Summer Institute Participant Resources

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. Participants who fail to attend at least 80% of program classes will not receive a program certificate. The attendance sheet will be removed once the session begins, and students who arrive late for class will not be counted as in attendance. Accordingly, please arrive at least ten minutes before the start of each session. Please note that program sessions marked as "optional" are not included in this attendance policy.

Students who leave a class before it ends will be marked absent for that class.

Academic Credit

Fordham Law does not award academic credit for this program. However, we are happy to coordinate with participants in order to help them receive academic credit from their home institutions. These participants will be given a graded evaluation based on a take-home exam that will be given at the end of the program.

Participants who require this evaluation must complete the brief online Exam Survey prior to the start of the program. In the survey you must indicate the name and email address of the person to whom an official report of your participation in this program and grade should be submitted. Grades will be provided on the standard A-F scale. Please note that we are not able to provide an official University transcript.

Unless otherwise noted:

• Morning: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Room 3-04
• Lunch: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Fordham Community Dining Hall, First Floor, 1-05
• Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Room 3-04

A paper copy of the updated schedule will be distributed to participants on the first day of the program.

Course Materials

Course materials will be available on Blackboard, and accessible with your Fordham username and password, closer to the start of the program. These materials are for 2023 Summer Institute participants only, and should not be shared outside of the program or used for any other purpose.

Presentations

Course presentations will be posted in Blackboard if and when they become available throughout the program. These presentations are for 2023 Summer Institute participants only, and should not be shared outside of the program or used for any other purpose. Note that not all professors may have presentations or elect to have their presentations made available online.

Participants may not record program lectures without the express permission of the professor or presenter. Recordings of program lectures should never be uploaded to the internet or shared with anyone outside of the Summer Institute.

Fordham will provide linens, pillows, and towels for your use. Although there is a kitchen in these apartments, they do not come equipped with dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment.

McMahon Hall has three laundry rooms available for use by program participants. There is no charge for use of the washers and dryers, but participants must provide their own detergent. Rooms will be cleaned professionally before and after the participant’s stay, not during.

Students who have reserved a room in program housing will be staying at Fordham University's McMahon Hall, 155 West 60 Street (between Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue), New York, NY 10023. This facility has 24-hour security. You are required to show your Fordham identification card each time you enter the housing facility.

Participants may check in at the housing facility any time beginning the morning of Sunday, July 9. Other summer groups will be checking in simultaneously; participants should expect to encounter delays at check-in. A Fordham staff member will greet participants between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with keys and ID cards. The security guard on staff will greet those who arrive outside of these hours. Students must depart from the housing on or by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 29. Students may leave keys with the security guard on staff. Please note that there will be a charge for lost or stolen keys, so please keep your key in a safe place.

McMahon Hall hosts a variety of groups throughout the summer that are very tightly scheduled. It will not be possible for any Summer Institute participant to check in before Sunday, July 9 or check out after Saturday, July 29 under any circumstances. If you would like to extend your stay in New York before or after the program, you should secure alternate accommodations before your arrival in New York.

The McMahon Hall mailroom is closed during the summer. Summer residents cannot receive mail at their McMahon Hall address.

Summer Institute participants may arrange to receive mail and packages at the International and Non-J.D. Programs office in the Law School building. Summer residents are reminded that this mail service is provided as a courtesy and should not be abused; excessive deliveries may result in the assessment of an administrative fee, and we are unable to return packages to an alternate address after the program has ended.

Mail and packages should be addressed as follows:

[Participant Name]
International and Non-J.D. Programs
Fordham Law School
150 West 62 Street, Suite 8-131
New York, NY 10023
U.S.A.

It is important that all of the above information is included in the address information, as failure to do so may result in your package being misdirected or lost. Fordham Law School cannot accept liability for lost or damaged packages or mail.

As a participant in the Summer Institute, you are subject to all University housing and other rules and regulations. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in your ejection from McMahon Hall and the Summer Institute program. We will review these rules and regulations on the first day of the program, and the Office of Residential Life will provide information at move in.

All participants will be provided with an ID for access to Fordham’s campus. It is important to keep this ID card with you at all times. Lost ID cards must be replaced for a fee of $25.00.

Participants should be advised that New York City has very strict anti-smoking laws. It is illegal to smoke in public buildings, public parks, the student dormitory, on beaches and boardwalks, and where marked. Smoking is also illegal throughout the subway and bus system, even on outdoor train platforms.

Fordham Law strongly recommends that all Summer Institute participants arrange for health insurance coverage for their time in the United States. Participants are encouraged to check with their current provider to see if coverage extends to their stay in New York.

Participants who are not covered are strongly urged to purchase insurance. Participants are not automatically covered by Fordham University's health insurance, and may be held liable for any emergency medical expenses they incur during their time in the United States.

International participants are invited to purchase basic health insurance coverage offered via Fordham University. The plan available to Summer Institute participants covers the duration of the program and costs $203.66. To enroll, participants should visit the webpage for enrollment. (The link to purchase will be available July 1, 2023.) Any issues, questions, or inquiries regarding insurance should be sent via email to [email protected]. 

Coverage is only available to international, or "non-immigrant" students. This coverage is not available to U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or permanent residents.

Clothing

There is no dress code for classes held at Fordham Law. Students should bring at least one or two business outfits for visits that are part of the program. For those visits, dress conservatively (no sneakers, jeans, or t-shirts; women should not wear low-cut blouses or short skirts). Many people like to dress festively for the Closing Luncheon.

New York City may be hot and humid in July, but most places are air-conditioned, and some heavily so, particularly within the Law School. It is advisable to dress in layers, and to always have a sweater, jacket, or long-sleeved shirt on hand.

It can rain heavily in July in New York so you may want to bring an umbrella, or purchase one while you are here. It is absolutely essential that you also have a pair of comfortable walking shoes!

Computers

Students may want to bring laptop computers with them but this is not required. Wireless access will be available in the Law School and in program housing for students who do bring a laptop with them.

All program materials will be provided in digital form; printed copies will not be made available. Fordham Law students will be using the library to study for the New York Bar Exam at this time and Summer Institute students should not use the Library unless absolutely necessary.

NYC GO - official NYC guide by the New York City Tourism + Conventions

New York Magazine - offers articles on restaurants, bars, entertainment, fashion, and shopping

Menupages - listings of restaurants by neighborhood and cuisine, you can look at menus, prices, websites, read reviews, and leave comments

Google Maps - easy to follow directions by subway, car, or on foot

MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) - official website for NYC Metro, MTA Trip Planner will help you find subway directions

New York City Information - Dial 311

Traveling the New York City Subway System with MetroCard

The most common way to travel the subway system is by purchasing a MetroCard. The charge for a new card is $1.00. There is a flat fare for every subway ride, no matter how short or long your trip may be. The fare for a single ride is $2.75, but purchasing a SingleRide ticket is $3.00 (the $1.00 MetroCard fee does not apply to SingleRide tickets). You can save money by purchasing several rides in advance. For $33, the 7-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard will allow you to make unlimited trips for 7 days from your first use. There is no charge when you use your MetroCard to transfer from a bus to a subway, or subway to bus.

Check MetroCard fares.

You can also enter the subway by using contactless payment (e.g., Apple Pay or a tap-enabled credit card) or the OMNY app at the turnstile.