Suffolk Law Student Handbook

Add/Drop Period

For elective courses, class meetings during the add/drop period shall be disregarded in

determining whether a student has exceeded the Applicable Absence Limitation. This does

not apply to required courses, summer session, inter-session or intensive courses.

Inter-session and Intensive Courses

Because inter-session and intensive courses normally are designed to have a limited

number of class meetings, there is

Applicable Absence Limitation available for these

courses. Students are expected to attend all class meetings of inter-session and intensive

courses. An absence or significant tardiness to an inter-session or an intensive classes will

result in the student being excluded from the course. To obtain a waiver to this rule, a

student must submit a petition to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students will only

grant the petition if 1) the petition shows an extraordinary and unavoidable circumstance,

and 2) the instructor believes that the amount of absence will not unreasonably alter the

level of engagement expected of all students in the course.

Reasons for Absences

The absences taken within Applicable Absence Limitation in any course must relate to

short-term family, personal, religious observance, localized weather, commuting, work or

illness issues.

Reporting Absences to the Instructor, Dean of Students

Any absences within the Applicable Absence Limitation should be reported directly to the

instructor by the student. Any absences in excess of the Applicable Absence Limitation or

any absences of more than three consecutive school days shall be reported to the Dean of

Students by the student as soon as practicable.

Excused Absences Beyond the Applicable Absence Limitation

The Dean of Students does not excuse absences that fall within the Applicable Absence

Limitation. However, the Dean of Students may make a determination that, on account of

extraordinary circumstances affecting an extended period of time, a student shall be

excused for a limited amount of time beyond the Applicable Absence Limitation. Such

extraordinary circumstances must relate to health, bereavement, family, military, or

significant personal issues. Excusals will not be granted for vacations or on-going conflicts

resulting from the student’s normal employment commitments. In addition, excusals will

not be granted to relieve Day Students of the limitation on employment set by the law

school.

The Dean of Students may not excuse absences for more than one week’s worth of classes

beyond the Applicable Absence Limitation or in circumstances where a student would miss