Policies

Student Handbook

The student handbook can be a valuable resource for our adjunct faculty. It provides the law school’s policies as they relate to our mission, scheduling, graduation requirements, etc. for our students.

The student handbook may be found by clicking here. 

Code of Discipline

If you have a disciplinary problem with a student, please contact Abijah Taylor, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement (Room 308A, 517-432-6806).

The Code of Discipline may be found by clicking here.

Plagiarism Policy

If you suspect plagiarism, please contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

The plagiarism policy may be found by clicking here.

Attendance

Main Contact: Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Affairs Abijah Taylor (Room 308A, 517-432-6806).

Law College Policy - Students must be present for at least 85% of the scheduled classes. Please specify the number of absences permitted and how your attendance policy affects student grades or enrollment into the course.

Take Attendance - Always take attendance, including the first week when it is important to notify the Registrar’s Office of absent students or those present whose names do not appear on the attendance list. You may also check the class list online at the MSU Registrar’s website (www.reg.msu.edu; select “Instructor Systems” from the “Quick Links” list).

Behavior and Counseling

If you have a concern about a student, you can refer them to Rosa Jarquin, Assistant Director for Student Engagement (Room 308B, 517-432-6808).

You can also refer to the Michigan State University Counseling Center, 207 Student Services Building (517-355-8270).

Title IX Policies and Reporting

As an MSU employee, you are a mandatory reporter. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with MSU's Title IX policies and reporting procedures. Resources are linked below: 

1. “Our Commitment” website: https://msu.edu/ourcommitment/

2. All community members are encouraged to review and familiarize themselves with the RVSM Policy, review the resources available at MSU, and get involved.

3. All MSU employees are mandatory reporters, and therefore must report incidents of:

• sexual harassment
• sexual violence
• stalking
• relationship violence that are observed or learned about in their professional capacities and
• involve a member of the MSU community,
• or occurred at a University-sponsored event or on University property.

4. How to report:

a. Call the MSU Police Department at (517) 355-2221 

AND

    Call the Office of Institutional Equity at (517) 353-3922.

OR

b. Report online at oie.msu.edu

Be sure to provide all the information that was shared with you. 

5.  Access resource materials to assist you in responding to disclosures and navigating your reporting responsibilities.

6.  Include information about reporting and resources on your syllabus.

7.  For the latest information on MSU’s Title IX program , resources, and campus events visit https://www.facebook.com/ItsOnUsMSU/

Class Cancellations

Inform your faculty secretary by no later than 4:30 p.m., if you need to cancel a class. Your secretary notifies students via the Class Cancellation Hotline. Should you need to cancel class after 5:00 p.m., you will need to either use TWEN or the MSU Registrar’s website to email students yourself. If an emergency arises after 5:00 p.m., call the Reference Desk (517-432-6870) and ask the librarian on duty to put a sign on the door of your classroom.

Alternatives to Canceling a Class:

    Invite a guest speaker to cover the class in your absence.

    Assign a project, especially a writing project, for students to complete in lieu of class and with a specified deadline.

    If space permits, add minutes to other classes to make up one class period. Check with your secretary to confirm space availability.

Class Makeups

To be in compliance with ABA standards for legal education, all canceled classes must be rescheduled. To schedule a makeup class, you must reserve a classroom. Your faculty secretary can do this for you. Do not schedule makeup classes when any student has a class conflict.

Process for arranging a make-up class:

    Work with your students to arrange a date that the majority of them will be able to attend.

    Arrange for the class to be video-taped if there are students unable to attend the make-up class (this can only be arranged for classrooms with technology available for class taping).

    Contact your secretary to reserve an appropriate size room for the date selected.

    Confirm the class make-up day and time with your students when the arrangements have been made.

To be notified of a MSU closure and/or class cancellations, you will need to provide contact information. You will either receive a phone call you a text message to your cell phone.

Labor Day Holiday and Make-Up Class

     Labor Day (September 2, 2019) - this class will be made up on Friday, December 6, 2019. This is the last day of classes, and will follow a Monday schedule instead of a Friday schedule. 

Emergency Procedures

The linked document below has informaton regarding safety prodecures at MSU Law.

Safety at the MSU College of Law

If it is after 5:00 pm and you have a safety concern or question and need to contact Law College staff, please call the Library Reference Desk (517-432-6870). The library is open until 1:00 am on most weeknights. In case of emergency, please call 911 first.