Academic Oversight

Academic Oversight is designed to help students achieve their maximum academic potential. Students on Academic Oversight are assigned an Academic Advisor from the Academic Achievement Program (AAP). The AAP at Miami Law has been especially created to provide assistance and resources to students seeking to improve their academic performance.

Students on Academic Oversight are in good academic standing. Students with a cumulative GPA below 2.7 or a GPA for any one semester below 2.5 are subject to Academic Oversight. Academic Oversight is determined based upon your grades during the fall and spring semesters. Academic Oversight is not the same as Academic Referral or Satisfactory Academic Progress. If a student is on Academic Referral, they should consult the Student Handbook and their Academic Advisor.

The Academic Achievement Program sponsors numerous programs and workshops, which are open to all students. Students on Academic Oversight are expected to fully participate in this programming and take advantage of all resources sponsored by the AAP. If a student is on Oversight, his or her Advisor will provide details about such programs. For detailed information about Academic Oversight, please see the Student Handbook.

Course Registration Procedures for Students on Academic Oversight

Below are specific guidelines regarding Academic Oversight course registration. So long as course selections satisfy these guidelines, a student may enroll in the courses of his or her choice via CaneLink, without prior approval from an Advisor. However, if course selections do not meet these criteria, a student may be administratively dropped from certain courses and added to other courses that are compliant with the guidelines.

All students Below a 2.7 Cumulative GPA (at any time)

Students in this group must register for at least one class from the list below for the next fall/spring semester unless the student is graduating in the current semester or is in their first semester of law school:

  • Business Associations
  • Civil Procedure II
  • Commercial Law (any course)
  • Constitutional Law II
  • Criminal Procedure Adjudication
  • Evidence
  • Family Law
  • Florida Criminal Procedure
  • Florida Civil Procedure
  • Florida Constitutional Law
  • Substantive Criminal Law
  • Trusts and Estates

All Students Below a 2.7 Cumulative GPA (at any time)

All students who started in the J.D. program and scored below a 2.7 cumulative GPA at any time in law school also must take in their final semester:

  • Topics on the MBE (2 cr) and either
  • Topics in Florida Practice (2 cr) if taking the Florida bar exam or
  • Topics in Legal Analysis: Foundations (2 cr) if taking another jurisdiction’s exam.

The MBE is given in almost all United States jurisdictions, including Florida. If you are an LL.M./J.D. transfer, please click on the link below for important information regarding the final semester Topics courses.

All 2L Students Below at 2.7 Cumulative GPA

Students in this group are required to complete at least one writing requirement during their 2L year. This rule applies for the entire 2L year, even if a student is only on Academic Oversight for one semester. This requirement may be fulfilled during the summer as well. We strongly recommend completing both upper-level writing requirements before your final semester.

Registration Dates and Times

The registrar will assign a registration date and time to students on Academic Oversight pursuant to normal procedures, based upon class year and other standard policies. Students on Academic Oversight register normally. 

Noncompliant Schedules

Your academic advisor will review your schedule near the end of registration to ensure conformity with these policies. If your schedule does not meet these requirements, you will be automatically enrolled in courses that do and an administrative hold will be placed on your account for future registrations.

Difficulty Obtaining a Seat

If a student is unable to comply with the Academic Oversight policies, because no seats are available a desired course, or the student is on a waitlist after the open registration period ends, please contact your Academic Advisor.

Graduation Requirements

Please remember that, in order to graduate, all students must fulfill their general graduation requirements  – see the Student Handbook for details. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure they are on track to fulfill these requirements before graduation.

Joint Degree Students

For joint degree students on Academic Oversight, please consult with the appropriate Academic Advisor and the advisor of the joint degree program before course enrollment.