College of Law

Law Coronavirus FAQ

Updated Jan. 10, 2023
In alignment with The University of Toledo's proactive measures to safeguard health and safety, we continue to ask our community to do their part to keep campus safe. The college's FAQ below will provide guidance during this time. Visit the UToledo COVID-19 Response site for critical University updates.

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Health & Safety

• Where do I find information about COVID-19 resources at UToledo?

  Students should monitor UToledo's COVID-19 site regularly for updated information, including the University dashboard. The site menu also provides quick links to key areas. Visit "Keeping Campus Safe" for what to do if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are having symptoms, testing available through the University, quarantine/isolation due to travel, and more. Please note that the academic calendar dates, attendance policy, and examination schedule for the College of Law are different from any main campus information noted in the plan. Instead, we encourage you to reference the law website for our law academic calendar, law attendance policy, and law exam schedules.

• Are masks required on campus?

  As information may change rapidly, visit "Keeping Campus Safe" for updates on the latest mask requirements on campus. The College of Law is making KN95 masks available to students, faculty, and staff. You can pick up KN95 masks from the LaValley Law Library Circulation Desk during regular library hours. Additional surgical-style masks are also available at the LaValley Law Library Circulation Desk, on the shelf outside the Law Registrar, in Room 1013, and in Room 1006.

• What are the classroom procedures related to COVID?

  We are implementing procedures and practices in line with the University's guidelines.

  • If you are ill, do not attend class.
  • Masks are optional in all non-clinical areas on our campuses, including classrooms and teaching laboratories.
  • In addition to enhanced cleaning from Environmental Services, employees and students should regularly clean and sanitize their personal workspaces throughout the day. All individuals must also practice good personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing.
• Are there hand sanitizers in the Law Center building?

  Yes, hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the Law Center building and inside each classroom. Disinfecting spray for desks and other surfaces is available in all classrooms.

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Academic Services

• What are the dates for classes and examinations?

  Please review the law academic calendar and law spring exam schedule for further details.

• What is the current grading system?

  Courses will be graded on the standard grading system as identified in the college's Academic Rules. For most courses, that will mean a traditional letter grade with some courses offered S/U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory).

• What are the potential course delivery methods?

  In-Person: The entire course will be offered in person at scheduled days and times.

  Online/Distance Learning: Courses offered online/Distance Learning can be offered in three different ways:

  • Synchronous - The course will meet online at scheduled days and times.
  • Asynchronous - The course will not meet at scheduled days and times. The professor will provide deadlines for the completion of course materials and assignments.
  • Synchronous and Asynchronous - Part of the course will include online asynchronous content and part of the course will meet online synchronously.

  Hybrid: Part of the course will be offered in-person and part of the course will be offered online/Distance Learning. The online component could be scheduled synchronously or asynchronously.

  For online and hybrid courses, students will use the online learning platform determined by each faculty member (Blackboard, Webex, Zoom, or other similar web-based platforms). Students will receive information about how to access the platforms from their professors. Examinations for in-person, online/distance learning, and hybrid courses may be given in-person.

• I am in a CDC high-risk category for COVID, how do I request accommodations?

  If students are seeking a medical accommodation, they should submit a request through the UToledo Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources and contact Assistant Dean Cindy Kirby with any questions.

• Which classes count toward the 15-credit limit on Distance Learning courses in the college's Academic Rules?

  Classes originally planned for in-person instruction but converted to a Distance Learning format in spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020, and Distance Learning courses for spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021 are exempt from the 15-credit limit on Distance Learning courses in the college's Academic Rules. The ABA has separately granted the college a waiver for fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021 courses of its 30-credit limit on Distance Learning.

  The college has granted a blanket waiver from the Academic Rules for (1) the 15-credit limit on Distance Learning courses and (2) the prohibition on Distance Learning courses for first-year students. The waiver of these limits applies to all courses converted from in-person to Distance Learning or hybrid delivery in spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020, and Distance Learning courses scheduled for spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021. Only courses originally planned as Distance Learning courses in spring 2020, summer 2020 and fall 2020 will "count" as Distance Learning courses – Biotechnology and IP (spring 2020) and Advanced Criminal Law Seminar (summer 2020 and fall 2020). Because it was converted to a synchronous course before the start of the semester, Secured Transactions (fall 2020) will not count against the 15-credit waiver. Separately, the ABA Standards limit law schools to no more than 10 credits of DL courses in the first year and 30 total credits of DL for the J.D. The college received confirmation of waiver for these ABA requirements for fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021, and fall 2021.

  For spring 2022,the ABA requirements and College rules are waived for two courses converted to Distance Learning Courses – Property (evening section only) and Trusts and Estates. Other courses scheduled for Distance Learning delivery for reasons other than COVID will count against the College and ABA limits. Please refer to the Associate Dean’s "Scheduling Advice Memo" on myUT for more information.

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Student Support

• What do I do if I am ill?

  Students, staff, and faculty should stay home when ill. Students who are sick should not come to in-person class and should contact the Main Campus Health Center at 419.530.3451. More details about testing and what to do if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 or develop symptoms is available on the Keeping Campus Safe page. If you need to miss class or need other assistance due to needing to self-isolate or quarantine, please send an email to lawabsence@utoledo.edu.

• What about the attendance policy?

  Students who are ill should not attend class in-person. While the college's attendance expectations remain in force, the current public health crisis will require they be applied in a flexible and rational way to protect the safety of faculty, staff, and other students. If you need assistance related to missing class, an assignment, or examination due to illness or quarantine, email lawabsence@utoledo.edu.

• Is COVID-19 testing available for students?

  UToledo has rapid COVID-19 testing available at The University of Toledo Medical Center for symptomatic individuals and is conducting surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals. Additional details and information about testing are available on the Keeping Campus Safe page.

• What counseling services are available to students?

  We recognize that uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and changes to the typical learning environment can be stressful. We encourage you to visit Rocket Wellness for valuable well-being resources.

  If you need counseling services, please contact the University Counseling Center to set up a phone or virtual appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 419.530.2426. UToledo students who are experiencing distress needing support after 5 p.m. may call the after-hours support line at 419.255.9585. Or, you can access the Crisis Text Line by texting "ROCKET" or "HOME" to 741741.

  Crisis Resources

  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 1.800.273.8255, 24 hours a day
  • Crisis Care Helpline — 419.904.2273, 24 hours a day
  • Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline — 1.800.422.4453, 24 hours a day
  • Lucas County Domestic Violence Hotline — 419.245.3324, 24 hours a day
  • YWCA Domestic Violence Crisis Line — 1.888.341.7386
• What if I decide to travel? Do I need to self-quarantine?

  Ohioans are encouraged to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when considering travel. Full details on travel restrictions and quarantine requirements are available on the Keeping Campus Safe page.

• I am having a financial emergency related to COVID-19 or another issue, who should I contact?

  Students facing a financial emergency or other issues should contact Assistant Dean Cindy Kirby. Limited funds are available to students through the Beth Eisler Student Assistance Fund for financial emergencies, and it is not limited to COVID-related issues. The College of Law received a generous $25,000 gift through the AccessLex Institute to provide relief funding for law students facing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Please contact Assistant Dean Cindy Kirby for an application and more information.

• Who can help me with IT issues with my computer and online learning?

  The IT Help Desk provides a central point of contact for students, staff, and faculty for computer IT issues. Law students may also contact Jeff Coyne in IT at jeffrey.coyne@utoledo.edu. If you have questions related to Blackboard and other online learning, the UToledo Online site has helpful student and faculty resources, including a Blackboard Toolkit with step-by-step guides.

• Will I still be able to meet with faculty and offices like Law Financial Aid, Law Registrar, and Office of Professional Development?

  Yes. Student services offices are available to assist students through in-person and virtual meetings. Contact the individual or team you need using our online law directory.

  Law Financial Aid will be available remotely and follows a part-time schedule. Students may contact Law Financial Aid by phone at 419.530.7929 or email at lawfinaid@utoledo.edu. If Law Financial Aid is unavailable, students may call the main campus Office of Financial Aid/Rocket Solution Central at 419.530.8700 for immediate assistance.

  The Law Registrar's Office is available in-person Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays).

  The Office of Professional Development (OPD) is available during normal business hours Monday – Friday in a hybrid fashion. The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Log in to TLCN for more information about OPD team member schedules. For PDP questions and appointment scheduling, contact opd@utoledo.edu.

  Law staff and student services offices will be available via email, phone, and virtual meeting and will remain responsive to students. We are asking that staff respond to student e-mails within 24 hours during regular business days (Monday – Friday). More complicated questions/requests from students may take longer to resolve, but we will be aiming to get acknowledgment or receipt back to students within 24 hours. When staff are not available for extended periods via email (i.e., ½ day or more), they will have out-of-office replies sent to all @utoledo.edu contacts who reach out to them. Students should contact their professors via email to arrange a meeting or attend virtual office hours.

• What are my options for on-campus parking?

  UToledo offers several options for on-campus parking, including a semester parking pass, daily passes, and metered parking. If you are enrolled in distance learning or hybrid courses and will only be on campus occasionally, a daily pass or metered parking may be a good option. For full details, review information from Parking Services.

• Who can assist with questions related to the bar exam or bar application?

  Please contact Lesa Byrnes, director of academic success and bar preparation, with questions related to the bar examination and bar preparation. If you have questions about the bar application process, please contact Assistant Dean Cindy Kirby.

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Law Library

• Can I access the LaValley Law Library?

  Law library spring hours are Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9:45 p.m. For information and updates, visit LaValley Law Library.

• Can I get research assistance remotely?

  Contact our reference desk at 419.530.2946 or lavalleylaw@utoledo.edu. Voicemail and email are automatically forwarded to our entire reference staff, one of whom will contact you at the next reasonable opportunity.

• How can I access virtual resources?

  Go to the Legal Research Links page to find access to a number of study aids and other resources, from companies like CALI Lessons, HeinOnline, OhioLINK, West Academic, and Wolters Kluwer.

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Questions?
Cindy Kirby
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
419.530.2937
cindy.kirby@utoledo.edu