Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)The Spring semester will begin on January 20 fully online. Our goal is to welcome students back to campus for in-person classes on February 1, which aligns with the University’s schedule. This gives faculty, administrators and students additional time to safely prepare for a return to campus activities, and to comply with the University’s new testing protocols.
PHYSICAL DISTANCE
Keep at least six feet between you and other people whenever possible.
DAILY MANDATORY HEALTH SCREENINGS
Complete a four-question health survey via the University portal before coming to campus or attending class.
NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE LAW SCHOOL
Please eat or drink outside of the law school building or at one of the University’s dining locations.
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE AND SELF-CARE
Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent illness. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water often. If you can’t wash your hands, use hand sanitizer.
AVOID HALLWAY GATHERINGS
Class times have been staggered so that there is no need to gather in the hallways before class. Remember to keep at least six feet between you and others.
FOLLOW SAFETY AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE
Please follow directional signage in buildings to create a unified flow, use the appropriate entry and exit doors, and refrain from moving furniture.
LIMIT ELEVATOR OCCUPANCY TO TWO PEOPLE
Consider using the stairs if you are able to do so.
STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL SICK
Under no circumstances should you come to campus if you feel unwell.
Hofstra Law’s Reopening Plan
The Basics
- You must wear a mask in all campus buildings, including residence halls, except for your own room, suite, or office. Masks will also be required outdoors when six feet of physical distance is not possible.
- Keep at least six feet between you and other people whenever possible. Classrooms and public spaces will be reconfigured to ensure distancing.
- All students and employees must answer a four-question screening via portal or smartphone app before coming to campus or attending class.
Visit Hofstra’s Safe Start website for more information on the University’s reopening plan.
Health and Wellness
- Daily Health Screenings: Students and employees will have to answer three questions before coming to campus or attending class. The online screening will be available via portal and a smartphone app.
- Testing and Tracing: Working with Northwell Health, our partner in the Zucker School of Medicine and the School of Nursing, the University has built an extensive COVID-19 testing program that goes beyond what the CDC has recommended for college campuses. Learn more about testing and tracing protocols.
- Student Health and Counseling services will be mostly by appointment only. Students seeking health services should call 516-463-6745 for telemedicine triage, during which they will be given further instructions and an appointment for in-person services if necessary. Appointments can also be made through the Hofstra portal.
In the Classroom
- All classes will be conducted under physical distancing guidelines. This means that all students must sit at least six feet apart, in every direction, and all students and faculty must wear face masks while in the Law School building.
- We have redesigned the course calendar so that all first-year courses will be delivered in-person with small sections of 40-45 students. Students will take all of their classes with the same section for the entire semester, which will help develop stronger connections with their fellow students and faculty. It will also limit their exposure to other students during class time.
- All first-year classes will be staggered in their start and end times so that no first-year class will start or end at the same time. This is intended to lessen hallway crowding and help students maintain social distancing outside of class.
- Upper-level classes will be a mixture of in-person and online classes, with classes of 25 students or less meeting in-person in most cases. This was determined based on room availability, as well as safety and physical distancing guidelines.
- If a student has an illness or health concerns that prevent them from attending a class in-person — including first-year classes — they will be permitted to attend class "remotely" via new lecture capture technology being installed in all of our Law School classrooms.
Hofstra Law Attendance Policy
and Final Exams
Please note that the Law School requires attendance for all classes as outlined in our policy in the Student Handbook. You are required to attend classes regularly whether you are participating in-person or remotely. Attendance credit will not be given for students who fail to attend the live class session (either remotely or in-person), even if that student reviews a recording of that class session.
All exams, both first-year and upper-level, will take place at the same times and days set forth on the exam schedule. First-year students will take their exams in-person on campus as scheduled. We will now administer all upper-level Law School exams online with the same remote-proctoring technology recently used to administer the New York and other state bar examinations. Any first-year students who are taking all of their classes remotely, however, should contact Dean of Students Lisa Monticciolo to determine if any accommodation is appropriate or necessary.
Law Library
- The law library will only be open to members of the Hofstra community.
- Study spaces will be reconfigured to comply with physical distancing guidelines.
- We are also working on creating space in the library for students who need to take their online classes in the Law School.
- The University will be building an outdoor tent close to the Law School that can be used for studying and taking classes online.
- The law library will be closed every night from 3-7 a.m. for cleaning.
Safety and Cleaning
- The Law School classrooms and building spaces will be reconfigured to comply with physical distancing guidelines.
- The building, including classrooms, will be cleaned each night from midnight-8 a.m. using electro-static disinfectant sprayers.
- Custodial staff will clean high-touch areas throughout the day. The Custodial Operations staff uses disinfectant wipes and sprays that are approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kill the COVID-19 virus.
- Each classroom will have disinfectant wipes available so that individuals can clean their area.
- Plexiglass barriers to separate faculty and students will be available for the classroom.
- Hand sanitizer stations will be added throughout the Law School building, and at each building entrance.
- Ventilation units will be running 24/7 and will circulate air from the outside. Ventilation has also been upgraded with MERV 13 filters, which are used in hospitals.
Learn more about Hofstra’s enhanced cleaning protocols on the Safe Start website.
Important Links
FAQs for Remote Exams – Fall 2020 Semester
Please read through these FAQs carefully if you will be taking remotely-administered upper-level exams this semester. If you are a first-year student taking your exams in-person, these FAQs do not apply to you.
- What materials can I use during the exam?
- There will be two categories of remote upper-level exams offered this semester (excluding take-home exams and papers).
- Closed-Book Exams where students are not permitted to access or use notes, and study materials, writing utensils, books, phones and other electronic equipment during the administration of the exam.
- Open-Book Exams where students may use any outside materials (excluding internet searches) on the exam. Access to a computer’s hard drive will be accessible during exams with the permission of individual faculty members.
- Please note that remote proctoring software (discussed more below) will be activated for both closed-book and open-book exams.
- There will be two categories of remote upper-level exams offered this semester (excluding take-home exams and papers).
- What software vendor will Hofstra use for remote exams?
- All remote exams will be administered by ExamSoft using its Examplify testing software. Examplify is the same software that Hofstra has used for over a decade for in-person computer exams and the same program is also used by the New York Bar Exam. This year, the remote exam will also include the use of ExamID to verify student identity before the start of each exam session and ExamMonitoring for remote proctoring. Both of these software programs were used during the October 2020 administration of the New York Bar Exam.
- What is the process for registering with ExamSoft?
- By now all law students should have received an email from Shazam Mohammed, the assistant director of Law School Information Technology, with instructions for registering your computer, downloading the software, downloading and taking the mandatory mock exams and downloading the required exam files. It is extremely critical that you follow all instructions on downloading the necessary software. Failure to timely meet all of the steps will result in your withdrawal from the class and/or failing the class.
- >What technology is required?
- Students will need a reliable internet connection to obtain the password for each exam session, to check in and begin each session and to upload their answer file and proctoring video at the close of each session. An active internet connection during each session will not be required. Once you check in and begin the exam session you will take the exam offline.
- Students will need a computer that meets ExamSoft's minimum system requirements and an internal or external webcam and microphone. Internal webcams and microphones are preferred but if your computer is not equipped with a built-in camera or microphone, connect one external camera and one external microphone prior to launching Examplify. All external devices must be connected prior to starting an exam. Once you start the exam and go into secure mode you will not be able to switch cameras. You may not use virtual camera software with ExamID or ExamMonitor.
- Students are permitted to use an external keyboard and mouse (wired or wireless) but they must be setup and connected prior to launching Examplify. A mouse pad is also permitted. External monitors connected to a laptop or desktop computer are not permitted.
- Where is the exam administered?
- Students may take the remote exam at the location of their choice provided, however, that there is no one else in the room with you.
- If you do not have a secure and reliable internet connection or suitable place to take the exam, you may register to take it at the Law School using the same remote proctoring technology. Please review the requirements necessary to do so and fill out the form at this link to do so by noon on Monday, November 9, 2020.
- If you do not sign up by this time, you will not be able to take your remote exam on campus.
- Please note that if you have not been to campus this semester and did not submit a negative test prior to the semester, you must submit a negative COVID test prior to your exam. Instructions to do so can be found here. Remote proctoring through ExamSoft will still be in place during upper-level exams taken at the Law School.
- What testing conditions will be required?
- You will need to abide by all other instructions including remaining in your seat in view of your webcam throughout each session.
- Students must be alone in the room where they are taking the exam unless they are taking the exam at the Law School (sign up here to do so).
- Students may not have a phone or other electronic device on their person or anywhere in the room in which they are taking the test.
- For closed book exams, students may not have notes, bar review materials or other legal reference books and/or materials in their testing space. No physical scrap paper will be permitted, but virtual scrap paper (“Notes”) is available on the Examplify program. Students taking closed book exams will be required to use their webcam at the beginning of the exam to scan their testing environment to ensure no physical reference materials are present during the exam.
- Students are required to take a photo (.jpeg file) of a valid Hofstra photo ID during to the administration of the exam.
- Students must remain seated with their face in full view of the webcam for the entire duration of each test session.
- Students may not eat during the remote exam session but students may have water or other beverages in a clear container with labels removed.
- Students may have a break if the exam is scheduled to take more than 180 minutes. As soon as the student exits the previous test session, the webcam is no longer recording. Thus, during the break, students are permitted to step away from their computer to eat, drink, stretch, use the restroom, and take medications.
- Students may not wear a hat or cap during the remote exam except if it is for religious reasons in which case it may not have a brim or otherwise obscure the student's eyes.
- Students may not wear headphones, headsets, or earbuds during the exam. However, ordinary foam ear plugs are permitted.
- All relevant provisions, especially prohibitions on communications during an exam, in the Law School’s Code of Academic Conduct regarding exam violations remain in place for remotely-administered exams.
- What features will students be able to use within the exam software?
- View the question and your response on the screen at the same time.
- Highlight within the text of questions.
- Use the "Notes" feature (i.e. virtual scrap paper) for each question to outline their responses.
- Cut and paste text between virtual scrap paper and answer.
- Cut and paste between the essay question answer field and Notes.
- Strike out unwanted answers or answers you believe to be incorrect as you read the multiple- choice questions. Students must still select an answer (and not just strike through purported incorrect answers) in order to receive credit for a correct answer.
- Navigate forward and backward between questions, as well as skip and/or return to unanswered questions during each session.
- Flag multiple-choice questions that you would like to return to during that session.
- Use the Notes (i.e., virtual scrap paper) for each question.
- Students WILL NOT be able to:
- Use more than one monitor. External monitors connected to a laptop or desktop computer are not permitted.
- Underline, circle, or cross out text.
- Use notes, or any other physical reference materials. Students suspected of having possessed and/or used physical scratch or note paper at any time during the exam will be investigated and may be subject to charges under the Law School’s Code of Academic Conduct. (Please note that this prohibition applies ONLY to CLOSED BOOK exams.)
- Use physical paper scratch/scrap paper for the exam. Any use of physical scrap paper will be flagged for further investigation. (Please note that this prohibition applies ONLY to CLOSED BOOK exams.)
- How does remote proctoring (ExamMonitoring) work?
- The proctoring software will record the student (both audio and video) throughout each exam session. The recording will be uploaded to ExamSoft along with the student’s answer files. Once a student ends a given session if their exam has a scheduled break, they may walk away from their computer and the webcam during the break (the audio and video are NOT recording at this time).
- Students must remain at their computer, with their face fully visible to their webcam, for the entirety of each test session.
- After the conclusion of each session the Remote Proctoring Video Files will be uploaded to ExamSoft. ExamSoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) program will subsequently analyze the recording and flag any unusual behaviors, movements, or sounds.
- All video footage will then be reviewed by at least one human proctor to determine whether further analysis as to potential irregularities is necessary. For example, a barking dog or a siren in the background might be initially flagged by AI but cleared upon that initial review. The mere fact that a sound or behavior generates a flag does not mean that the Law School will formally investigate and/or take any action against a student for exam misconduct. The Law School anticipates that most flags will be cleared by the human proctors.
- Conduct during a remote exam that may result in an investigation for violations of the Code of Academic Conduct includes, but is not limited to: disconnecting the webcam, leaving the view of the webcam during a testing session, having a prohibited item in the testing space, using an unauthorized electronic device during testing, accessing, using or reviewing notes or other materials where such materials are prohibited, having others in the testing space, and any other conduct that raises suspicion that a student cheated on the exam.
- The Law School will destroy and/or direct ExamSoft to destroy all video recordings from the examination within a reasonable time after the completion of all grading or, where security investigations are initiated, after resolution of any charges of violations of the Code of Academic Conduct.
- Will I be able to ask questions during the remote exam?
- Unlike in-person exams, students will NOT be permitted to ask questions of their professors seeking clarifications or corrections about exam questions during the exam. Students cannot and should not communicate with anyone while taking their exams, including their professors. Any communications during exams may be treated as a violation of the Law School’s Code of Academic Conduct.
- If you have serious technical problems during the remote exam, you should first restart your computer and continue with your exam in Examplify (you will be credited with any time lost logging out and logging back in). If you still have technical problems after restarting your computer, you should contact ExamSoft Technical Support at (866) 429-8889.