2016 Summer Newsletter

From the Dean.

Dear Students,

I hope you are having a great summer! While you are enjoying your time away from WVU Law, we have been busy getting ready for the 2016-17 academic year.

When you arrive on campus, you will notice that our building renovations are nearly complete! There will be a new student lounge, new offices for student organizations, and a new student services suite that will house admissions, student life, academic affairs, and career services. Also, the new library entrance will be located in the lobby opposite the bookstore and Starbucks cafe--so you can fuel up and go study!

As I begin my second year as dean at WVU Law, I promise that we will continue to have a "student first" attitude and philosophy in all that we do. While our new building is fabulous, what makes our law school special is our student body and our devotion to helping each and every one of you succeed on the career path of your choice. My faculty colleagues and I are honored to play integral roles in your professional development, and we take pride in offering an educational environment where you can pursue diverse opportunities for excellence, leadership, and service.

So, on behalf of our excellent and dedicated faculty and staff, get ready for a great year! I look forward to seeing you soon on campus!

Gregory W. Bowman

From the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Dear Students,

I hope you're having a wonderful summer and that you're looking forward to the fall as much as I am (don't laugh — I've been in law school for a long time — I obviously love it). We're gearing up for a great year. The renovations are almost done and will soon be a distant memory.

There will be a couple new faculty members in the clinics (Priya Baskaran in the Entrepreneurship Clinic and Jennifer Oliva in the Veterans Clinic), and our very own Josh Weishart will drop the "visiting" appendage from his title. It's going to be a good year.

One note regarding the academic calendar: As you know, the law school does not follow exactly the University calendar. For example, we haven't observed the mid-October fall break for the past couple of years. The University will not observe that break this year, so we are not deviating in that regard this year. This coming year, however, classes at the law school will continue into Thanksgiving week and will be held on Monday and Tuesday of that week. The last day of classes for the semester will be Tuesday, Nov. 22. Thanksgiving break will be Wednesday, Nov. 23 through Friday, Nov. 25. Exams will begin on Monday, Nov. 28.

See you soon!

Reminders from the Financial Aid Office

Just a couple of reminders regarding tuition and financial aid.

1. While bills were due July 27, the late fee assessment deadline has been extended to September 2. This late fee assessment will be 1.5% over $200 of your remaining balance (not just tuition/fees).

2. If you have scholarships or have accepted Federal Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS student loans, these will not officially pay out until August 8. You do not have to pay your tuition and fees by tomorrows deadline. Scholarships and loans are authorized and noted in the student accounts system. It will still show that you have a balance until August 8. If you need to check that you have accepted your financial aid you can do so by following the directions.

• If you have not submitted a FAFSA but would like to receive Federal Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS student loans, it is not too late. Go to https://fafsa.ed.gov/ .
  
• If you have been offered a Graduate PLUS loan and have not applied for it go to www.studentloans.gov . This loan is credit based and an application is mandatory.
  
• Also, remember that you must accept the full Unsubsidized loan (this has a lower interest rate) before you can receive a Graduate PLUS Loan.
  
• If you are a first-time borrower at the graduate level you must complete Entrance Counseling and a Promissory note for your Unsubsidized loan. If you apply for a Grad PLUS loan you will also need to complete PLUS counseling and a promissory note.

3. If you have not done so take a few moments to set up an eRefund through TMS. This is much quicker and more efficient way to receive your refunds. http://studentaccounts.wvu.edu/refunds

Important change in billing policy

Students will no longer be automatically removed from classes for non-payment. Therefore, students must be proactive about withdrawing from their courses if they don’t plan to return for the fall semester. Starting with the fall 2016 semester, students will incur financial responsibility for courses in which they are registered, even if they do not attend the class.

The due date for fall 2016 semester payment was July 27. However, due to the many financial issues WVU students have faced this summer, including students affected by recent flooding in the southern region of the state, a late payment fee will not be assessed in August.

Students impacted by the flooding who would like their aid eligibility reevaluated can submit a Review of Financial Hardship Due to National Disaster available at http://financialaid.wvu.edu/.

Are you a student affected by the flooding?

Any students from the affected area who need assistance traveling home or with other needs, please contact Kim Mosby, Sr. Associate Dean of Students, at 304-293-5611, or kim.mosby@mail.wvu.edu.

Also, students from the affected area who have concerns about paying tuition, or managing financial aid should visit WVU’s Financial Aid office or call 304-293-1988 immediately for assistance.

The WELLWVU Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is warmly welcoming any students that have connections to the area, should they need any resources or counseling regarding this extraordinary situation.Walk-in appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. An after-hours emergency phone can be accessed by calling 304-293-4431. If anyone is having a particularly difficult time, please contact Cathy Yura directly at 304-293-2547.

Student Health Insurance

If you are waiving Student Health Insurance, you must complete a new form each year. The deadline to submit this was July 27. However, the waiver will be available on the website (studentinsurance.wvu.edu) through August 23 to accommodate students who may have missed the deadline.

Parking Permit

Have you bought your parking permit for the year?  If not, you need to take of it as soon as possible.  The process is the same as when you were an entering 1L student — you can either go online and sign up for the waitlist for lots 42 or 76 or call the parking office directly and ask to be added to the law school parking waitlist.

New Faculty 2016-17

WVU Law is pleased to announce two new faculty members starting this fall: Priya Baskaran and Jennifer Oliva. Both are associate professors.

Priya is the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Law Clinic.

Jenn is director of the (renamed, expanded) Veterans Advocacy Clinic and has a joint appointment with WVU Law and the School of Public Health. She will teach Law 688D - Seminar in Science and the Law, and participate in the School of Public Health’s CDC grant on tobacco use prevention.

Bookstore News

The WVU Law Bookstore is price matching Amazon.com & BN.com. Visit www.wvulaw.bncollege.com to find out more.

Also, the last day to use financial aid to buy books online is August 3.

Veterans Advocacy Boot Camp August 16

On August 16, 2016, WVU Law is hosting a Veterans Advocacy Boot Camp orientation and CLE training for our Veterans Advocacy Clinic students and West Virginia lawyers.

The training is co-sponsored by the Washington, DC-based Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and the State Bar’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The Bootcamp is approved for 6.0 West Virginia MCLE credits and free to anyone who wants to learn more about veterans legal services advocacy.

Additional information concerning the Boot Camp (including the agenda) is available on our website at law.wvu.edu/veterans-advocacy-boot-camp. Interested law students who are not enrolled in the Veterans Advocacy Clinic are encouraged to contact Associate Professor Jennifer Oliva at Jennifer.Oliva@mail.wvu.edu no later than August 12 to register for the Boot Camp.

Student Organization Fair is August 24

We will be hosting the Student Organization Fair for 1L students on Wednesday, August 24 from 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in the Event Hall. A representative from each organization should contact Assistant Dean for Student Life Tina Jernigan (tina.jernigan@mail.wvu.edu) right away to reserve a table. This event will promote your organization. All student organizations should be represented.

• The paperwork to be a recognized organization for 2016-17 is available online to download here . Please complete all paperwork by September 1 and return to Assistant Dean Jernigan in Room 100T. 

2L Diagnostic Exam - save the date!

The mandatory 2L Diagnostic Exam is scheduled to be administered on Friday, January 20, 2017. Snow date / make-up exam is Friday, February 3, 2017. The details will be announced later in the fall semester. Mark your calendar now!