Blind Grading

Exam courses are graded on an anonymous basis.  You may not discuss the substance of the exam with the professor or with any other student until after grades are published, and you may not identify yourself in any way to the professor as the author of an exam until the grades are published.

Posting Grades

• Barring any unforeseen circumstances, grades are generally available 4 weeks after the end of an exam and will be posted to MyAccess within 48 hours of submission by the professor.  Faculty members do have a 3-day grace period after the grading deadline in which to submit their grades without penalty.
• You may view your grades as well as the class grade distribution through MyAccess by clicking on the Student Records link, then clicking on Final Grades and selecting the appropriate semester. 

Pass/Fail Policy (effective Spring 2011)

Pass/Fail Deadlines:

Spring 2012

Tuesday, January 17 - Tuesday, January 31 (5:00 p.m.): Students may elect to take a course pass/fail for Spring 2012

Friday, February 24 (5:00 p.m.): Deadline to select a pass/fail target grade for a Spring 2012 course

Courses NOT eligible to be taken pass/fail

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

The details of the policy were developed by the Academic Standards Committee which includes both faculty and student members.  That committee considered a range of issues, including possible impact on placement of students' taking courses Pass/Fail and how to create incentives for students to continue to work hard even in courses they are taking Pass/Fail.  In order to accommodate a range of concerns, the new policy has some complexities.

• In addition to courses for which students exercise the Pass/Fail option, some courses are offered on a mandatory Pass/Fail basis.  These mandatory pass/fail courses count towards the 7 credit maximum.
• The presumption will be that all eligible upperclass JD courses will be available to be taken Pass/Fail but faculty members have the right to exclude their courses.  See lists of courses that are not eligible.  
• To select a course pass/fail and to set a target grade, login to MyAccess.  Click on the Pass/Fail courses link on the Registration menu.

Pass/Fail Exceptions

The credits from the following mandatory Pass/Fail courses will not count against the limit of 7 credits that can be taken Pass/Fail:

• Applying an International Skill Set (1 credit) (for Global Law Scholars)
• Building an International Skill Set (1 credit) (for Global Law Scholars)
• Courses taken in an approved study abroad program
• Upperclass Week One courses taken before the Spring 2011 semester
• Week One Global Teaching Fellows
• Week One: Law in a Global Context (1 credit) (for all first-year students)

Information from Career Services: Employers and taking a course Pass/Fail  

One issue you will want to consider before you elect to take a course Pass/Fail is whether prospective employers will be  concerned about your taking a course Pass/Fail.  Before making its recommendation, the Academic Standards Committee consulted with Gihan Fernando, Assistant Dean for Career Services.  Mr. Fernando concluded there would probably not be much impact on large firm hiring, although students should be aware that some might view negatively a Pass/Fail grade in a core course.  Similarly, government agencies and boutique law firms would be concerned if a student had a Pass/Fail grade in a course relevant to the primary focus of the firm or agency's work.  Finally, Mr. Fernando thought that there might be some impact on judges who are grade conscious and who hire clerks in their 3L/4E year.  Before you have to make any decision on whether to take a course Pass/Fail, you will have an opportunity to consult with Career Services so that you can make a thoughtful, informed decision.

For more information on the Pass/Fail Policy and Grading, please see the Juris Doctor Program Academic Requirements & Policies section of the Georgetown University Law Center Bulletin (beginning on p.18).