Harvard Law School Student Government

Yesterday the Registrar’s office sent out an informational email about Exam4. In the email they indicated that students using Windows7 would not be able to use Exam4, and that to complete their exams they would have to either borrow a laptop or hand write the exam. This seems like it could be a problem for students that upgraded earlier in the semester without an awareness of this potential complication.

To assist the registrar’s office in assessing the scope of this problem, we need to get a sense of how many people will be affected by it. If you are already running Windows7 and will be affected by this conflict with Exam4 software, please respond to this post so that we may present the registrar’s office with an approximate headcount of those students that are confronted by this issue.

It was brought to our attention that many of you may have to travel long distances, and/or to places that are not well served by public transportation to get to your test location.

A quick look at our recent accomplishments:

• Student Government Pub Nights: very popular weekly happy hours for students, with free beer and wine (starting this year on Thursday, Oct. 1!)
• Faculty-Student Lunch Program: every year, we arrange for students to have free lunches with distinguished HLS professors.
• Organize and distribute Unofficial Course Evaluations each semester.
• Solicited, collected, and presented student feedback regarding the grade change to Dean Kagan.
• Solicited, collected, and presented student feedback regarding the switch to the Early Interview Program to Office of Career Services.
• Formed and headed a student committee to meet with President Faust on the new dean search.
• Changed news@law in order to allow students to plan their weeks more conveniently.
• Convinced administration to buy toasters for the 2008-2009 free Monday morning bagel breakfasts.
• Obtained Splenda, strawberry cream cheese, and Heinz ketchup in the Hark.
• Worked with Restaurant Associates to respond to vegetarian students’ needs, including increased quantity of vegetarian sushi and better vegetarian labeling.
• Increased quantity of sweat towels at the Hemenway gym.
• Successfully advocated to see the Hark re-open from 2:30-5:00 to serve students’ needs in 2009.
• Distributed bags filled with candy and faculty advice to the 1Ls when they received their grades.
• Created a database of 3Ls willing to give 2Ls advice on applying to law firms.
• Dodgeball tournament (co-sponsored with HL Central and the intramural sports).
• Approved of many new students groups in 2008-2009.

When the exam schedule was posted for this semester it didn’t have the Exam4 exam mode info for each exam.  Of course, it makes it harder to study for the exam if you don’t know if you’ll be locked out of your harddrive when taking the exam.  Thanks to the few of you who pointed this out to us, and thanks to the Registrar’s office for their quick response in updating the exam schedule with this info.  Now, as professors turn in their exams to the Registrar, the requested exam mode will be posted on the exam schedule.  See here: http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/registrar/exams/upper-spring.html

Brian

UPDATE – I know many of you have expressed concern about this memo, about either what the curve looks like or what the results will be of explicitly releasing the information.  A few of you have also asked about what the Student Government can, should, or is going to to do about it.  I wanted to let you know that I am meeting with Dean Jackson this week to share this feedback with him, and to discuss potential ways to address or alleviate the concerns that have been expressed.

It is worth noting, however, that whether it seems like it or not, it took the Administration years of debate, study, and discussion to make this grade change happen, and they are not likely to make vast changes to it without at least taking a few years to really assess its effect on the students.  Still, we will share this feedback, and what we can definitely hope for is to work with the Administration to either share some extra information or make some small changes that might help to address the concerns that have been expressed here and via your emails.

We’ll keep you updated.

Brian

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Today (4/16), Dean Jackson released a preliminary memo on the HLS grading system and determination of latin honors. What do you think? Let us know!

David

Last week we sent out the following email seeking feedback for the Visiting Committee.  We’re still looking for more feedback.  See the email below for details.

Today Howell Jackson, prospective interim acting Dean, hosted a town hall meeting with HLS students. Because some students were unable to, we wanted to fill you in on some highlights:

• Faculty departures for DC: All courses this year were covered by HLS faculty or visitors. Next year’s curriculum will feature many great visiting professors (especially in environmental law), and there should be no significant effect from the faculty departures.
• Curriculum in general: Along with picking classes this Spring, students will be able to fill out a poll about which courses they’d like to see offered. Some of those courses might be added by next year, but some certainly will be added by the year after.
• OCI will be the week before school starts. Flyout week will be the week of September 14th. There may be events for 3Ls during that time, such as symposia on research opportunities or empirical methods classes. In addition, the school will celebrate Columbus Day, creating a small break later in the fall.
• Financial crisis: HLS’s three priorities are “building a terrific faculty, having terrific teaching, and honoring financial aid commitments.” There may be cuts in other “not central” areas (but not coffee). In addition, the NW Corner project will proceed as planned. Furthermore, Harvard University is working with JP Morgan to ensure that all international students have access to loans similar to those that were suspended because of the financial crisis.
• The search process for a permanent Dean, led by President Faust, has begun. She will likely reach out to students, staff, alumni, and even employers during the process.
• 2L Mixed Transcripts: 2Ls will graduate with Latin honors, based on an averaging of their A/B/C and HP/P/LP grades. The algorithm for that weighting is not public, however.
• Next year’s academic calendar has almost no time between Winter Term and Spring Term. On the other hand, synchronizing with the rest of the University allows for much better cross-registration opportunities. 
• The “Programs of Study” are in beta-test mode now. They will become more significant in the future.
• MyPlan will be fixed, but slowly.

David

Today the 1L class received its first set of grades, officially marking the completion of that class’s first semester at HLS. In celebration, the Student Government handed out more than 250 bags of candy. In addition, each bag contained a letter which, among other things, listed some less-than-stellar grades which HLS’s star faculty earned in their respective first years at law school.

David

Today we emailed our mid-year report to all HLS students (if you didn’t get one, let us know). The report outlines what we did this semester and what we plan to do next semester. But, ultimately, your Student Government exists to serve you. So let us know how you think we’re doing and what we could do better!

David

We’ve been hearing mixed reports about the new Exam4 software.  Do you have constructive questions or feedback that we can share with the Registrar’s office?  Let us know.

Brian

The Student Government just emailed all 1Ls and LLMs a document called “What I Wish I’d Known Before I Took My First HLS Exams: Advice from 2Ls and 3Ls who’ve been there already.” This document is full of helpful study advice from 2Ls and 3Ls, as well as a series of links to poetntially helpful sites about studying for law school exams.

If you did not get the Student Government’s email, let us know (studentgov@law.harvard.edu) and we’ll send you a copy.

David

The Student Government and the WLA are hosting a panel about exam preparation and study for all 1Ls on Wednesday, December 3rd, at 12:00 PM. Lunch will be served.

If there are particular questions you’d like addressed, let us know at studentgov@law.harvard.edu or just respond to this post.

We’ll also have copies of the “What You Wish You’d Known” pamphlet we’re currently putting together.

David

. . . before taking your first set of HLS exams?

The student government is compiling a list for the 1Ls. Please email studentgov@law.harvard.edu or respond to this post with the things you wish you’d known before your first exam. You will have the gratitude of the entire 1L class.

David