Electronic Device Use in the Classroom

While our policies properly encourage the use of laptop computers in our education program, we are also aware that laptops can be misused. The use of laptops in the classroom for non-class related purposes (e.g., such as sending and receiving email, communicating by instant messenger programs, browsing the Internet, playing computer games, watching movies, and working on assignments for other classes) can be distracting and degrade the classroom experience. Thus, law school policy prohibits the use of electronic devices, including laptops, in the classroom for non-class related purposes. The policy is as follows:

Students may use computers and other electronic devices during a class only for note-taking and other purposes expressly approved by the instructor. 

Except for the use of cell phones to communicate in health and/or safety-related emergencies, no student, without advance express permission from the instructor in charge of the class, shall use any electronic device (e.g., computer, cell phone, smart phone, MP3 player, iPhone, iPod, pager, PDA, electronic recording device, etc.) during class to:

1. Access email,
2. Access instant messaging services,
3. Access the Internet,
4. Engage in any electronic communication, or
5. Make a video or audio recording of class activities.

Instructors, for pedagogical reasons, may further restrict or prohibit the use of computers and other electronic devices in their classrooms. 

Instructors have the discretion, in dealing with individual students who violate this policy, to further restrict or entirely ban them from using computers and other electronic devices in their classrooms.

Without advance express permission from the instructor in charge of the exam or the Assistant Dean for Student Relations who can grant accommodations based upon a documented disability, no student shall use any electronic device except a laptop usingExamplify, during any exam.

Adopted 27 March, 2008