Policies
TOEFL / IELTS
The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for admission for the course, unless you are a non-native speaker of English, taking the course for credit and are requesting extra time on examinations. Such students must submit a current (not more than two years old) TOEFL or IELTS score, they also have the option to send a letter from their home school attesting to the score they have on file.
Deadlines, fees and non-refundable deposit
Applications are accepted on a first-come/first-served basis. A non-refundable deposit of USD $500, which will be applied toward tuition, is required to reserve a place in the program. A waiting list will be established if more students apply than there are openings.
All checks should be made payable to Franklin Pierce Law Center. Credit card payment for tuition will be accepted from those students not pursuing student loans. If a student is not accepted into the program, or the program is canceled, any deposit will be returned.
Enrollment limitations
The program is open to 40 U.S. law students, graduate students, and legal professionals. The program also includes students from the Tsinghua University School of Law.
Cancellation policy
If an insufficient number of students do not register and pay by TBA the program will be canceled. If the program is canceled, all money advanced by the applicant will be refunded within twenty (20) business days after the date of cancellation and Pierce Law will assist the applicant in finding alternative summer education.
Attendance Policy Rule II.D
Students are required to attend all classes on a regular and punctual basis and otherwise to meet all requirements for the offering as the instructor indicates by timely notice. Students are not allowed to receive academic credit for courses that are scheduled to meet at conflicting times, no matter how brief the conflict. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that such scheduling conflicts do not occur. If a student allows conflicting courses to remain on his/her schedule beyond the add/drop period, he/she will receive credit for only one of the conflicting courses.
It is the policy of Pierce Law that all students will regularly and punctually attend class. It is the responsibility of each instructor to ensure compliance with this policy in whatever manner he/she considers appropriate under the circumstances of each course. Instructors will inform students in the syllabus of the manner of ensuring attendance at the beginning of each course.
Contact and administrative offices in the U.S.A.
For questions concerning the substance of the courses, please contact Professor William Hennessey at (603) 513-5172 or send an email to bhennessey@piercelaw.edu
For registration or administrative matters please contact:
Alyson Fava
Franklin Pierce Law Center
2 White Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 513-5173
Email: afava@piercelaw.edu
Contact and administrative offices in China
School of Law, Tsinghua University
Tsinghuayuan, Beijing 100084, P.R.C.
Tel: 86 10 6278 1334
Fax: 86 10 6278 6153
E-mail: flx@tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: www.tsinghua.edu.cn/docsn/flx/en_pageindex.htm
Administrative Assistant: Ms. Han (Helena) Zhang
E-mail: lawwb@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
Participation to accelerate graduation
It is unlikely that participation in foreign summer programs can be used to accelerate graduation. Students interested in acceleration should contact their home schools to review this issue in light of ABA Standard 305, Interpretation 4.
Course requirements and grading
Courses have no prerequisites; however, Pierce Law students who have taken Professor Hennessey's course in World Trade and World IP Law may not enroll in the class again for credit. Additionally, class participation will be a basis for evaluation in Professor Hennessey's class. Students will be evaluated by means of a final examination or paper in each course. Grading standards are established by Pierce Law 2008-2009 Academic Rules.
Exam numbers
All exams and the majority of class assignments that count toward your final grade are completed anonymously. Exam numbers are made available through the Registrar's Office. Your exam number may only be used for the summer semester. We recommend you make two copies of all papers and keep one copy for your records.
Exam schedule
TBA
Final exams
Students who want to earn academic credit must take the final exam. Those students who do not want academic credit are not required to take the final exam. This decision must be put in writing and submitted to the Registrar's Office prior to the start of the course. The student will receive an Audit.
Acceptance of credit
Acceptance of any credit or grade is subject to determination by the student's home law school. We advise you to check with your Dean on this matter. U.S. JD students must submit a letter of good standing from their home institution stating that the institution will accept the courses for JD credit.
Transcript request form
All non-Pierce Law students who participate in the program are entitled to one free transcript which will be sent to them once grades have closed and are posted. The transcript will be sent to the home address on file. Additional transcripts can be requested online from the Pierce Law Registrar.
Health insurance
Study Abroad Health and Accident Insurance will be provided for all participants in any Pierce Law summer abroad program for the term of the program. Payment for coverage will be made by Pierce Law from the administrative fee paid by participants; coverage is limited to participants.
If participants desire additional coverage for family members or others traveling with them, or if participants desire to extend coverage beyond the designated term of the summer abroad program, participants may obtain additional coverage at their own cost, by completing the Study Abroad Health Insurance Form and submitting the required information to Alyson Fava , Franklin Pierce Law Center, 2 White St., Concord, NH 03301.
HTH Worldwide provides Study Abroad Health and Accident Insurance and specifics of their plan may be viewed at www.hthstudents.com.
International travel
Students must arrange and pay for their own round-trip travel between the U.S. and Beijing, China. Several airlines offer flights from various U.S. cities to Beijing (PEK-airport designation). We recommend that you check with travel agents to find the lowest available fares with reputable carriers. It is advised to shop around for airfare. Last year, the majority of students were able to find discount fares ranging from $900 to $1,500.
Liability
Each participant must submit a signed "Participation Agreement" with their application. By enrolling and registering, STUDENT agrees to hold harmless FRANKLIN PIERCE LAW CENTER and its collaborating organizations, their employees, officials, and trustees, for any and all claims of injury or loss arising from or in connection with STUDENT'S participation in the PROGRAM.
State Department Advisories and Travel Warnings
There are no current U.S. State Department Travel Warnings for China. Information on travel warnings is found on the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov. If, during the course of a program, a U.S. State Department Travel Warning is issued for China, students will be notified promptly of the warning and given an opportunity to withdraw from the program. Students who withdraw will be refunded fees paid. If the program is terminated, students shall be refunded fees paid. Students should review the current State Department Consular Information Sheet for China. If the Consular Information Sheet is revised during a program to announce an Area of Instability in Beijing, the updated information will be distributed promptly to enrolling students.
Passports
Each participant is responsible for obtaining a current passport.
To enter the People's Republic of China (PRC) you must have a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date you enter PRC.
Each student is responsible for his or her own compliance with custom regulations.
Visas
A visa is required for entry into the PRC. Franklin Pierce Law Center will provide proper instruction for all enrolled students to apply for a visa from one of several PRC Consulate General Offices in the U.S.
Visa information can be obtained from the Embassy and Consulates General of the People's Republic of China in the United States www.china-embassy.org
We have put together an informational PDF on how to obtain the correct visa.
Please note that the summer program in China is only 28 days long, participating students may enter China on a tourist visa. A tourist visa is good for 30 days. If a student plans on being in China longer than 30 days, he/she should enter China on a tourist visa and have the visa extended once in China for a small fee.
