All in-person classroom instruction, in-person admissions interviews, and student meetings on campus are suspended through April 19 as Elon Law adopts social distancing policies and practices in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
Building & Library Hours Over Spring Break (Access Limited Only to Students, Faculty & Staff)
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Saturday, March 21: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Sunday, March 22: Noon to 6:00 p.m.
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Monday, March 23: CLOSED-UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY
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Tuesday, March 24: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 25: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Thursday, March 26: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Friday, March 27: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Saturday, March 28: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Building Hours From March 30-April 19
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Sundays: Noon to 6:00 p.m.
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Mondays: 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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Tuesdays: 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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Wednesdays: 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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Thursdays: 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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Fridays: 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Access is limited to the main law school building. During normal operating hours, all members of the law school community will enter the building through the main lobby doors. The building is open to accommodate students who need to use the library for research, to take advantage of the WiFi for online classes, or benefit from the quiet environment of the library for evening study given the public school closures and other disruptions facing our community. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to work remotely and limit their time in the law school building. When in the building, please concentrate on social distancing and health precautions.
To limit the areas that the environmental services (cleaning) staff must focus on each evening, students may only visit the library, the locker area and Registrar’s Office. All classrooms will be locked, and students are asked not to sit in the Cemala Commons area. This will allow the cleaning crews more time to concentrate on cleaning and disinfecting the library, lobby and office areas.
The Business Court has indicated that it has no hearings scheduled and does not expect visitors during this time.
Library and Information Technology
The law library, including the computer lab, will be open as indicated. Study rooms will be locked to limit the amount of space the environmental services staff must focus on each evening, as well as to promote social distancing. There will be one staff member on duty in the library when the building is open.
Most library staff will be working remotely, but they will be available to assist library patrons online with their research needs. The library will communicate more information about available services and resources.
Anyone with technology needs should contact the Elon Law Information Technology office at (336) 279-9259 or the Elon University IT Helpdesk at (336) 278-5200. For issues with instructional technology, such as TWEN, Moodle, WebEx, etc., contact Kolton Wade at kwade5@elon.edu. For hardware issues, contact Tony Winstead at awinstead2@elon.edu.
Registrar’s Office
The Registrars’ Office will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, March 24-27, and on Monday, March 30. Students who need to pick up Bar Exam Foundation textbooks or financial aid disbursement checks should make arrangements to do so during these windows. To promote social distancing, during this time, staff will greet and assist students at a table in the hallway outside their offices. From Tuesday, March 31 forward, staff will work remotely. Please reach out to them if they can be of assistance.
Other Departments/Offices
All law school staff have been encouraged to work remotely, if possible. If you need assistance from the staff in the Office of Career & Student Development, the Office of Academic Success, the Office of Financial Planning, Disability Services, Counseling Services, the Admissions Office or any university departments, please reach out to them by email or online.
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MARCH 20: Elon Law Dean Luke Bierman has announced that all in-person classroom instruction will be suspended through April 19. Courses will be taught online by faculty. Only Elon Law’s main building (Weaver building) will be operational over Spring Break, except for March 23, when the building will be closed for a previously scheduled holiday.
“These are unusual times and it is no easy feat to accomplish the adjustments that we are undertaking without some level of discomfort and disruption,” Bierman said in a message to Elon Law students, faculty and staff. “We are attempting to be nimble in response yet sensitive to the many situations in which our community members find themselves, while trying hard to keep on track for academic progress. Your compassion and empathy are not only appreciated but reflective of our community’s culture and our profession’s signature service to others. We are ready to continue this effort, working together.”
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MARCH 14: Monday and Tuesday exams for the Winter Trimester have been moved online. Students should read their emails for messages from Elon Law Dean Luke Bierman, Elon Law faculty, and other Elon Law administrators and staff for additional details. Expect final exams scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will also be administered online.
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MARCH 13: Elon Law Dean Luke Bierman has announced that all in-person classroom instruction will be suspended from March 30 through April 10 following Spring Break, and while Elon Law will remain open, all student meetings and activities during that span have been cancelled.
The new measures are designed to promote “social distancing” within the community as some students return from regions impacted by COVID-19.
The 2020 Spring Trimester will begin as scheduled on Monday, March 30, with all courses to be taught online.
Elon Law’s Office of Admissions also has cancelled in-person interviews with applicants through April 13. The admissions staff will work with applicants to coordinate phone interviews for those who were previously scheduled to visit in person.
Admitted Students Day, originally set for April 3, will be rescheduled for later in the spring.
In a message to the Elon Law community, Bierman outlined the following:
- Winter Trimester final exams will be held as scheduled from March 16-20
- Spring Break will be held as scheduled from March 23-29.
- Spring Trimester will commence as scheduled on March 30.
- In-person classroom instruction will be suspended from March 30 through April 10. NOTE: In-person instruction will be suspended through April 19, per a subsequent message to the community on March 20, 2020.
- All instruction during these two weeks will be held online. Faculty and/or information technology will communicate with students about online instruction.
- Residencies-in-practice will continue as scheduled, with any individual situations to be resolved with Professor Kathy Conner.
- All student organization meetings and activities will be cancelled during these two weeks. Elon Law is reviewing other meetings and activities during the spring.
- Elon Law will remain open and operating during these two weeks, but the school encourages limited use of facilities. Offices and departments will be available to assist students, though appointments are recommended and phone, email, or other electronic communication is suggested.
- All non-essential university sponsored travel is suspended
Lincoln Financial, which owns and operates a Friendly Avenue building in which some of Elon Law facilities are located, has instituted new sign-in procedures that will be required of Elon Law students each time they access the building. This includes completing a visitor form that asks several COVID-19 related questions. Students must submit the form to the security officer on duty before entering the Elon Law space each time the building is accessed.
“We understand that (these approaches) are not optimal from any number of perspectives,” Bierman said. “We also understand that there are many questions, which we will answer as this new schedule is implemented. We are working diligently to prepare for the two-week period of online instruction as well as for other contingencies should they become necessary, including during exams. Our best information at this time leaves us cautiously optimistic that we will be able to complete the exam period with minimal disruption and minimal risk. We also are confident that Elon Law will be prepared for the start of Spring Trimester.”
For more information on Elon University’s response to the COVID-19 situation, visit www.elon.edu/coronavirus.