Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Return to Fordham Law School
    X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn Instagram RSS
    Fordham Law News
    • Home
    • Law School News
    • In the News
    • Fordham Lawyer
    • Insider
      • Announcements
      • Class Notes
      • In Memoriam
    • For the Media
      • Media Contacts
    • News by Topic
      • Business and Financial Law
      • Clinics
      • Intellectual Property and Information Law
      • International and Human Rights Law
      • Legal Ethics and Professional Practice
      • National Security
      • Public Interest and Service
    Return to Fordham Law School
    X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn Instagram RSS
    Fordham Law News
    You are at:Home»Coronavirus»Mid-Semester Check-In

    Mid-Semester Check-In

    0
    By on October 9, 2020 Coronavirus, Law School News
    Dear Fordham Law Students,
    I am reaching out to touch base on how law school life is going for you this semester, to provide an update on our plans for spring semester, and to solicit your feedback through a schoolwide survey.
    First, I want to share the observation that we have been very fortunate thus far with the health and safety of our community, as evidenced by the low number of cases at Fordham. I recognize that our good fortune is a direct result of your responsible and careful behavior. Each time I am in the Law School building, I get a clear sense of the seriousness with which each of you takes this pandemic, and I know that you recognize the role you play in keeping the whole community safe. I am proud to see you living up to our motto “in the service of others.”  You have faithfully tested, masked, and distanced—and we are all better for it. Thank you.
    New Testing Requirement
    I wanted to call your attention to an email the University sent last week regarding new testing requirements and the importance of getting the flu vaccine. All members of the community must have a third COVID-19 test completed by Friday, October 23, and a fourth test by Friday, November 20. Please sign up for on-campus testing at Lincoln Center. As outlined in the email, it is also particularly important to get the flu vaccine this year.
    The Schedule for Next Semester
    For public health reasons, we are making changes to the spring semester schedule. The key change is that we are eliminating spring break because of the very substantial public health concerns with resuming in-person classes after faculty and students have traveled outside of New York City. As I am sure you are aware, schools across the country are making a similar decision for the same reason.
    Other important things to know about our spring calendar:
    • We will keep the same start dates as are currently on the calendar.
      • 1Ls have a one-day orientation on Jan. 19, everyone else starts regular classes that day; 1Ls start classes on Jan. 20.
    • Registration will take place at the beginning of January.
    • We will have an extended reading period at the end of the semester. We know many students spend part of spring break preparing for exams and writing papers. Accordingly, we will have an extended reading period at the end of the semester to allow you time to prepare for exams; papers will be due during the reading period rather than the last day of classes.
    • We will provide three days off during the semester, allowing for shorter breaks:
      • Presidents’ Day on February 15
      • March 10, and
      • Good Friday on April 2
    • For upper-level J.D. students, on-campus interviewing will continue as planned on January 26–29, although this will be all virtual. Upper-level classes will be suspended for those days.
    • The Law School diploma ceremony will take place on May 24.
    • Details on exam schedules will be forthcoming.

    Class Format

    As you know, another significant decision is the format of classes for the spring semester. We are currently planning to offer at least some in-person courses, as we have this semester, but we cannot make a final decision until we see how the public health situation evolves. We will share the spring course offerings in December, although, as always, our ability to offer in-person classes is subject to regulation by New York City and State as well as University policies.

    Your Input

    As we plan the spring semester, we want to know about your experiences this semester as well as your anticipated preferences for taking online versus in-person classes this spring. Please note that we are not asking for a firm commitment yet, but it would help our planning to have a sense of your preferences.
    Please take this survey by Friday, October 16, to share your input.

    Thank you for all your hard work, consideration of our community’s health, and flexibility during this time.
    Warmly,
    Matthew Diller
    Dean and Paul Fuller Professor of Law
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Pursuing Public Defense: Meet Sarina Chohan ’26

    Al Jazeera: Prof. Aaron Saiger on the Eroding Judicial Power in Supreme Court’s ‘Shadow Docket’

    CNN: Prof. Jane Manners Says Federal Reserve Governor’s Lawsuit against President is “Big”

    Comments are closed.

    • The Big Idea
    August 5, 2025

    The Big Idea: Who Counts (and Who Doesn’t) in the U.S. Census 

    March 31, 2025

    The Big Idea: Local Politics, Reform Prosecutors, and Reshaping Mass Incarceration

    March 3, 2025

    The Big Idea: Forced Labor, Global Supply Chains, and Workers’ Rights

    November 6, 2024

    The Big Idea: Partisanship, Perception, and Prosecutorial Power

    READ MORE

    About

    Fordham University - The Jesuit University of New York

    Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 15,100 students in its four undergraduate colleges and its six graduate and professional schools.
    Connect With Fordham
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.