Administrative Announcements August 22 - August 29, 2016

Admissions Office

  • Mandatory Think About It Sexual Harassment/Violence Prevention Program
  • New Law School International Students - International Student Orientation

    • Mandatory Think About It Sexual Harassment/Violence Prevention Program

    All new students enrolled at USF (including non-degree visiting students) are required to complete the Think About It sexual violence prevention online training, which helps USF maintain a healthy and safe campus culture.  After enrolling at USF all enrolled students will receive information about the training via their USF email account. Students who fail to complete the training will receive a fine (required payment, even for non-degree seeking students).  More information about the training is available online at:

    https://myusf.usfca.edu/student-health-safety/hps/think-about-it/course

    Enrolled students can pro-actively complete the course via the above web site.  The deadline to complete this requirement is September 1 at 5 pm. Failure to complete this course will result in a $100 late fee and a possible Hold placed on your registration for the Spring 2017 semester.  If you have additional questions about the mandatory course training, please contact the Think About It administrator at think@usfca.edu.

    New Law School International Students – International Student Orientation

    The Office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) will hold an International Student Orientation for all new LLM and JD international students at the Law School in August after formal classes begin.  The date of the ISSS Orientation program is scheduled for Friday, August 26, 2016, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in the Terrace Room, on the 2nd Floor of the Zief Law Library.  Please note that a registration hold will be placed on your student record if you do not attend an ISSS Orientation session. 

    If you are unable to attend this session due to a class conflict, please contact the ISSS Office to schedule an individual appointment at isss@usfca.edu or call415.422.2654.  Additional information regarding the ISSS Office can be found online at: https://www.usfca.edu/isss

    Externships

    Please note that the Externship Programs Office is no longer accepting applications for Fall 2016 externships.

    The deadline to submit an Externship Application for Spring 2017 is Thursday, December 1, 2016.

    Financial Aid

  • FAFSA for 2016-2017
  • Financial Aid Cost of Attendance Budget Update Requests
  • Important Notice Regarding Fall 2016 Tuition Bill
  • Financial Aid Disbursement Fate and Aid Refunds
  • Important Information for 2L, 3L, and 4L Part Time Evening Students Regarding Add/Drop
  • Federal Financial Aid & Work Study Award Cancellation Notice
  • Loan Payment Deferments
  • Financial Literacy Online Information Videos

    • FAFSA for 2016-17

    The FAFSA for the Fall 2016/Spring 2017 academic year is available online. Any student who wishes to receive financial aid for the 2016-17 year can still apply for aid and should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible if you have not already done so. You can access the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Our Title IV code is 001325 and must be listed on your FAFSA.
     
    If you have already paid your fall semester bill with personal funds or signed up for the payment plan, you can utilize anyAuthorized Financial Aid received later in the semester for tuition expenses or living expenses.  Any Authorized Financial Aid funds received AFTER your tuition bill is paid with personal funds would be refunded to you.

    Once you are offered the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the 2016-17 academic year, you must “accept” the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan online via your myUSF student portal as soon as possible. 

    If you need additional financial aid besides the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you can apply for Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan, which is a credit based loan offered through the federal government. You must first be awarded and “accept” the maximum Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan before you can apply for a PLUS Loan.  You can apply for a PLUS Loan online at the www.studentloans.gov web site. Instructions for applying online are available at:https://www.usfca.edu/law/admissions/tuition-aid/jd/deadlines-documents

    New Loan Borrowers Only: If you are a first time Unsubsidized Loan and/or PLUS Loan borrower, you must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and an Online Entrance Counseling Session for each loan at www.studentloans.gov. Failure to complete these requirements will prevent your Loan(s) from being noted as Authorized Financial Aid and will NOT be disbursed to USF. 

    Financial Aid Cost of Attendance (COA) Budget Update Requests

    Adjustments to your financial aid Cost of Attendance Budget (COA) can be made for students who incur non-standard expenses such as bar fees, childcare, computer purchase, or unanticipated medical or dental expenses. Inquiries onfinancial aid COA budget adjustments should be sent to Rosanna Woods, the Assistant Director for Law Financial Aid, atrlwoods@usfca.edu or call 415.422.6210.

    Important Notice Regarding Fall 2016 Tuition Bill
    Fall 2016 tuition was due on August 1.  Please be sure to check your student account record via your myUSF student portal to insure that you do not have any outstanding tuition charges. 

    If your student account remains unpaid and you still have a balance due on your account you will also be assessed a 1.5% fee on any outstanding balance due and you will have a Hold placed on your student record, which could prevent you from adding or dropping classes, or receiving certain student services, such as requesting transcripts, or registering for the Spring 2017 semester.  

    You will need to pay any outstanding tuition charges with personal funds or sign up for the 4 month payment plan and make the first installment for Fall 2016.  Payment plan information is available on-line at: https://myusf.usfca.edu/onestop/billing-tuition/payment-plan

    Financial Aid Disbursement Date & Aid Refunds

    The earliest scheduled disbursement date for registered students for Fall 2016 financial aid took place on Monday, August 15.  Once financial aid funds disburse, your fall semester charges were paid off and any remaining credit after your bill is paid was refunded to you.  The refund process began on Tuesday, August 16.  If you were expecting a refund and you are enrolled in direct deposit refund processing, you should have received your refund in your designated bank account approximately 2-5 business days AFTER the August 15 disbursement date.  Spring 2017 disbursement date is scheduled for January 3, 2017.

    Receipt of refunds vary depending on your banking institution.  Larger, national banks take shorter time to process electronic transfer of funds compared to smaller banks or credit unions. If you are not enrolled in the direct deposit refund process, a paper check refund will be cut 10-15 business days AFTER the August 15 disbursement date and mailed to your current mailing address.

    If you are receiving federal loans, please remember that the Department of Education withholds loan origination fees for both the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan (1.073%) and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (4.292%). These fees are deducted from the fall portion of your loan aid PRIOR to disbursement.

    Aid will continue to be disbursed throughout each semester as individual student financial aid files become complete later in the term and/or additional federal or private loan applications are processed and approved.

    Important Information for 2L, 3L and 4L Part Time Students Regarding Add/Drop

    Late registration and Add/Drop began on Thursday, August 18, AFTER you have already been processed for a financial aid refund.  Adjustments to your financial aid may be necessary if any of the following situations occur during Add/Drop:

  • If you have received the maximum financial aid award for 20 annual units but you are registered for less than 10 units for the fall semester as of August 15, your aid refund will be in excess of your anticipated cost of living expenses for the fall semester. If you are not planning on adding any additional units, you will be required to return the excess financial aid awarded to you since you cannot receive aid for units that you are not registered for.
  • If you Add a class after your refund has been processed, you will be immediately billed for the additional units. You will need to submit a payment with personal funds to pay for the additional units (or make a personal payment using the funds you received as a refund).  If you are already receiving the maximum financial aid for the semester prior to the addition of your added class, you can request additional financial aid to cover the cost of the additional units. For more information, please contact Rosanna Woods, the Assistant Director for Law Financial Aid at rlwoods@usfca.edu.
  • If you Drop a class after your refund has been processed, with the intention of adding another class with the same unit value, you must Add and Drop on the same day, otherwise you run the risk of a an outstanding tuition balance due on your USF student account.
  • If you Drop a class after your refund has been processed, and you do not intend to add another class, you will create a credit on your USF student account. You must notify the Law Financial Aid Office immediately by contacting Rosanna woods, the Assistant Director for Law Financial Aid at rlwoods@usfca.edu.  Otherwise you will be inadvertently issued a refund for this credit, which you will be required to repay the University since you are not eligible to receive financial aid for this dropped class.

    • Important:  The Law Financial Aid Office will conduct an audit of all Part Time students' financial aid records after theSeptember 9 census date (last day to withdraw without penalty).  If your financial aid for the fall semester is not appropriate for the unit load you are registered, we will make the necessary adjustments to your aid and you will be notified via email.  Please remember that any over-award (receiving financial aid in excess of your unit load), will result in the USF One Stop Office returning those funds to the lender and creating a balance due on your USF student account.  It is critically important that you review your student account after the census date to insure that your account is reconciled. Any unpaid balance will result in late fees assessed on your student account and a Hold placed on your student record, which will prevent you from registering for the spring semester.

    Federal Financial Aid & Work Study Award Cancellation Notice

    Please be aware that if you were awarded any Federal Financial Aid award for the upcoming 2016-17 academic year(Unsubsidized Loan and/or PLUS Loan) and you did NOT accept this award via your myUSF student portal within 30 days of the award offer, the main campus University Financial Aid Office has cancelled that award amount from your USF financial aid record this past week.  If you are interested in the aid award later this fall or spring semester, you can request reinstatement of the award offer via email request from your usfca.edu email account by sending a request to Rosanna Woods, the Asst. Director of Law Financial Aid at rlwoods@usfca.edu. You must request reinstatement of any cancelled federal aid no later than April 1, 2017.

    If you were awarded Federal Work Study (FWS) aid and you did NOT accept this award via your myUSF student portalwithin 30 days of the award offer, the main campus University Financial Aid Office has cancelled the FWS award amount from your USF financial aid record this past week.  You can petition for reinstatement of this aid by submitting a written letter to Norman Caito, USF Director of University Financial Aid Student Services. Letters can be faxed to his attention at415.422.6084, or can be dropped off at the USF One Stop Office at Lone Mountain, room 251.  Petitions for reinstatement should include your name and USF ID number and the following: 

    -The reason why a student did not accept the Federal Work Study aid in a timely manner.

    -The financial hardship a student would experience without the Federal Work Study aid.

    Please note that you cannot submit a letter of appeal for Federal Work Study aid via email.  The last day to submit an appeal for FWS aid is November 1, 2016.

    Loan Payment Deferments
    The main campus University Registrar will forward fall class registration confirmation for all USF registered students to a national clearinghouse used by federal and private lenders to verify enrollment for its loan borrowers.  The information is sent in mid-September after the Law School census deadline (last day to withdraw with full tuition refund).  The enrollment confirmation is used by lenders to continue your loan payment deferments while enrolled in school.

    Financial Literacy Online Information Videos

    The School of Law has made the following short financial literacy video modules available to you online on our web site:

    https://www.usfca.edu/law/admissions/tuition-aid/jd/financial-literacy-borrower-education

    You may find these presentations to be helpful in understanding Federal Student Loans as well as repayment strategies.

    FINANCIAL LITERACY ONLINE VIDEO MODULES

    1. Understanding the Unique Nature of Federal Student Loans
    2. Planning for Student Loan Repayment
    3. Exploring the Student Loan Payment Plans
    4. Understanding the Income-Driven Repayment Plans
    5. REPAYE
    6. Estimating Your Monthly Student Loan Payments
    7. Taking Stock of Your Student Loan Portfolio
    8. Developing Your Student Loan Repayment Timeline
    9. Choosing Your Student Loan Payment Plan
    10. Understanding Student Loan Consolidation
    11. Public Service Loan Forgiveness

    Please contact your loan servicer with any loan repayment questions

    If you have any other questions related to your financial aid, please feel free to contact either Alan Guerrero atguerrero@usfca.edu  or Rosanna Woods at rlwoods@usfca.edu or call 415.422.6210. We wish you all a very successful fall semester!  Take care

    Moot Court

    Advocate of the Year Competition

    The Advocate of the Year Competition is USF’s annual internal oral argument competition. This competition is not just for Moot Court team members; it’s a great opportunity for all students to network and improve their writing and oral advocacy skills. All upper division students are invited to write a 16-20 page brief (due 9/20) and argue both sides of the problem in front of current judges and lawyers in the first round of competition (10/1-10/2). There are three rounds of competition. Students advance based on their performance in each round.

    Sign up by the last day to add classes on 9/2 with CRN # 42855. Questions? Email usfmootcourt@gmail.com.

    Office of the Registrar

    Friday, September 2nd

  • Last Day to Add Classes
  • Last Day to Submit Directed Research Enrollment Form
  • Last Day to Submit Writing Requirement Enrollment Form

    • Monday, September 5th

  • Labor Day – No Classes.  Administrative Offices closed.

    • Friday, September 9th

  • Last Day to Drop Classes
  • Last Day to File a Notice of Candidacy (Petition to Graduate) - https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/graduation-and-bar-admission/graduation-petition

    • Academic Calendar - https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration/academic-calendar.

    Registration Dates - https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration/registration-dates-and-procedures.

    Office of Student Affairs

    Law Student Pro Bono Coordinator

    The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is hiring a law student for the 2016-2017 academic year. Interested Students should review the Pro Bono Student Coordinator Job Posting and email all required documents to probono@usfca.edu. 

    MUNI Passes

    Fall MUNI Passes will be distributed starting Friday, September 2.

    Passes will be available for pick up in the Student Boulevard during the following times:

  • Friday, September 2, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm
  • Tuesday, September 6, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm
  • Tuesday, September 6, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm

    • All uncollected passes can be picked up in the Deans’ Office during regular business hours between Wednesday, September 7 and Friday, September 16.

    Any questions about distribution, please contact the Program Assistant for Student Affairs, Megan Watt, at mwatt@usfca.edu. 

    SF Aloha Run - September 25

    The Office of Student Affairs would like to encourage students to join members of the faculty and staff for the San Francisco Aloha Run on September 25. If students register themselves, we will reimburse students for $20 towards their event registration.

    Runners will receive a San Francisco Aloha Run runner's shirt with their registration and there will be a post-run celebration at Crissy Field. Register here and contact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu for more information and for reimbursement. 

    Last Chance to Join the BASF Basketball League

    The Bar Association of San Francisco is having its competitve basketball league here at USF's Koret Center. With our home court advantage, this is a great chance to gather some USF teams of alumni, professors and students! 

    Here are some basic details about the league:

  • Begins September 2016
  • Games every Tuesday evening for 10-11 weeks
  • Teams can be co-ed 8 to 9 players
  • Cost $150 per person or $1300 per team
  • Must be a member of the Bar Assocation of San Franicsco to play

    • If you have a full team: Email Kallie Donahoe at kdonahoe@sfbar.org to register.

    If you need more players on your team: Contact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu by 5:00 pm on August 31 so she can connect you with other students alumni, and faculty who are looking for a team to join.

    School of Law Runners Group

    Interested in joining law students and faculty for a weekly run? The Office of Sudents Affairs would like to start a weekly runner's group. If you would like to receive updates as more details are confirmed, email Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu.

    Pro Bono Opportunities

    Justice Bus Trip - October 22-23, 2016

    OneJustice’s Justice Bus Project is partnering with the Shasta Public Defender’s Office and Chico’s Employment Development Department to bring two free criminal record change clinics to Northern California. During the clinics, USF student volunteers will work one-on-one with low-income individuals to screen them for criminal record change remedies and assist with any court petitions. Both clinics are aimed at empowering vulnerable, low-income Californians in need. No prior experience is needed!

    To sign up: Email probono@usfca.edu. Please include (1) your full name, (2) your class year, (3) any language abilities, and (4) a brief statement of interest (not more than one paragraph). 

    London Bridge is Falling Down?

    A panel discussion with the President and faculty members of the University of Luxembourg regarding the impact of Britain leaving the European Union.

    Wednesday, September 7th
    12:00pm – Lunch
    12:15 – 1:15pm Panel Discussion
    KN100

    Speakers:

  • Professor Rainer Klump, President
  • Professor Pierre Henri Conac (Law)
  • Ms Jenny Hällen Hedberg (International Relations)
  • Professor Roman Kräussl (Finance)
  • Professor Andreas Fickers (History)
  • Professor Yves le Traon (Computer Science)

    • For lunch, please RSVP to lawsummerabroad@usfca.edu