Program Information
Please be aware that any travel outside of the United States or U.S. Territories requires a valid passport. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your scheduled departure. It may take up to six weeks to receive your passport via routine service, so you must apply in advance if you do not already have a passport. If you are applying for the first time or do not have your expired passport you will need to visit a passport facility in your area. Otherwise, you may apply to renew your passport online.
For more information, visit the Department of State's U.S. Passport website.
The Rio de Janeiro and China programs are our only programs that requires a visa for a US citizen. If you are not a US citizen, please see the entry requirements of the program of your choice. For more information on visas, please contact Chana Lewis or see the individual program websites for further information.
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Please note that accommodation definitions and procedures can differ between Tulane University and other institutions, especially those abroad. Tulane will make every effort to facilitate accommodations abroad, but unfortunately accommodations abroad cannot be guaranteed.
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Among other graduation requirements, Tulane Law students must earn a minimum of 88 credit hours and must be full-time students in residence at Tulane for six regular semesters, which are limited to fall and spring semesters. Of the 88 required hours, Tulane Law students may earn a maximum of 12 credit hours taken during summer semesters whether taken at Tulane in the U.S. or in one or more of Tulane's summer abroad programs and whether taken after the first or second year of law school. A maximum of 6 credit hours can be earned in a single summer semester. Tulane students may not receive credit for courses taken in a summer program or in the regular semester at Tulane that are the same or essentially the same as courses they already have completed. If you have questions about course selection or course conflicts, contact the Assistant Dean for Students. The credits associated with each course are semester hour credits.
If you are from another law school, check with your school's officials before applying to determine the maximum number of credits you will be permitted to take in a summer session and whether or not that school will accept any credit or grade for any course taken in the program. Acceptance of any credit or grade for any course taken in the programs, including externships and other clinical offerings, is subject to determination by a student's home school. It is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program may be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration should consult their home schools to review this issue in light of ABA Standard 304, Interpretation 304-4.
All students, whether Tulane or visiting, are subject to the standard attendance and grading policies of Tulane Law School. The faculty believes that learning requires the active engagement of our students. Thus, the faculty expects students to attend class regularly and to be prepared to participate in the class discussion when called upon to do so. Although the faculty recognizes that a majority of students are highly motivated and would prepare for and would attend class without any requirement to do so, a small but significant number of students do not attend class with sufficient consistency and preparedness. That failure is detrimental to their education and is inconsistent with the professionalism that aspiring lawyers should exhibit. In addition, a student’s failure to prepare for class often adversely affects the class discussion and thus is also detrimental to the education of his or her fellow student. This statement of policy by the faculty is consistent with the position of the American Bar Association. As an ABA-accredited institution, Tulane Law School must require that its students attend class regularly, as well as adopt and enforce policies relating to class attendance.
Students who are admitted to the program(s) will receive information outlining these policies, but exams are graded anonymously with only exam numbers for identification, numbers to which faculty have no access to until their grades have been submitted to the appropriate program director.
Grading Scales
The normal grading scale and quality point system is as follows:
| A+ |
4.00 |
| A |
4.00 |
| A- |
3.67 |
| B+ |
3.33 |
| B |
3.00 |
| B- |
2.67 |
| C+ |
2.33 |
| C |
2.00 |
| C- |
1.67 |
| D |
1.00 |
| F |
0.00 |
Grade Distribution
Required Mean GPA
Unless excepted below, the distribution of grades to J.D. students in each course shall produce a mean GPA of between 3.20 and 3.30.
Exceptions
i. All seminars
ii. All clinic courses
iii. Classes of 12 J.D. students or fewer
iv. Legal Research and Writing
v. Advanced Legal Research
In all courses subject to the required mean GPA, two grades of D or below in a class of more than 50 JD students and one grade of D or below in a class of 50 or fewer JD students may be given without these grades counting toward the class GPA required mean. For example, in a class of 60 J.D. students, there could be a total of two grades of D or F given which would not be used in the calculation. In that case, if two such grades are given, the mean GPA of between 3.2 and 3.3 would be calculated based on 58 J.D. students rather than 60. Nothing in this provision is intended to limit the number of grades of D or F given. However, any additional grades of D or below beyond the number excluded above, will be part of the calculation to determine if the course has met the required mean of between 3.20 and 3.30.
Foreign Students
The grading scale for graduate students whose native language is not English is as follows:
E
|
Excellent performance |
VG
|
Very good performance |
RM
|
Recommended-acceptable performance |
NR
|
Not recommended-unacceptable performance, failing mark with no credit given for the course |
Penalties
After consultation with the Director, a faculty member may assess a penalty against a final grade for demonstrated failure to be prepared and/or lack of attendance.
A faculty member who intends to invoke this rule shall announce his or her intention to the class during the first class, and shall maintain a record of attendance and/or performance in class.
The faculty member will submit to the Director, before the submission of course grades, the names of any students against whom penalties are to be imposed. The Director will make the necessary adjustments to the grades the faculty member has submitted, with a notation to indicate those grades affected by penalty assessments.
In the case of a student who has rarely or never attended class, a faculty member may refuse to permit the student to take the final examination, even if the faculty member has not kept a daily record of attendance or announced an intention to invoke the penalty provisions. The student shall receive no credit for the course.
Deadlines for Faculty to Submit Grades
Except in case of severe hardship, the period of time allowed a faculty member for grading examination papers shall be 14 days from the date of the examination.
Change or Appeal of Grades
Once a faculty member has turned in his or her grades, the faculty member may not change any grade on representations or complaints of students unless the original grade was the result of a mathematical error in computation or of an error in transcription. If the original grade was the result of mathematical error, the faculty member will certify that fact to the Director who will then authorize the change.
Any student who wishes to appeal an assigned grade must comply with the process for appeal established by Tulane.
Bar Certifications
If you are applying for a bar exam, you will likely have a form from your state’s bar association requesting verification of your enrollment and/or degree. Christina Roux in the Academic Services Office can help complete this kind of form. This is applicable even for those enrolled in the Tulane Summer Abroad programs. Please send any bar certification requests or forms to Academic Services at Tulane Law School, 6329 Freret St., Suite 204, New Orleans, LA 70118. If you have specific questions, you can reach Ms. Roux at 504.865.5935 or carbour@tulane.edu.
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To view your grades, log in to Gibson Online with the username and password you should have received in an email from Tulane University Tech Support (the email address should be noreply@tulane.edu) with your Tulane email address information. If you did not receive your log in information, you must contact Tech Support directly in order for them to reset your password, as they are the only ones that can do so.
There are three ways for an individual to obtain support:
1) write an email to tulane@supportcenteronline.com, which automatically becomes a support ticket
2) access http://support.ts.tulane.edu and select ‘Submit a Ticket’ to create a Parature account (which is separate from your Tulane email account) to submit the ticket via the web
3) call the Help Desk Call Center at 1-866-276-1428 to have a password reset
In each of these methods, you must verify the following four things:
1) Tulane ID #
2) user's full name
3) user's date of birth
4) the alternate email address associated with your account
If you received a username, but lost your password, you can get a password hint at https://gibson.tulane.edu by selecting the Forgot Username or Password option on the login screen.
Once grades are received and posted at the end of the program (normally 30 days after the completion of your program), you will be able to access your grades via Gibson Online, once you have logged in. You may also request transcripts through Gibson Online.
NOTE: Transcripts are not automatically sent to your home school. You must request a transcript from the Tulane University Registrar’s Office (via the link on Gibson). You may also request your transcript from the Registrar’s Office by submitting a transcript request form located at http://www.registrar.tulane.edu, under the Transcript Request link.
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All students participating in any of Tulane Law School’s summer programs are subject to and bound by the Tulane University Code of Student Conduct, except as follows: the responsibility to enforce the Code shall lie exclusively with the Director of the summer program. The Director shall have the right, in his or her sole discretion, to impose any sanction authorized by the Code of Student Conduct, up to and including immediate expulsion from the summer program. Any student upon whom a disciplinary sanction has been imposed by a Director shall have the right to seek review of that decision from the Dean of the Law School within 30 days. The scope of such review will be limited to a determination of whether the Director acted arbitrarily, or capriciously, or whether the disciplinary sanction was the result of prejudice, or discrimination on the part of the Director. Please see the attached Tulane University Code of Student Conduct.
All students, including non-Tulane students, are subject to the provisions imposed by the attached Tulane University Law School Code of Professionalism with the following exception: the responsibility to enforce the code shall lie exclusively with the Director of the summer program. All program directors have the authority to institute disciplinary measures at his/her discretion. Decisions regarding disciplinary measures can only be appealed to the Dean of Tulane University School of Law.
The Tulane Code of Professionalism applies to all examinations. It is a violation of the Code:
i. To obtain or receive, prior to taking an examination, or to give to another student, prior to that student taking an examination, any unauthorized information concerning the substance of the examination;
ii. To refer to any unauthorized materials, inside or outside of the examination room, during the course of an examination;
iii. To give or receive unauthorized aid during the course of an examination
iv. To undertake all or part of an examination in a room not designated by the faculty member;
v. To knowingly commence an examination before the stipulated time, or to continue working on an examination after the stipulated time;
vi. To knowingly fail to submit the answer booklet, a set of questions, or such other materials as are required at the conclusion of an examination;
vii. To knowingly compromise the anonymous grading system.
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Anonymity
All examinations shall be given and graded anonymously. Each student and faculty member has a duty to ensure that the anonymity of the examination grading process is not breached. Prior to the announcement of grades, no student shall disclose to any faculty member information about himself or herself or about any other student which might compromise anonymity.
Exam Numbers
The Director of the summer program shall be responsible for assigning an examination number to each student to assure anonymity. Faculty members may not have access to the number until after their grades have been submitted to the Director or to the Director of Academic Services at Tulane.
Faculty Responsibilities
Faculty members are normally expected to be present in the building during the time that their examinations are being taken. However, if they cannot be present, they should be accessible by telephone for any inquiries relating to the examination.
Examinations in the Tulane Law School international summer programs may not be taken using computers.
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Please complete the Course Selection Change Form to make changes to your selection.
Course materials will be distributed either in hard copy or in electronic format, depending on the program, and are included in the cost of the tuition for all programs. Electronic materials are normally available by May 1 on the Course Materials Section of this website or on TWEN under the specific course. You will receive log in information once the materials have been posted.
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Once your tuition charges have been applied to your student account, you will have the following options in which to pay your tuition:
1) Mail check directly to:
Tulane University
Accounts Receivable
35 McAlister, Phelps House, Suite 103
New Orleans, LA 70118
Please include your name and your student ID number (available on Gibson online). Please do not mail cash payments. Do not send tuition payments to the Law School.
2) Electronic checks drafted directly from your checking account: You can access your bill and record through Gibson online at http://gibson.tulane.edu, with your Tulane email address and password, that you will receive from Tulane University Tech Support (the email address should be noreply@tulane.edu) in April or about 2 weeks after you sign up if it is later in the year (see below if you did not receive this information). Select the NetPay link under Student Services. Your current charges will show up under Recent Activity, as the statements are only updated monthly so may not be updated at the time you log in. Checking or savings account payments are received automatically Monday through Friday and there are no convenience fees added.
3) Credit card payment by phone with PHONECHARGE at (877) 605-7646. (Convenience fee charged)
4) Credit card payment using your Tulane University account. This is also through Gibson online at http://gibson.tulane.edu with your Tulane email address and password, that you will receive from the University around April. (Convenience fee charged)
Please note, however, that if you choose to use options 3 or 4, a convenience fee of approximately 3% will be added to your credit card and you may only use MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Visa is not accepted by PHONECHARGE (877-605-7646) or Netpay.
If you did not receive your username and password for your Tulane email address, you must contact Tech Support directly in order for them to reset your password, as they are the only ones that can do so.
There are three ways for an individual to obtain support:
1) write an email to tulane@supportcenteronline.com, which automatically becomes a support ticket
2) access http://support.ts.tulane.edu and select ‘Submit a Ticket’ to create a Parature account (which is separate from your Tulane email account) to submit the ticket via the web
3) call the Help Desk Call Center at 1-866-276-1428 to have a password reset
In each of these methods, you must verify the following four things:
1) Tulane ID #
2) user's full name
3) user's date of birth
4) the alternate email address associated with your account
If you received a username, but lost your password, you can get a password hint at https://gibson.tulane.edu by selecting the Forgot Username or Password option on the login screen.
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Tulane Law School reserves the right to alter or cancel any program should circumstances warrant it. The programs described on this website reflect what we have planned for this summer and the arrangements we have in place. If changes in the course offerings or other significant aspects of the program occur, applicants who have registered for the program (by paying their deposit) will be given an opportunity to obtain a full refund of all fees paid. In particular, if any program has a number of applicants that is less than the number necessary for the program to break even financially, it is likely to be canceled. Since the programs begin several months after publishing this website, changes may occur in some of the details. We will try to keep applicants aware of any significant changes. If cancellation of a program is necessary because of insufficient enrollment or for any other reason, all monies (deposit, tuition, and housing) will be refunded within 20 days. We will also make our best efforts to make arrangements for each student enrolled in a cancelled program to attend a similar abroad program, if the student so desires.
At the time we send a confirmation notice of your enrollment in our summer program, we will also send a “Consular Information” sheet from the U.S. Department of State. You may also want to check periodically the U.S. Department of State's Travel Warnings website for late breaking information about the country you'll be visiting. Should any program be officially declared to be in an “area of instability”, students who have selected that program will be notified and permitted to withdraw with appropriate refunds.
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Students participating in any Tulane international program are required to carry adequate and applicable health and accident insurance during their study abroad program. Students may use Tulane health and accident insurance or purchase its equivalent for the duration of the program and should insure that the insurance is applicable in the country in which they will study. Tulane students who purchased the Tulane Students and Dependents Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan in August are covered by this policy through August of the following year (exact dates may change, please check your policy for more information).
Should students desire to purchase international travel insurance from Tulane it is available through HTH. For a summary of the benefits provided through the HTH Worldwide Insurance Program, as well as information on costs and policy exclusions, visit http://tulane.edu/counsel/oirm/upload/21398_1.PDF. In the event that you wish to purchase this summer abroad insurance through HTH, you can contact Michele Certoma, at 504-865-5934, or mcertoma@tulane.edu.
An alternative insurance and an emergency medical evacuation and repatriation policy may also be obtained by purchasing the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) available at STA Travel or the Center for International Students and Scholars on the Tulane campus. The phone number for the Center for International Students and Scholars is (504) 865-5028, fax (504) 865-5209.
Tulane also provides emergency evacuation for students abroad:
- Emergency evacuation program (SOS): All students in Tulane Law School’s summer programs are covered by International SOS, for medical emergencies, and medical evacuations, at no additional cost to the students. Tulane Law School requires students to register their trips with International SOS. Those with special medical needs, or unusual medical conditions are also required to file their medical history or special needs on the website of International SOS so that it can be available to medical personnel abroad. To get your International SOS card, to learn more about the program, to review important medical and safety information about the country to which you are traveling, or to record your medical information, go to http://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/sos/login.cfm and log in using your Tulane userID and login information that is used for your Tulane e-mail account. This file will be confidential, and will be disclosed to a treating physician only in the event of an emergency. Please see the attached Student Travel Safety Tips, by SOS, or www.internationalsos.com for more safety information.
Please see Tulane’s website for more information: http://tulane.edu/counsel/oirm/studyabroad.cfm.
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We hope you will join us this summer for one or more of these exciting learning opportunities. Great care has been taken to design educational and leisure activities that will enhance your time abroad. We encourage you to find out more about the countries you will be visiting and to do some advance planning. It is important to know and to be aware of local customs and problem areas before you depart. It is also important to always let someone know where you are going and when you are due to return and to avoid traveling alone. It is always good advice to follow the common sense rules of travel: don't carry large sums of cash, secure your valuables, be aware of where you are, and let others know your plans.
Prior to international travel, students must consult travel warnings and alerts posted on the U.S. State Department website. The State Department site lists official warnings about travel to particular countries and it includes other information of which employees should be aware before traveling abroad. Sign up for travel alerts with the State Department by clicking here and with International SOS by clicking here. Similar advisories related to health issues are available on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. It is also advisable to consult with a physician or Travel Clinic for pre-travel immunizations and counseling (Tulane Travel Clinic: Email: tutravel@tulane.edu; Phone: 504.988.6929). Check out the American Embassy websites of the countries you plan to visit before you depart. Register your trip in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so the American Embassy or Consulate will be able to keep you informed and provide assistance in the event a crisis occurs while you are there. See the iPhone and iPad free Smart Traveler application. Please visit any of the Department of State’s websites, such as Country Specific Information or Smart Travel for more information. Another helpful resource is the Education USA site. With these cares addressed we know you'll have a wonderful time. For late-breaking news, check this website.
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If, after you send in your application and tuition deposit of $200, you decide to withdraw, your tuition will be refunded less the deposit if we receive written notice of your withdrawal two weeks prior to the start date of your program. You must submit in writing, to chana.lewis@tulane.edu, your intentions to withdraw. Oral notification will not be accepted. Written notification to anyone other than Chana Lewis will not suffice as a withdrawal.
You may send your written notice of withdrawal to:
Chana Lewis
Senior Program Coordinator
chana.lewis@tulane.edu
Office of International Legal Programs
Tulane Law School
6329 Freret Street, Suite 259
New Orleans, LA 70118-9923
After the deadline listed above and prior to the start of the program we will refund the tuition minus the deposit only due to extenuating circumstances. No housing fees will be refunded.
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Tulane Law School Requirement Checklist:
[ ] Filled out an Online Application and Paid Deposit
[ ] Applied for Housing via the Online Application
[ ] Understood and Agreed to Waiver on the Application[ ] Read through the Financial Aid Information and Been in touch with your Financial Aid Office
[ ] Paid Program Tuition on Gibson Online
Additional Steps for Non-Tulane Students:
[ ] Been in touch with the Financial Aid Office (at your home institution) and sent your consortium agreement to Tulane's Financial Aid Office: Fax 504-865-6710.
[ ] Sent in a Letter of Good Standing, to the following address:
Chana Lewis
Senior Program Coordinator
chana.lewis@tulane.edu
Office of International Legal Programs
Tulane Law School
6329 Freret Street, Suite 259
New Orleans, LA 70118-9923
Personal Checklist:
[ ] Applied for a Passport
[ ] Purchased Plane Tickets
[ ] Obtained Health Insurance/Sought out English Speaking Doctors on Location
[ ] Made Color Copies of Passport to Store Separately from Passport and with Emergency Contact in case of Emergency
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ask the Summer Abroad Team a Question!
Frequently Asked Questions
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