University of Missouri School of Law: Student Handbook Academic Dismissal and Probation

Academic Dismissal and Probation

Rules for Dismissal and Probation

As used herein:
1. "First year" consists of that series of semesters or summer sessions, or both, at the end of which a student first receives grades in courses aggregating to not less than 24 hours.
2. "Semester" means either the fall or winter semester. The summer session is considered to be part of the next succeeding semester for the purpose of computing semester grade point averages.
3. "Session" means any period at the end of which grades are received.
A student is dismissed:
1. at the end of the student's
  1. first semester if his or her cumulative grade point average is less than 76.4; or
  2. first year if his or her cumulative grade point average is less than 76.4; or
2. at the end of any semester after the student's first year if his or her grade point average for that semester is less than 76.4; or
3. at the end of any semester during which the student has been on probation if his or her grade point average for that semester is less than 77.5; or
4. at the end of any semester during which the student has been on probation if his or her grade point average for that semester is
  1. not sufficient to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to graduation level 77.5 if continued in future semesters until the remaining requirements for graduation have been satisfied; or
  2. less than the semester grade point average which was imposed upon him or her as a condition of probation or readmission; or,
5. at the end of any session prior to the completion of the student's first year if
  1. he or she has received grades in at least two sessions; and
  2. has received grades in courses aggregating not less than 12 hours; and
  3. has a cumulative grade point average of less than 76.4; or at the end of that session when the student first receives passing grades in courses aggregating 89 or more hours and his or her cumulative grade point average is less than 77.5.
A student is placed or continued on probation:
1. at the end of the student's first year if his or her cumulative grade point average is from 76.4 to 77.4 inclusive; or
2. at the end of any semester after the student's first year, if his or her grade point average for that semester is from 76.4 to 77.4 inclusive; or
3. a student who is on probation will be continued on probation if his or her cumulative grade point average is less than 77.5, but the semester grade point average is sufficient to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to graduation level 77.5 if continued in future semesters until the remaining requirements for graduation have been satisfied.
A student ceases to be on probation at the end of a semester when his or her cumulative grade point average and grade point average for that semester are both 77.5 or higher.

Rights of Students Petitioning for Readmission

Students who petition the Law School for readmission following academic dismissal have the following rights:

Fair notice of the time and place of the meeting.
To submit any supporting written material to the Faculty Readmissions Committee and/or to the Faculty at large in advance of the meeting, or to present such material at the meeting.
To appear personally at the meeting and make a presentation of reasonable duration.
To be accompanied by a person of their own choosing.
To be informed promptly following the meeting of the Committee's recommendation or decision, or the Faculty's decision.

Readmission Procedures

Readmission Procedures for students dismissed at the end of the first semester under Rule 2A(1)

A student dismissed at the end of the student’s first semester whose grade point average for the first semester is less than 75.3 will not be permitted to attend law school for the succeeding winter semester. Such student will be permitted to enroll for the next fall semester provided the student gives notice of his or her intention to enroll by April 15 of the semester following his or her dismissal. A student so re-enrolling will retake all the first year courses, and will be required to obtain a grade point average of at least 77.5 for the repeated semester. If the student fails to obtain this grade point average, the student will be dismissed.
A student dismissed at the end of the student’s first semester whose grade point average is between 75.3 and 76.3 inclusive may apply for readmission for the winter semester. Such student may not attend classes unless he or she has filed a written petition for readmission within 7 days after receipt of a letter of dismissal. If the Readmissions Committee denies readmission for the winter semester, or if the student requests readmission as of the next fall semester, the student shall be readmitted for the following fall semester subject to the same conditions described in paragraph C.1 above, or under such conditions as the Readmissions Committee may determine. If the student is readmitted for the winter semester, the student will be subject to the dismissal rules under paragraph A.2.a (1) above, but shall not be subject to dismissal under paragraph A.2.c or A.2.d above.

Readmission Procedures for students dismissed at any time after the first semester

A student who has been dismissed may not attend classes unless he or she has filed a written petition for readmission within 7 days after receipt of a letter of dismissal.
To be readmitted a student must file a petition with the Faculty Readmissions Committee. To qualify for readmission, an applicant for readmission must show: (1) that the applicant's poor academic performance was the result of facts other than intellectual inability to perform satisfactory law school work; (2) that these factors will not continue to impair the applicant's performance in the future; and (3) that there is reasonable probability that the applicant can raise his or her grade point average to the graduation level by the time 89 credits have been accumulated.
A petition for readmission by a student who has been dismissed shall be heard by the Readmissions Committee. If the Committee's decision is favorable for readmission, or is unanimous against readmission, that decision shall be final and the student shall have no right of appeal to the faculty at large. If the Committee's decision is unfavorable against readmission, but not unanimous, the petition shall be referred to the faculty at large for decision. A quorum of the Readmissions Committee, for purposes of deciding petitions for readmission, shall consist of one less than all voting members.
A student who petitions for readmission has the right to appear personally before the Faculty Readmissions Committee and, if allowed under these rules, the Faculty at large. The student may be summoned to appear before either group by making a personal appearance or by supplying answers to written questions. (See above for a full statement of rights of petitioners.)
A student who has been dismissed for scholastic reasons and whose readmission is approved will be on probation and subject to such conditions as may be imposed. The conditions below will apply unless varied by the Faculty or Faculty Readmissions Committee.
It is the policy of the Readmissions Committee to make decisions on readmission prior to the end of the summer term for those students who are dismissed at the end of the winter semester and who may be enrolled in the summer term. Therefore, the readmission decision will not be delayed until summer grades are received.

Standard Conditions for Law Students Readmitted after Scholastic Dismissal, and for Law Students on Probation

Students who are readmitted or are on probation are subject to the following conditions as well as any specific conditions stated in the readmission action:

they will continue on academic probation until achieving academic good standing, which requires a cumulative grade point average of 77.5 or higher.
Any first year student who does not achieve a 77.50 GPA in the fall semester will be required to take the course in Legal Reasoning (5090) during the second semester. Those students in Legal Reasoning will not take Advocacy and Research until the second year. This course is designed to assist students in meeting the graduation requirements.
until such time as they achieve a cumulative grade point average of 77.5 or higher, they must maintain a semester grade point average as set out in the readmission action. If no semester grade point average was specified, the student must maintain a semester grade point average sufficient to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to graduation level (77.5) by the time the other requirements for graduation are completed.
their schedule of courses must be approved by the Associate Dean, and the dropping of any course during the semester must also be approved by the Associate Dean. In general, students will be required to take required courses before electives and take graded courses rather than pass-fail courses.
during any session in which they are enrolled, they will not engage in any employment for compensation or spend a substantial amount of time on extra-curricular activities without the prior written approval of the Associate Dean Office.
they are not allowed to take the following courses:
1. Externship (5570)
2. Independent Research
3. Courses taught outside Law School (e.g. graduate courses)
4. Courses taught by non-law faculty
5. Seminars (5895), except students classified as third-year students.
6. Clinics or Clinic related courses including
  1. Child Protection Clinic (5405)
  2. Criminal Clinic (6570)
  3. Family Violence Clinic: Individual & Social Justice (5580)
  4. Mediation Clinic (5770)
  5. Clinical Skills (554L)
  6. Judicial Clinic (5681) & Judicial Clinic Seminar (5682)
  7. Legislative Clinic (5746) & Legislative Clinic Seminar (5747)


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