Welcome First-Year Students!
Dear {{Preferred Name}},
Everyone at the School of Law is looking forward to your arrival next week at Orientation. Please see below for additional information and updates to assist you in getting ready for Orientation and your first semester as a 1L. As a reminder, Orientation will take place in person August 17-19, 2021. Please be advised that the University is requiring face coverings indoors for everyone effective, Monday, August 2 until further notice so please remember to bring a face covering with you.
Oath of Professionalism and Professional Photos
You may have noticed on the Orientation schedule that you will be taking an Oath of Professionalism on the evening of Tuesday, August 17. The Oath and Dessert Reception will give you an opportunity to meet your professors and classmates. The suggested attire for this evening is business attire; examples are available in the "JD Orientation 2021" section of the USD Blackboard website under “Orientation Materials.” Professional photographers will take a group photo and individual headshots prior to the Oath for your future personal use.
Identity-Based Breakout Sections
If you are looking to connect with others who may have a shared experience, join one of our Breakout Sessions! Each group will provide an opportunity for an informal conversation with members of the USD Law community, including current students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The Identity-Based Breakout groups include BIPOC, First-Generation College and/or Law Student, LGBTQ+, Pregnant and Parenting, and Veterans/Active Duty Military. These optional Breakout Sessions will take place during Orientation on Tuesday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending one or more of these sessions, please fill out the interest form here by Monday, August 16 at 12 p.m.
Character and Fitness Disclosure Form
All incoming students are required to submit a signed Character and Fitness Disclosure Form to the Office of Admissions at jdinfo@sandiego.edu no later than Friday, August 20, 2021. The form and additional information can be found in the "JD Orientation 2021" folder of the USD Blackboard website under "Orientation Materials>Pre-Orientation Forms."
Student Bar Association (SBA) Mentorship Program
The SBA Mentorship Program is a great way to get to know USD. By signing up, you will receive an upper-division student mentor — someone you can go to for advice and support. Law school can be stressful and upper-division students can provide helpful and supportive resources to get you through it. To request a mentor, be sure to submit the online request form by Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
USD Blackboard Website
All Orientation materials are now available on the USD Blackboard website including pre-orientation forms, orientation week-specific materials, pre-recorded videos, and a 1L Checklist. Be sure to review all materials, videos, and action items. Directions on how to use Blackboard can be found online.
Registration Paperwork and Legal Research Account Activation
All incoming students received a DocuSign email on Monday, August 9 with required registration paperwork from the Law School Registrar’s Office. The deadline to complete this paperwork is today, Friday, August 13. By signing these forms, you acknowledge that you are responsible for knowing and understanding the USD student handbook, academic rules, code of conduct, and more. If you are unable to locate the email, please check your spam folder. Contact the Law School Registrar at lawreg@sandiego.edu if you have any questions.
You also received an email on Monday, August 9 with instructions and activation codes for registering your three legal research accounts (Bloomberg, Lexis Nexis, and Westlaw) from the Legal Research Center. We encourage you to take some time this week to set up all three accounts. Contact the Legal Research Center at lrcrefer@sandiego.edu if you have any questions.
Parking
2021 parking e-permits (electronic permits) to park on campus are now available for purchase on the USD Parking Services website. For a step-by-step tutorial on how to purchase your e-permit through the online parking portal, please visit the USD Parking how-to document.
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Student Health Requirements
If you already have complied with the vaccination requirements, thank you! If you have not yet done so, this is an urgent reminder for you to comply with the University of San Diego’s vaccination requirement for COVID-19 before Interim Suspensions are issued to non-compliant students. Per the most recent communication to you, students who fail to comply with the vaccination requirement will be placed on Interim Suspension until they are in full compliance. Once placed on Interim Suspension, students will not be permitted on campus for any purpose, including attending classes, living in the residence halls, or participating in any campus activities. Students who have not complied with the vaccination requirement by the end of the add/drop period on September 3 will be dropped from classes and will not be billed for the fall semester.
If you have been fully or partially vaccinated, please upload a picture of your vaccination record/card to your MyWellness Portal for the Student Health Center (SHC) to review now. If you have not been vaccinated, please get vaccinated as soon as possible so that you are fully protected for the fall semester. Please visit Vaccines.gov to identify a location to obtain your vaccine.
For those seeking an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons, please visit the Student Health Center website and select the form you will need to download and complete. Those who are not vaccinated, regardless of an exemption, will be required to participate in weekly testing to ensure the safety of the community from COVID-19.
Please also be sure to review the previously sent communication regarding all other student health requirements including additional immunization requirements and student health insurance.
Accommodations
If you are a student with a documented disability who is considering requesting accommodations, please contact the Disability and Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC) as soon as possible. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively so we encourage students to work with the DLDRC before the semester begins. They can be reached at disabilityservices@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-4655.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Office for Law Student Affairs at lawstudentaffairs@sandiego.edu or call (619) 260-4651.
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