Individual Research and Tutorial Experiences

Description:

General rules applicable to all individual research and tutorial experiences:

a. If the supervising faculty member is an adjunct professor, the project must receive the prior approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

b. A student may register for no more than a total of two projects under this rule (whether individual research or tutorial experience) in a single semester.

c. Unless the Dean otherwise approves, a student may not count towards meeting the requirements for graduation more than eight hours of credit for a combination of individual research and tutorial experience. The Dean's approval will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.

Individual Research A student may obtain academic credit for an individual research project subject to the following further rules:

a. Individual research credit may be granted only for a significant research, analytical or drafting paper of a kind and quality that would satisfy the "A" writing requirement. However, unless the paper is actually to be used to satisfy the "A" writing requirement, it need not involve a mandatory rewrite.

b. The individual research project must be approved in advance in writing by the full-time or adjunct faculty member who is responsible for supervising and grading it.

c. The individual research paper must be graded. It cannot be undertaken for pass/fail or ungraded credit.

d. An individual research paper may not be for more than two credits unless a petition for additional credit is approved by the Dean.

e. The amount of credit to be awarded for an individual research paper is to be based on standards set by the supervising faculty member. The determination of such standards are within the discretion of the faculty member, and will take into account such factors as the size of the paper, the anticipated number of hours to be spent on it, and the complexity of its topic.

Tutorial Experiences Subject to the advance approval of the Curriculum Committee as set out below, a student may obtain credit for an individualized learning project undertaken by arrangement with a faculty member.

Qualifying Projects: The learning experiences covered by this category have the common characteristic of being tailored to meet the educational goals of an individual student. The different projects covered by this rule are likely to be varied, and the precise form and structure of each will be determined by the student in consultation with the supervising faculty member. Because the Individual Tutorial offering is relatively new to the curriculum, the Curriculum Committee is still working out the precise parameters. However, some broad guidelines can be stated:

a. An individual tutorial will typically involve one faculty member supervising a single student. (If a group of students are to be involved, it is more appropriate to have the project approved by the Curriculum Committee as a class or seminar.)

b. The individual tutorial is not meant as a vehicle for earning law-school credit for working as a research or teaching assistant to a faculty member.

c. Individual Tutorial Projects are meant to be unique learning experiences growing from the creativity of a specific student. Thus, it is unlikely that a faculty member will repeat the same tutorial project in later semesters with different students. (If the project is capable of repetition by other students or faculty supervisors, it may be more appropriate to present it to the Curriculum Committee as a class or seminar.)

d. The project must involve some written or other tangible product that is capable of evaluation by the faculty supervisor.

e. Credit may not be granted for a project for which the student has been or will be paid, or that is completed in paid employment.

f. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Committee is unlikely to approve a project for more than two credits or to approve more than one Individual Tutorial Experience project per student for a single semester.

Application Process. The following steps must be taken to register for an individual tutorial experience:

a. Consult with and obtain the approval of the prospective faculty supervisor in advance of the semester in which the student is to register for credit.

b. Under the guidance of the supervising faculty member, submit an application to the Curriculum Committee, not later than 4 weeks prior to the last day of classes in the semester preceding that for which registration is sought.

c. The application must be accompanied by the written approval of the proposed faculty member.

d. The application must describe the project with particularity and must set out a clearly defined academic objective. It must, in addition, describe the process of evaluation to be used, indicate the number of credits to be awarded, and specify whether they are to be graded or ungraded.

The Curriculum Committee may ask for additional information from the applicant, the faculty supervisor, or both, and may suggest changes or conditions before approving a project. If the Committee approves a project, it will notify the Registrar of that fact, specifying the number of credits allowed and whether those credits are to be graded or ungraded.