Academic Policies Guide

University and Federal Policies and Procedures

Many University-wide policies, including those summarized or referenced elsewhere in this Guide, apply to the Law School and its students.  The following summary is a non-exhaustive list of important University-wide policies; NYU maintains a comprehensive, searchable database of all University policies.  Further, because policies undergo periodic revision, students are advised to consult the most current version of these policies, as found on the university’s and Law School’s web pages, to verify the precise conduct prohibited and governing language.    

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

NYU maintains a policy on guidelines for compliance with FERPA, a federal law enacted to protect the privacy of students' education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide students with an opportunity to have inaccurate or misleading information in their education records corrected. FERPA also permits the disclosure by an institution without a student's prior consent of so-called directory information about that student. Students have the right to file complaints with the Department of Education's Family Policy Compliance Office concerning alleged failures by an institution to comply with FERPA.  

The University informs students of the FERPA policy guidelines and their rights under FERPA by placing a notice on the Registrar’s website.  This site also provides further information on access to records, amendment of records, disclosure of personally identifiable information, notice designating directory information, and complaints.  

Specifically for students at the Law School, requests for access should be directed to Michelle Kirkland, Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Registration, FH 400.  Students will be required to complete applicable request forms, which require identification of what records are to be inspected.  The Law School may, in its discretion in accordance with FERPA, permit a student to receive copies of records and reserves the right to charge a fee for copies.  

Note that third party requests to review records are governed by FERPA and University policy, which typically prohibit access to such records.  

Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order

The Trustees of NYU have adopted rules for the maintenance of public order on campus and other University property used for educational purposes, as well as a program for the enforcement of such rules.  Generally speaking, the rules govern conduct that violates laws and ordinances, interferes with operations and activities of the University, affects the rights of others, causes certain injuries, violates access rules, endanger health, and certain hazing activities.  Specific definitions of prohibited conduct, applicability of the policy, and the program of enforcement is detailed by the Rules for Maintenance of Public Order

University Student Conduct Policy

New York University requires the cooperation of its members in the performance of its educational functions and oversees and regulates the conduct and behavior of its members.  The University Student Conduct Policy sets these standards of non-academic conduct for all students at the University, as well as student organizations.  The policy prohibits a number of types of conduct defined in detail in that policy, including violations related to alcohol and drugs; bullying, threatening, and abusive behavior; destruction of property; discrimination and harassment; disorderly conduct; failure to comply; fire safety; conduct while at a Study Away Site; guests and visitors; hazing; information technology; misrepresentation; retaliation; residence halls; sexual misconduct; smoking; theft and unauthorized taking; misuse of University properties; weapons and related items; and violation of other University policies.  The policy affirms the rights related to academic freedom, and leaves the authority to establish academic standards and address such misconduct with each school or college at NYU.  

University Student Conduct Procedures 

The University’s Office of Student Conduct administers procedures for alleged violations of the University Student Conduct Policy.  The Law School, however, maintains its own procedures, as articulated in this Guide, in accordance with University Bylaw 80.  Reference to the procedures administered by the Office of Student Conduct is included here for informational purposes, as a law student may experience an issue with a student from a school that utilizes the procedures.

Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment

New York University is committed to equal treatment and opportunity for its students and employees, to maintaining an environment that is free of bias, prejudice, discrimination, and harassment based on protected characteristics as defined in policy and required by law, and to providing appropriate complaint procedures to address wrongdoing.  NYU has established policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment against both students and employees regardless of the identity of the wrongdoer. Details are listed in the Anti-Harassment Policy.

Substance Abuse and Alcoholic Beverages

The best way to maintain an appropriate campus environment with respect to alcohol and other drugs is through preventive education about the dangers of drug abuse and compassionate attention to the needs of those who may require help with alcohol or other drug-related problems. To that end, the University provides on-campus support programs and services as well as information about related services that are available in the local community. Information about these programs and services may be obtained through the Student Health Center, or by calling (212) 443-1000 or the SHC’s Wellness Exchange (24 hours a day) at (212) 443-9999.

The University’s full policy on Substance Abuse and Alcoholic Beverages addresses standards of conduct on possession, consumption, service, and distribution of alcohol and illegal controlled substances and provides further resources on support and treatment.  

Guidelines for the Use of University Facilities 

The University maintains guidelines for the use of its facilities, which provides for the assignment of space, charges for use, authority for allocating space, and procedures for reservations and assignments. 

Guidelines Regarding Protest and Dissent

The University is committed to maintaining an environment where open, vigorous debate and speech can occur, including for sponsored speakers, and has adopted a policy with guidelines regarding protest and dissent applicable to all meetings not part of academic courses of instruction or regular administration.  The policy applies without regard to the content of the proposed speaker’s speech and addresses issues including whether meetings are closed or open, requiring identification, dissent and protest related to a speaker, security, use of a moderator, and sanctions. 

Student Grievance Procedure  

The University Student Grievance Procedure applies to formal grievances where a student alleges an employee, faculty member, office, or other member of the University community, while acting in an official capacity, has violated a written administrative University or school policy that directly affects the student.  It applies solely where procedures to address or challenge the action or conduct at issue are not otherwise already provided by applicable policies of the University or of its schools, and because decisions of an academic nature rest solely with the University’s schools and are governed by school procedures, it does not apply to grievances of an academic nature.

Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity

NYU maintains an affirmative action and equal opportunity notice and invitation to all job seekers, which applies equally to students who may seek employment with the University.  

The Law School also publishes policies surrounding recruitment and makes the Office of Career Services available only to employers that adhere to NYU’s principles of nondiscrimination.  For more information, view the Law School’s page for employers.