Additional Student Rights and Responsibilities
Student Complaints
As an ABA-accredited law school, Elon University School of Law is subject to the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The ABA Standards may be found at http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/standards.html. Any student at the law school who wishes to bring a formal complaint or concern to the administration of a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards should submit their complaint in writing to the Office of Career and Student Development. The complaint may be emailed to Studentaffairs@elon.edu or submitted in person, but must be signed by the complainant.
When a formal written complaint has been received, the Associate Director of Career and Student Development shall investigate as soon as possible, but no later than 30 calendar days after the filing of the written complaint. The Associate Director of Career and Student Development shall attempt to resolve the complaint, if possible, within the 30 calendar day period. If resolution is not possible, the Associate Director of Career and Student Development may refer the matter to the appropriate administrator, administrative body, or an administrative official designated by the Dean (the “Dean’s designate”).
If referral of the complaint is made as referenced above, the administrator, administrative body or Dean’s designate shall attempt to resolve the complaint as soon as possible, but in no event later than 30 calendar days after referral.
Upon completing the investigation of the complaint, the Law School shall communicate its findings and, if appropriate, its intended actions to the complainant. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome or resolution, that individual has the right to appeal the decision. The complainant should submit his/her written comments in a timely manner, but in no case more than 14 days after communication of the findings of the investigation, to the Dean of the Law School. The Dean’s decision shall be communicated to the complainant and the investigator(s) within 30 calendar days and shall be final.
The Law School shall maintain a complete written record of each complaint and how it was investigated and resolved. Written records shall be maintained in a confidential manner by the Associate Director of Career and Student Development.
Please note that this handbook contains separate sections pertaining specifically to sexual harassment complaints and those complaints that may fall within the Elon Law Honor Code. Jurisdiction over a student complaint may overlap and may not be exclusive to one Elon Law policy.
Sexual Discrimination/Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking
Elon University has a legal obligation to ensure a working and learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, or violence. Elon University has procedures to receive, investigate, respond to and resolve complaints of discrimination, including harassment based on sex, as well as domestic violence, intimate partner violence and stalking. In this policy, “discrimination,” refers generically and inclusively to all forms of discrimination based on sex or gender, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, nonconsensual sexual acts, sexual misconduct and sexual violence. These policies and processes are universal student policies and apply to all students, including graduate and law students. All Elon University students, including graduate and law school students, will be held responsible for policies regarding sexual harassment, sexual discrimination/misconduct, domestic violence, partner violence and stalking as defined in the Elon University Student Handbook, available at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/handbook/.
All reported incidents of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination/misconduct, domestic violence, partner violence and stalking involving Elon University students, including those enrolled in graduate programs and law school, will be adjudicated per the processes defined in the Elon University Student Handbook available at http://www.elon.edu/e- web/students/handbook/.
Elon University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex including sexual harassment as well as sexual violence (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972). The University has designated the following person(s) as Title IX Officer(s) to coordinate compliance and handle inquiries regarding this nondiscrimination policy.
Title IX Officer: Dr. Jana Lynn Fields Patterson, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Student Health and Wellness, Ellington Center for Health and Wellness 104, 2970 Campus Box Elon, NC27244, (336) 278 7200; patters@elon.edu
Deputy Title IX Officer for Athletics: Ms. Faith Shearer, Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator, Alumni Field House 239-H, 2500 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244, (336) 278-6790; fshearer@elon.edu
Deputy Title IX Officer for the Law School: Ms. Melissa Duncan, Associate Director of Career and Student Development, Law School Room 107-M, 2005 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244, (336) 278-9256; mduncan6@elon.edu
Additional information about reporting and resources are available in the Elon University Student Handbook as well as the following websites:
Student Access to Files
Elon University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA as amended). This act is designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with FERPA.
Under the provisions of FERPA, students have the right to withhold the disclosure of Directory Information, defined as:
- Name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, class, and electronic e-mail address.
- Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors (including Dean’s list), degree(s) conferred (including dates). 3. Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes), date and place of birth.
Students should consider very carefully the consequences of any decision to withhold Directory Information; any future requests for such information from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused. Students who wish to withhold Directory Information should contact the Office of the Registrar. The institution will honor requests to withhold the information listed below but cannot assume responsibility to contact students for subsequent permission to release such information. The institution assumes no liability for honoring instructions that such information be withheld. The items listed below are designated as Directory Information and may be released for any purpose at the discretion of the institution unless the student has requested the information be withheld:
FERPA also affords students certain rights to their education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Office of Career and Student Development, Registrar’s Office, or other appropriate official, a request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the University official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the University to amend a record should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to provide written consent before the University discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health and counseling staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the University. Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The University may make disclosure to parents and other parties based on provisions of FERPA, which are listed in The Federal Register, Volume 73, No. 237, December 9, 2008. These disclosures are made at the discretion of University officials.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-5901
Questions about student records and FERPA may be directed to the Office of Career and Student Development or the Registrar’s Office. Health and counseling records are not covered by FERPA and can only be released with signed permission unless as allowed by law. Students wishing to release their health or counseling records should contact the R.N. Ellington Health and Counseling Center at (336) 278-7230.
Requests for copies of a student’s transcript may be made at the following address: http://www.elon.edu/e-web/law/academics/transcriptrequest.xhtml?m=1 (note: it may take up to a week to produce a transcript). All Law School transcripts reflect the student’s complete Law School academic record. No transcripts will be issued without the written authorization of the student. No transcript is issued for a student who has an outstanding financial obligation to the University.
Disability Services
The Law School and Elon University are committed to the principle of equal opportunity. One of the ways we express that commitment is in our efforts to accommodate qualified students with disabilities as they face the challenges of university life. Faculty, staff, administrators and students work together to find approaches and accommodations that enable students to benefit from the wide variety of programs and activities on campus.
The Law School’s Office of Career and Student Development works with the University’s Academic Support Center to arrive at the most suitable approaches and accommodations for its students. More information about the University’s disability services department, as well as the University’s Disabilities Guidebook , are available online.
Students who have a disability that will require accommodation during a semester must complete a disability accommodation request form. Information about required forms and documentation are available at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/support/disabilities_services.xhtml. This form should be submitted to Susan Wise on the main campus (contact information below).
Accommodations are granted only to students who have provided documentation of a disabling condition which results in a functional impairment that requires accommodation. For additional information, please consult the Elon University Disabilities Guidebook. An evaluation that was used for disability accommodation in undergraduate school may be sufficient for this purpose (additional information and further evaluations may be required.)
Requests for accommodations must be received and decided prior to any class session, activity, test or examination potentially affected. Because of the time involved in considering a request for accommodation and in fashioning an appropriate accommodation if one is warranted, requests should be made as early as possible during the term. Accommodations are not retroactive.
Contact Information:
Susan Wise
Elon University
Office of Disabilities Services
2251 Campus Box
Elon, NC 27244
E-mail: swise2@elon.edu
Phone: (336) 278-6500
Fax: (336) 278-6514
Health Insurance
Elon University is committed to the health and well-being of all of its students. Health Insurance is required as a condition of enrollment for:
- Full-time, degree-seeking domestic undergraduate students
- Degree-seeking domestic graduate students
- International students with F or J visas
- Undergraduate students who are degree-seeking students who only need part-time status to compete their degree
Students must provide proof of insurance coverage prior to initial matriculation on their Health History Form and must notify Health Services immediately if their insurance policy/coverage changes throughout their time at Elon. Students who need to update their insurance policy may do so by sending a copy of their updated insurance card to healthservices@elon.edu. Your insurance coverage should cover emergency treatment at local hospitals/clinics as well as coverage by off campus specialists if needed.
Domestic students may have access to health insurance through several means. All plans must meet the minimums standards as required by the Affordable Care Act. This may include coverage as a dependent on a spouse, partner or parent’s insurance plan. This may include your coverage in an employer sponsored plan, state marketplace plan or other insurance plan. More information about eligibility in your state may be found at Affordable Care Act Marketplace.
International students (those with F or J visas) must either provide proof of acceptable insurance in your home country or enroll in the student insurance policy arranged by the Isabella Cannon Centre for Global Engagement. The premium will be billed to you; you must provide proof of insurance to have it removed from your account. If you have questions, please contact Mr. François Masuka at fmasuka@elon.edu.
Health and Counseling Services
Elon University offers a wide variety of health and counseling services to our law students, faculty, and staff. All law students, faculty, and staff are eligible to receive services at the R.N. Ellington Health and Counseling Center. The modern facility offers a wide variety of health and counseling services to the university community throughout the school year.
A variety of medical expertise is offered by the staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and a paramedic, to bring quality, efficient service and care to the University community. All counselors in the center are fully licensed by the State of North Carolina and offer brief, solution-oriented therapies. Student visits to the Health and Counseling Center are free of charge. There are nominal charges for medications, lab tests, procedures and medical supply items.
The University has also arranged for medical resources in the Greensboro/Guilford County area. Visit the Health and Counseling Center Web site at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/healthservices/lawstudents.x html for additional information. Elon law students also have access to BarCARES Inc., a non-profit organization that provides confidential, professionalcounseling to lawyers and law students in participating Bar Associations and law schools. For more information on BarCARES, visit http://www.ncbar.org/members/barcares/ or call (800) 640-0735.
Recreation/YMCA
The Law School collaborates with the Kathleen Price Bryan Family YMCA, which is located just a few blocks from the Law School at 501 West Market Street. The Law School provides each law student with a membership in the YMCA at no additional cost. Students may also purchase family memberships at a discounted rate. The Law School understands the importance of physical fitness and exercise and is pleased to provide this benefit to its students. The YMCA includes a large fitness center, two swimming pools, basketball courts and a running track. Visit the YMCA’s Web site at http://www.bryanymca.org/.
Students may, at their own expense, choose to join one of several other fitness facilities that are located downtown and throughout Greensboro. Greensboro and Guilford County offer numerous public recreational facilities, including tennis courts and extensive greenways and parks, excellent resources for walking or jogging enthusiasts.
Law students may also utilize fitness facilities and recreation opportunities on the Elon University home campus. Visit the Elon University Campus Recreation Web site at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/campus_recreation/default.xhtml.
Parking/Public Transportation
The Law School provides its students free parking at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Church Street. (This free parking arrangement may not be available at some times.) Students wishing to park closer to the Law School have access to public parking decks, one of which is directly across the street from the Law School. The Law School has an allotment of entry cards for this parking deck which will be distributed to students on a first-come, first-serve basis or lottery basis. Students opting for the parking deck are responsible for the monthly rate of $55. If this card is secured from the Law School, this amount will be added to the student’s account by the University Bursar. Students must turn in their entry cards to the Law School at the end of each academic year, so they may be redistributed at the beginning of the next school year via lottery or some other method. Students may also choose to arrange for parking in various private parking lots in the area.
Students may choose to utilize Greensboro’s public transportation system. Made possible by the financial support of Elon University and college partners, HEAT (Higher Education Area Transit) provides enhanced and expanded transportation services to the entire Greensboro community.
The specific schools located along the HEAT routes include: Bennett College; Elon University School of Law; Greensboro College; Guilford College; Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC Jamestown and Greensboro campuses); North Carolina A&T State University; and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Qualified students from the Law School and the other schools will be able to ride HEAT service and all other GTA fixed route service on a fare- free basis. Elon law students may request HEAT fare cards for each semester. These passes are available through the Office of Career and Student Development. For more information on HEAT and other GTA routes, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/gta.
Technology
This section of the handbook serves as an addendum to the Elon University Technology Policies. The Law School provides IT resources to support and promote academic pursuits. The Law expects students to use these resources with a strong ethical base and awareness of personal responsibility. Any access or use of IT resources that interferes, interrupts or conflicts with these purposes is not acceptable and will be considered a violation of Elon’s Acceptable Usage Policy.
Students are expected to safeguard the integrity and security of Elon Law technology resources, as well as safeguard individual passwords. This specifically includes all network, e-mail and database usernames and passwords provided by Elon or its vendors.
All users are expected to comply with all applicable state, federal and international laws, as well as respect the rights and property of others, including privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property. Use of these resources in a manner which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment is a violation of the Elon Law School Honor Code and the University’s Technology Policy. These activities include, but are not limited to:
- Sending, downloading, storing, displaying, or otherwise disseminating materials which are obscene, lewd, or sexually harassing in any format.
- Sending, downloading, storing, displaying, or otherwise disseminating materials which (i) are disrespectful of the rights of another law student or other person, or (ii) constitute harassment or discrimination in any format.
Students leaving Elon Law for any reason, other than graduation, will have all their email accounts and all database access terminated within seven (7) days.
The Elon University Technology Policies and all other policies incorporated or referenced herein, shall apply to all members of the Law School community. The community includes, but is not limited to faculty, students, administrators, staff and all others who use, access or employ locally or remotely, the University’s or Law School’s IT resources whether individually controlled, shared, stand-alone, or networked.
Any uses that undermine the integrity of the Elon Law network, the privacy or safety of others, or that are illegal, are prohibited. Penalties for violation of the University’s or Law School’s technology policies may include, but are not limited to: restricted access or complete loss of access to the Elon Law network and IT Resources, termination and/or expulsion from Elon University School of Law, or other appropriate disciplinary action, and civil and/or criminal liability.
Related Policies
Elon University School of Law incorporates by reference the University’s Technology Policies [available at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/bft/technology/policies.xhtml], as well as the Law School Honor Code.
Solicitation of Funds
Solicitation for fundraising is allowed as long as the established Elon University procedures are followed. Students should contact either the Office of Career and Student Development or the Development Office for more information.