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Link to her petition here. Letters of support may be addressed to the Academic Review Committee and emailed to fps7nv@virginia.edu. This is not an April Fools article. The author asks at this time that this letter not be posted elsewhere or shared with additional media.
[Update] Read the Law School administration’s response here.
[Update] Read about the petition results here.
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Dear UVA Law students, faculty, staff, and alumni:
It is safe to assume that this is not how any of us expected the semester to go. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. My life has changed significantly in the last month, and I am writing to you all to share my story.
On March 17, my Army National Guard Unit was activated by Governor Cuomo to respond to the crisis in New York City caused by the COVID-19 virus. I reported the following day. Located in the middle of Manhattan, my unit has a long history of service, including being one of the first units to respond to Ground Zero on 9/11. New York City is currently the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, and our mission contributes to the goal of keeping as many New Yorkers alive and healthy as possible. I am very proud of the sacrifice our service members and their families are making when our country most needs it.
There were a lot of unknowns when I was activated. Online classes had not yet started, and I was still unsure how the transition to distance learning would go. I emailed the school to let them know I was being activated and that, although I did not have a clear picture of what the next few weeks would look like, I intended to finish the semester. I am very fortunate to be a part of such a great military organization and have leadership that is extremely supportive of my legal education. I was confident that, if the mission permitted, my command team would support me in finishing the rest of the semester.
To my surprise, the administration responded to my email and stated that I am in violation of Academic Policy I.H., which deals with employment while attending Law School. This policy states that “students may not engage in employment in excess of what is compatible with a full-time commitment to the study of law.” As a result of my unit’s activation, the administration has determined that I cannot complete the remainder of the semester.
This policy makes sense in normal times, as it helps develop the collegial environment that drew many of us to UVA Law. But as we all know, these are not normal times. My unit’s activation has not interfered with class discussion, cold calls, or office hours. Because campus is closed, I am learning and engaging in the law school community in the same format as students scattered across the nation. I am tracking the rapid spread of the virus to support my unit’s mission, but I am also given at least six hours a day for law school. My life was not the only one that was interrupted by COVID-19, and we are all taking these new challenges day-by-day.
I asked for a waiver, but the administration informed me that they could not grant an exception to their policy because of the compensation I receive from the Army. Since I have elected not to take a leave of absence, the administration is enforcing a withdrawal.
This withdrawal means that I will not receive credit for any of my classes this semester and that I will need to retake them in Spring 2021. This includes Legal Research and Writing II, even though I have submitted my final brief and am scheduled to complete my final oral argument on Friday. Additionally, I may not be able to take upper level classes that require Property or Constitutional Law as a prerequisite until my 3L year.
I have been given 24 hours to appeal the withdrawal decision to the Academic Review Committee. Based on the extraordinary circumstances, I am hopeful that an exception to the compensation limitation of Academic Policy I.H. will be granted. The school’s decision to go credit/no credit was premised upon the fact that the emergency our country is facing will disadvantage students unpredictably, and my service is a prime example of this. To have the best chance at finishing the semester, though, I need support from members of the UVA Law community who sympathize with my case. I am collecting signatures here. I would also appreciate any letters of support sharing why you think an exception should be granted and how COVID-19 has impacted your life. These letters can be addressed to the Academic Review Committee and sent to fps7nv@virginia.edu.
This situation has shown me how amazing, caring, and kind our student body is. I feel privileged to be a part of this community, and I am extremely grateful for your support.
Best,
Frannie Skardon
J.D. Candidate, Class of 2022
University of Virginia School of Law
fps7nv@virginia.edu