16.1  Communications

[Reserved]

16.2  Disabilities

Students with disabilities that affect their mobility or that require instructional accommodations must contact the McBurney Disability Center for assessment. The Law School's Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is responsible for all such accommodations after the McBurney staff has completed the assessment. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs cannot make accommodations until the McBurney Center has assessed the student and determined the appropriate accommodations. All questions and concerns regarding these matters should be addressed to the Assistant Dean. Current contact information for the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

16.3  Temporary Disabilities and Pregnancy

Students who develop temporary disabilities or who are pregnant should contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for information and assistance. In some situations the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs may be able to reschedule an examination, provide a necessary accommodation during an exam, and/or consult with the students' professors to provide an in-class accommodation.

Students seeking temporary accessible parking permits should contact Transportation Services for the UW campus at Accessible Transporation Options. Limited accessible parking near the Law School during school hours often restricts the usefulness of such permits.

The Law School has a Lactation Room for nursing and pumping.  Please contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for more information. View all UW Lactation Rooms.

16.4  Discrimination, Hate, Bias, and Sexual Misconduct

Under Wisconsin law, no student may be denied admission to, participation in or the benefits of any service, program, course, or facility or be discriminated against in any of these because of the student's race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender (including identity and expression), national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or parental status.

In addition to the above, discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or military status is similarly prohibited.

See Wis. Stat. Sec. 36.12, Law School Rule 4.15, and Law School Rules: Appendix E. The UW's Office of Compliance publishes the current laws and policies against discrimination on their website. Current procedures for enforcement are available at the same website.

Students who have experienced or witnessed discrimination, hate, or bias should contact the Office of Student Assistance and Support and the Office of Compliance. Report bias, hate, or discrimination to the Office of Student Support and Office of Compliance.

In the case of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual violence (sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation), or retaliation, contact the Office of Compliance. Report sexual misconduct to the Office of Compliance or review the UW-Madison Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is a great place to start should you experience discrimination or sexual misconduct -- the Assistant Dean can help you navigate these resources and refer as appropriate. Please note that the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is a "responsible employee" (or a "non-confidential resource") and is therefore required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the Office of Compliance. Should you prefer to start with a "confidential resource" i.e., a resource that is not required to make such a report, schedule an appointment with the Law School's embedded mental health counselor.

16.5  Resources for Survivors

The Law School and University provide a number of resources, both confidential and non-confidential, for survivors of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and/or stalking. 

Law school resources: 

• The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs can support students navigating the campus and community resources below. Please note that the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is a "responsible employee" (or a "non-confidential resource") and is therefore required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the Office of Compliance.
• Should you prefer to start with a "confidential resource" i.e., a resource that is not required to make such a report, schedule an appointment with the Law School's embedded mental health counselor.

Campus resources:

• University Health Services Survivor Services (confidential)
• University Health Services Mental Health Services (confidential)
• University Health Services Medical Services (confidential)
• Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program (non-confidential)
• Office of Student Support and Assistance (non-confidential)

Community confidential resources: 

• Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS): 608-251-4445 (24-hour hotline)
• Sexual Violence Resource Center (formerly Rape Crisis Center): 608-251-RAPE [7273] (24-hour hotline)

The lists above are not exhaustive. The Office of Compliance's website includes a much more comprehensive list of the campus and community resources for survivors, including legal, health, immigration, and other resources. 

16.6  Complaints

The Law School's Assistant Dean for Student Affairs serves as a primary point of contact for students who have complaints or concerns.  In addition to consulting with students about their academic, personal or professional issues, the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is ready to help students with complaints they wish to make or concerns they wish to express.

Such complaints or concerns might involve: instances of sexual or physical harassment or assault; unfair or ill treatment; grading grievances (Law School Rule 2.11); grievances regarding the conduct of Law School personnel (Law School Rule 12.01); petitions for relief from a Law School Rule based on unusual hardship (Law School Rule 12.03(1)(a)); appeals on the basis of alleged discrimination (Law School Rule 12.03(1)(b)); or concerns/complaints regarding some aspect of the Law School's academic program, including the Law School's Program of Legal Education (ABA Standard 510/ former Standard 512).

Students are advised that the above list is not exhaustive and are invited to bring significant concerns to the attention of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or the Dean's Office.

Grading Grievances:

• A student may challenge the nature, quality, or fairness of an examination or other graded exercise for a particular course, rather than their particular grade on that examination or exercise. Instructors are expected to be scrupulously careful in constructing the exam, choosing grading criteria and applying those criteria, but there is no appeal from a grade on the allegation either that the grader misapplied the criteria for grading the exam, or that the criteria were themselves ill-chosen.
• For full information, see Law School Rule 2.11.

Grievances regarding the conduct of Law School personnel:

• Students should bring to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and/or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs grievances or complaints based on the actions of Law School personnel or committees in order to seek a resolution to the grievance.
• If the grievance is not resolved, the student may appeal to the Law School's faculty Petitions Committee.
• For full information, see Law School Rule 12.01.

Petitions for relief from a Law School Rule (allegation of unusual hardship):

• Law School Rule 12.03(1)(a) provides that students may seek relief from a particular Law School Rule on the basis of an allegation of unusual hardship.  Students should first raise the matter with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and/or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to see if the matter might be resolved by the Law School Dean's Office. If the Dean's Office has considered the request and has determined that it is not empowered to act or will not act, the student may submit the matter to the Law School's faculty Petitions Committee.
• Deadline: Note that the Petitions Committee will dismiss any appeal or request for relief, under §12.03(1)(a), brought more than 6 months after the occurrence of the event in issue.
• For full information, see Law School Rules 12.03(1)(a), 12.03(2), 12.03(3) and Rule 12.04.

Appeals on the basis of alleged discrimination:

• Law School Rule 12.03(1)(b) provides that students may appeal to the Law School's faculty Petitions Committee based on alleged discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status of the student.
• Deadlines: Note that the various deadlines and procedures applicable to an appeal under Rule 12.03(1)(b) are set out in Law School 12.05.
• For full information, see Law School Rules 12.03(1)(b), 12.03(2), 12.03(3) and Rule 12.05.

Complaints regarding compliance with ABA Standards:

• ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools involve a variety of topics: the Program of Legal Education (Chapter 3) (e.g., Curriculum; Study Outside the Classroom; Distance Education; Study Outside the United States; Academic Standards; Academic Advising and Support; Academic Calendar; Bar Passage); the Faculty (Chapter 4); Admissions and Student Services (Chapter 5); Library and Information Resources (Chapter 6); and Facilities (Chapter 7). View the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools.
• Communicating/filing a complaint or concern: Students who wish to make a complaint implicating the Law School’s compliance with one or more ABA Standards and/or bring to the attention of the Law School a significant problem in this regard, should communicate in writing (via e-mail or letter) with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
• Specificity: A student making such a communication is asked, if possible, to specify which Standard they believe is implicated by the complaint or concern. However, any failure to do so will not prevent the matter from being addressed.
• Timelines: A student submitting a communication with respect to the Law School’s compliance with the Standards will receive a written reply acknowledging receipt of the original communication within eight working days. A final written response will be provided within two weeks of receipt, unless the matter cannot be adequately resolved within this time frame, in which case the student will receive regular written status updates thereafter until the matter is resolved.
• Appeal Rights: Upon receipt of the final written response, or earlier in the event of non-compliance with the above procedures, a student may appeal the response to the Dean of the Law School.  In the event the matter also implicates relief from a Law School Rule, the student may submit a Petition to the Law Faculty Petitions Committee under Law School Rule 12.03(1)(a).

16.8 Student Privacy Rights (FERPA)

As a student, you have privacy rights regarding your educational records protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Some information, like your name and email address, is considered public (directory) information and is available for others to access.  If you wish to withhold directory information, you can create a FERPA hold through your Student Center. Caution: Restricting directory information may have an impact on the Law School's ability to confirm education information to prospective employers, particularly restrictions on disclosure of major, attendance, participation in activities, and degrees and awards.  For more information on student privacy rights, see the University Registrar's Office FERPA website.

16.9 DACA / Undocumented Students

Regardless of immigration status, UW wants all students to know that you belong here and are an integral part of the UW campus community.

As a University of Wisconsin Law School student, you are entitled to all resources provided by and through the University of Wisconsin system.

FAQs:

• If my DACA status expires, do I need to drop out of UW Law?: No, students do not need to drop out if their DACA status expires. Enrollment at UW Law is not based on DACA status.
• What financial support options are available for DACA students?: Under current state law, UW does not have the authority to grant resident tuition status to undocumented students or those with DACA, and generally DACA students are not eligible for federal, state, or institutional need-based financial aid. However, DACA students may qualify for some Law School scholarships. More information about scholarship opportunties is available on the Law School Admissions & Financial Aid Office's website.
• Can DACA students apply to positions which require authorization to work?: Yes, current DACA recipients retain authorization to work in the U.S. until their DACA status expires.
• Is U.S. citizenship required to take the bar exam? The NCBE's Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements lists each jurisdiction's current requirements. Review the requirements for the jurisdiction to which you plan to apply. If you have further questions about the bar exam, contact the Director of Bar Success. 
• When will my DACA information be shared? (FERPA information) Certain information about you, referred to as “directory information,” can be shared with others without your consent. Directory information is public information unless you have a FERPA hold on your student record and for third-party requests (e.g. a company wanting to market to students). Learn more about FERPA.  Even with a FERPA hold, the University may share your information with others in certain situations. For example, UW-Madison employees with an academic need to know (e.g. your professor) will still be able to access certain pieces of your student record. UW may also be legally required to provide information from your education record in response to subpoena or other governmental order or request. Learn how to place a FERPA hold on your student record.
• Where can DACA students receive free legal services about their status and/or other immigration related questions? Contact the Law School's Immigrant Justice Clinic or the Community Immigration Law Center. 
• Where can I find more information? UW-Madison's SuccessWorks' website has more information for DACA students, including campus resources, job search, general information & resources, and DACA & alternative employment options. The Office of Student Assistance and Support also provides support to DACA students, as does International Student Services. Other resources include Dreamers of Wisconsin, Inclusive Excellence, and the WIN.

Know your rights! Review the following resources: 

• Know Your Rights "Red Card" (available in several languages)
• Know Your Rights: If ICE visits your home
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Rights and Protection for Temporary Workers (Wilberforce Pamphlet from the U.S. Department of State)
• Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration

*Disclaimer: The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and links herein are for general informational purposes only. This information may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.