online environment, sarcasm or certain types of humor can be misconstrued. Students shall strive to be aware of cultural differences among their peers and avoid humor related to controversial subjects or that might be misinterpreted. Students should also avoid extraneous comments that may be distracting, disruptive, or potentially offensive to others.
Prohibited Behavior
Behavior toward community members.
Students shall refrain from profanity, obscene content, threatening or abusive comments, online bullying, and cyber-stalking. Such behavior will not be tolerated and may subject offenders to sanctions, including suspension or termination of access; disciplinary actions in accordance with applicable university policy; civil or criminal prosecution.
Class material, lectures, recordings, discussions, images, or other materials.
Students will not download, retain, publish, or post any material generated by a professor or by any other student for anything outside the immediate class. Students may not retain or post faculty materials, may not post any portion or image of live or asynchronous classes to any medium outside those approved for a particular class. Students shall not share classmates' academic work, including group work, in social media or other forums without explicit permission.
Privacy
Students shall not post photos, recordings, or videos of classmates without their explicit permission on social networks or elsewhere.