FAQS

Associate Dean Centeno has already forwarded all students a list of fully online courses.  If additional courses move to a fully online modality, she will provide an updated list.

No. Unless you are unable to participate because of illness, you will be expected to do attend Zoom sessions in “real time.” Regular and punctual attendance is required in all courses, both remote and in person.  

The University will follow all state and local guidelines and confer with the appropriate health authorities to determine whether to return to fully remote learning, including consideration of the Law School’s specific needs and student demographics. In the event of changing circumstances, such as a major spike in cases and new government orders, the contingency plan is to return to remote learning in a coordinated and planned fashion. The Law School has been conducting robust training for all full-time and adjunct faculty in the event that we need to move to remote learning. In addition, The University has also provided guidelines listing effective practices for faculty to use to prepare their courses for online delivery.

Yes. Accommodation requests based on a disability or health risk due to Covid-19 should be submitted by email to Assistant Dean Carluzzo (carluzzo@law.villanova.edu) as soon as possible.

Students can, as course enrollments allow, take a course that is offered fully on-line through the normal registration process.  If you want to request to take all your courses remotely, including your currently scheduled in person classes, please email Assistant Dean Carluzzo (carluzzo@law.villanova.edu) as soon as possible. 

For most classes students will be able to attend an in-person class remotely via a Zoom session that takes place during the live in-person class. If not available, all classes are recorded. 

Some in-person courses will have the ability to open a Zoom class session so that you can participate in the class remotely while in session (you can see the screen, hear the class, and even participate and be heard in the classroom).  If your course has this option, you will be expected attend in “real time” unless you are too sick to attend.

No.  Students will all be graded according to the usual rules and will all be graded together regardless of whether they took a class in person or attended some or all sessions remotely.  If you are concerned that it will present a hardship for you, leaves of absence are available. Please contact Assistant Dean Matt Carluzzo if you would like to discuss a leave of absence for Fall 2020.

The grading policy will remain the same as our usual policy; it will not be pass/fail. There are many reasons for this, including what we are hearing from employers. With respect to hurdles students may face if we go online, we will do our best to accommodate students; however, students should be prepared that we may need to return to remote learning.   

Do not assume that the exam will be remote.  We will work with students on a case-by-case basis and will not require students with medical accommodations or COVID related concerns to take the exam in person. 

The reading period is similar to past years. The exam period is also similar to past years; exams will be similarly spaced and we are able to avoid having two exams in one day.

Contact Assistant Dean Carluzzo about all accommodation questions. Accommodations are available as they always have been.

This spring, most placements will likely involve telecommuting; in-person placements can also take place if offered and if the student has no concerns or heath risks; if the placement is in-person, we are also asking that every placement have a plan for converting to remote work if necessary.  Application instructions for a variety of other externship opportunities are posted in the Symplicity system.

The classroom component for spring externships will be conducted through online meetings.  If you have questions about specific externships, please contact Professor Matthew McGovern (mcgovern@law.villanova.edu), Director of Experiential Learning. 

Clinic professors will be reaching out directly to students enrolled in the spring 2021 semester.

Yes.

Students will have access to the library. Students will not check out books from the stacks; staff will do that. Spaced seating will be available. This past fall, the library was not overcrowded and we anticipate in the spring that there will be sufficient space.

As with the fall semester, we anticipate that the answer is yes. We believe that there are enough socially distanced spaces in the building to accommodate all who are not in a class but who live far away or need a place to study. In addition, we have reserved assigned classroom space for students who may have a remote class (this is in the grid Dean Centeno provided) but need to be on campus because of other in-person classes/commuting, the need for quiet, appropriate study space, or the need for good WiFi connectivity.

Yes.  Study rooms will be available for one or two students at a time to maintain social distancing.  The library will have available study spaces and we are looking at other areas. The lower level of the library will be closed to hold excess furniture, and those rooms will not be available.

If the Law School building is permitted to be open, printing will be available.  If the building cannot be open because of state or local restrictions, students should be prepared to print at home.

No.  The Law School building use is currently restricted to Law School students, faculty, and staff only.  This includes the Law School Café and Library.  The only exception to this are the few non-Law student workers who staff the front desk and the Tech Zone.  These student workers must follow the Law School’s “check-in” protocol every time they enter the building.

Parking rates will remain the same as last year for students, faculty, and staff.

This is a possibility, to be worked out with SBA, depending on actual expenses this year.  SBA will be planning events; there may be spring events, and there may be some ability to plan student group events. 

Throughout the Spring and Summer, the Office of Career Strategy and Advancement has been and continues to be in communication with our current and new employer partners to discuss their upcoming hiring and recruiting plans.  Additionally, this summer, the Office created opportunities for student connection and networking through the Practice Ready Series.  We anticipate that the Office of Career Strategy will continue to host OCI in the Fall and Spring semesters; however, after consultation with employers, the Office expects that most large private employers will conduct formal recruiting/OCI for 2L summer positions in January.  Given the social distancing requirements, we expect that OCIs will be hosted virtually through at least the Fall semester.  The employment market and timing continues to shift.  For example, some employers may decide to post jobs and collect resumes instead of conducting OCI given their current needs.  It is important that you keep up to date on announcements from the Office, including the newsletter and job search sessions in PD, and all job postings and interview programs on Symplicity.  

Yes.

Student groups can meet, though the preference is for virtual meeting and space is limited. All in person meetings (events) must go through the University Events Committee but may be allowed depending on the number of people and other criteria determined by that committee. Impromptu meetings will be allowed if distanced, especially if outdoors. A tent should be available for outdoor gatherings. Speakers in the fall will have to be remote and virtual events with outside speakers must also be approved by the University Events Committee.

It is too early to know. We hope not.

A degree will still be conferred.

Testing will be required for everyone returning to campus in the spring. More details to follow.  

Villanova will follow all state and local mandates with regard to return to campus. Pennsylvania Governor Wolf issued a self-quarantine order for 14-days for people who travel to various states. It is possible that this advisory and/or the list of states will change. Students should be prepared to quarantine if the order is still in place. Self-quarantine during the two weeks before school (rather than returning on the first day of school and then quarantining) is a good idea for those required to do so by government mandate. However, if students need to quarantine by mandate during the beginning of school, the absence will be excused and we will work with students to complete work remotely. Limiting social contacts in the two weeks before school is a good idea for all students.

The  Health and Safety Plan describes the planned health measures. The University is requiring masks, social distancing, hand washing, and table wiping to reduce transmission. We have a new building that adheres to filtration guidance set forth by the CDC. The HVAC system at the Law School exceeds MERV13 air filtration standards (the standards recommended by the CDC to reduce the spread of COVID-19), and introduces 100% outdoor/conditioned and filtered air, exhausting building air, to ensure proper turn-over of the air inside the building.

Villanova’s CARITAS Commitment asks that all students take care to limit their risks both at and away from school. That said, we reiterate what the Caritas Commitment states: “Following these protocols will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at Villanova, but we want you to understand that Villanova cannot guarantee a environment free of COVID-19, and coming onto campus may involve some risk of contracting COVID-19. Accordingly, we suggest that students who do not feel comfortable or safe returning to campus this fall consider waiting a semester and re-evaluating their return for the following semester.”  

Students are expected to take their own temperature and monitor their symptoms. Please consult the Health and Safety Plan for information on monitoring. 

The Villanova Health & Safety Plan discusses the protocol.

All classrooms, dining areas, library, and common areas have been arranged to comply with the recommended six feet (6’) social distancing guidelines. Decals will be placed in the classrooms to identify where students can sit to maintain social distancing, and room capacity signs will be placed outside each classroom.

Custodial services will clean and disinfect the classrooms, bathrooms, and elevators each morning and monitor throughout the day. This includes the use of the Clorox Total 360 System through which a long-lasting disinfectant is electrostatically applied to hard surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops, elevator buttons, etc.) to effectively reduce contamination. 

Cleaning/disinfecting supplies will be provided in the classrooms and in locations throughout the Law School building. This is done enhance and encourage compliance among students, faculty and staff with the University’s Health and Safety Plan expectation of self-directed cleaning and disinfecting to ensure a safe and healthy learning and working environment for everyone.

Ill students will be excused from class, and all classes will be recorded.  If the class is in-person, students should request a recording from their professor or, if available, may request to participate in a live Zoom session.  If remote, students can participate in synchronous classes if feeling well enough; if not, students can review recordings.  Students should also contact their professor to discuss other needed make-up or assignments. Since law students live off campus, they will be required to quarantine at home. The Villanova Health & Safety Plan discusses this further. If a student becomes so ill that studies cannot continue, a medical leave is available, as it is to any ill student.

Sick students will be excused from class, and pursuant to the CARITAS Commitment should not attend class if Covid-19-like symptoms are present. Villanova is committed to the health and safety of all.  

Classrooms will be marked and furniture in common areas will be placed in appropriate positions. Pursuant to the CARITAS Commitment we look to you to enforce distancing with respect to yourself, and we expect others to respect your space.

The Villanova Health & Safety Plan discusses bathroom use. Doors will be propped open where possible. Hand dryers in the bathrooms will be disabled and hand towels will be made available. Students, faculty and staff are expected to follow social distancing guidelines when using the restrooms facilities.

Hand sanitation stations with disinfectant supplies will be place throughout the building.

All students, faculty, and staff will enter the building at the main entrance near the reception area and elevators and will exit through the doors near the admissions office. Classrooms with two entry doors will be configured so that entry into the classroom is through one door and exit through another.

Floor decals, room capacity and social distancing signage will be placed on the floors, at classroom entrances, and in the elevators to encourage proper social distancing and to help in managing the flow of traffic throughout the building.

Plexiglass shields will be installed in high contact areas such as reception areas, service areas, and cashiers.

Water fountains will be disabled and replaced with water coolers strategically placed throughout the building.  There also is a water refill station in the cafeteria. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to bring a filled reusable water bottle to campus and refill as necessary throughout the day.

Law School Café – The Law School Café will continue to offer food and beverages daily. All entrees will be served in take-out containers and packaged for you as you order. Grab and Go items will be available all day, including salads, sandwiches, and fruit cups, as well as various snacks and bottled beverages. The salad bar will be closed to avoid frequent contact and promote social distancing. Assorted pre-packaged salads will be offered daily for your convenience. Social distancing guidelines should be followed, and all customers and associates will be required to wear face masks at all times.  Foot traffic will be re-routed to allow one entry to and one exit from the cafeteria.

Legal Grounds – Legal Grounds will be closed until COVID-related restrictions are lifted.  In place of Legal Grounds, the Law School Café has opened the Honor Bar located near the cafeteria with grab-and-go food items, snacks, and beverages available on an honor system.  Students are expected to record the items that they take from the Honor Bar, and pay for those items in the Law School Café the following day.  Dining Services is currently assessing the practicality of the Honor Bar, and will make a recommendation to Law School administration concerning this service for the Spring semester.