10
Non-Academic Policies
Announcements
Official announcements by the administration of the School of Law are posted to the law school blogs and forwarded to student GroupWise e-mail accounts (see below). All students are responsible for reading official announcements, including those sent to GroupWise accounts.
Bulletin Boards
The glass-encased bulletin boards in the Levy Student Lounge in Bannan Hall are the official place for announcements, including registration information and reading assignments. Other assigned bulletin boards are located in the Bannan, Bergin, and Heafey hallways.
GroupWise E-Mail Accounts
Each student is expected to open a GroupWise e-mail account. Official administrative announcements are sent via e-mail, and students are responsible for checking their e-mail regularly and keeping themselves informed.
A GroupWise account may be opened at any computer lab on campus. Students may forward their GroupWise accounts to other preferred e-mail accounts.
Law School Blogs
Students are expected to sign up for the law school blogs. To do so, log on to law.scu.edu/blog, select from the blog list, and click on “Subscribe.” All students are added to the Official Announcements and Law Career Services blog mailing list. Students in their last year of school are added to the Law Graduates blog.
Student organizations may send out announcements through the SBA blog. Check with the SBA secretary for instructions. Generally, groups should avoid any e-mail clutter by sending out only one reminder per event and advertising SCU organization-sponsored events only.
Publications
The Grapevine
Published weekly by the SBA, The Grapevine contains information about scheduled events, meetings, and policy updates. The Grapevine is available in the Levy Student Lounge each Monday when classes are in session. The publication is also online at law.scu.edu/life/grapevine.cfm.
The Advocate
The Advocate is the monthly newspaper of the law school. The paper is staffed and operated exclusively by law students. The paper attempts to keep the law school and law alumni informed on events and ideas of both legal and general interest. Contribution of articles and materials from the entire student body and faculty is encouraged. The publication archive is available online at law.scu.edu/advocate/index.cfm.
Name and Address Changes
Address, name, e-mail address, and phone number changes should be made through the E-Campus system. All changes should be made immediately to ensure that students receive important information from the law school in a timely manner.
Student Mail Folders
Each student is assigned a mail folder in the Levy Student Lounge for school correspondence only. The law school is not responsible for distributing personal first-class mail; be sure to inform family and friends of an appropriate mailing address. Students who have requested non-disclosure (see above) are not provided with a mail folder unless they request one.
Student Lockers
Book lockers are available for rent in Bannan Hall. The SBA announces locker assignment procedures at the start of the school year.
Student Records and FERPA
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 protects the confidentiality of the University records of Santa Clara University students. The University is authorized under provisions of the Act to release directory information to any person on request, unless a student explicitly requests in writing that the University not to do so and keep directory information confidential.
A student’s directory information is designated as follows:
- Name
- Address (campus, local and/or permanent; e-mail)
- Telephone number
- Date and place of birth
- Photographic image
- Major field of study, classification, dates of attendance, expected graduation date, degrees, and honors received
- Most recent previous educational institution attended
- Participation in officially recognized activities, including intercollegiate athletics
- Height and weight of participants on intercollegiate athletic teams
During the registration period and throughout the academic year, students may request in writing, through the Student Services Office that directory information be kept confidential. Once filed, the request remains in effect until the beginning of the next academic year, or a shorter period, if designated by the student. Graduating students must notify the Student Services Office or the Office of the University Registrar, in writing, to remove the non-disclosure notation from their record.
The Student Services Office will not release any information about a student without the signed authorization of the student.
Certain records are excluded by law from inspection, specifically those created or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist in connection with the treatment or counseling of a student. Parents’ financial information, including statements submitted with scholarship applications, is also excluded by law from inspection. Third parties may not have access to educational records or other information pertaining to students without the written consent of the student about whom the information is sought.
Former or current borrowers of funds from any Title IV student loan program should note carefully that requests for nondisclosure of information will not prevent Santa Clara University from releasing information pertinent to employment, enrollment status, current address, and loan account status to a school lender, subsequent holder, guarantee agency, U.S. Department of Education, or an authorized agent.
Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records at the following offices:
- Official academic records, including application forms, admission transcripts, letters of acceptance, and a student’s permanent academic record are on file and maintained in the Office of the University Registrar and the Law Student Services Office.
- Records related to a student’s nonacademic activities are maintained in the office of the senior assistant dean for student services.
- Records relating to a student’s financial status with the University are maintained in the various student financial services offices and in the office of the associate dean.
Students have the right to request the amendment of their educational records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights. Students may direct complaints regarding academic records to the Student Services Office or to the University Registrar. In addition, students have the right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Santa Clara University to comply with the requirements of the Act. Written complaints should be directed to:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
For additional information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or to obtain a copy of Santa Clara University’s policy, please go to www.scu.edu/ferpa. You may also contact the Office of the University Registrar in Walsh Administration Building.
Health Insurance
International Students on an F-1 visa must either enroll in the University sponsored insurance plan or show proof of their own health insurance plan by completing the on-line waiver form by the deadline date of August 17, 2009. The waiver will be accepted if the student’s insurance is comparable to the University sponsored plan. If the student does not submit an acceptable waiver, they will be automatically enrolled in the University sponsored plan and their student account will be charged $1661.00 for the annual insurance policy.
Health insurance is voluntary for all domestic law students; however, first year students must complete the on-line opt-out form if they choose not to enroll in the school sponsored plan by August 17, 2009. Go to www.scu.edu/cshc/insurance.cfm for details on completing the waiver or on-line enrollment options.
All law students are welcome to use the Cowell Health Center at any time.
Cell Phone Policy
The following policy applies to the entire law school community:
1. Cell phones and pagers are allowed in the classrooms and library only if all forms of audible ringing and/or beeping are turned off. In these two locations, all cell phones and pagers may be operated in the vibrating mode.
2. If a call is received on a cell phone or a pager in either the library or the classrooms, it should be taken outside. Speaking on a cell phone, no matter how quietly, is not allowed in the classrooms or the library.
Bannan Hall Policies
1. Display Cabinets
The Student Services Office controls the use of the display cabinets located in Bannan. The Office of the Associate Dean controls display cabinets located in Heafey. Law school staff, faculty, and students wishing to sponsor a display should submit a request to the appropriate office. Materials for display should be submitted one week prior to the date of the display and picked up one week after the last day of the display. Proposed displays are subject to approval by law school administration. When not previously reserved, cabinets may be used for faculty biographies, law school history, holiday themes, administrative notices, and certificate and specialty programs.
2. Levy Student Lounge
The lounge is intended for use by law students only. Student mail folders are for law school business only. Outside vendors and agencies are prohibited from “stuffing” these folders. Student groups may reserve lounge table space through the SBA to sell event tickets or promote other activities. Several small tables are stored near the copier or in the closet of Bannan 137. Students must return tables to storage after use. Outside vendors and for-profit organizations may not to reserve space in the lounge or conduct any type of product sales.
3. Bulletin Boards
Each bulletin board is labeled. Boards may be used for the subjects listed only.
4. Bannan Hallways
Outside vendors and for-profit organizations may reserve table space in Bannan’s east hallway through the SBA. Student groups also may reserve space in the east hallway through the SBA.
Student Announcement Channel
The Student Announcement Channel (SAC) is a resource for law students, staff, faculty, alumni, and guests of the law school and University. It is available in the Heafey Law Library lobby and Bannan Hall, as well as anywhere Link TV is available.
1. Advertising on the SAC is available only for events or news of interest to University law students and must be submitted by a recognized University entity via e-mail to: lawdigitalsignage@scu.edu for approval.
2. The law school reserves the right to deny any advertisement that is deemed inappropriate for the purpose of the SAC.
3. The law school reserves the right to deny any predesigned ad based on appearance.
4. Content is the responsibility of the submitter. The law school may edit content if it is too lengthy.
5. Content must fall within one of the following areas:
a. Events on campus
b. Events off campus, sponsored by the law school or a University entity
c. Deadlines/timelines
d. Job announcements, approved by the Career Services Office
Personal messages, philosophical statements, and other messages beyond these four areas will not be included. The depiction of alcohol will follow current university alcohol policy.
