Independence Day

July 4th, Independence Day, is our celebration of the birth of the United States as an independent nation. All are welcome to join the city of Gulfport for their fun Fourth of July festivities, find more details here. The College of Law has historically participated in the Gulfport Independence Day Parade. If you are interested in continuing this effort in the future, please email [email protected] or [email protected] as we continue to generate interest.

To learn more about Independence Day and how to participate in local celebrations visit our resource page here.

Congratulations To the new Stetson Law Review Spring 2024 Associates

Congratulations to Our Orseck Team!

Please join me in congratulating our Orseck Moot Court team—Elizabeth Campbell, Mariana Monforte, and Benjamin Russell—on their performance at the 51st Annual Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition this week. The team argued two issues: one issue involved whether attorney-client privilege could be waived, and the other issue involved the interpretation of the phrase “other medium” in Florida Statute 770.01. Two very complex issues.

Before I tell you the results, a little more information is needed about this competition.

The Orseck competition takes place at the annual Florida Bar conference. And because of that, actual sitting judges from the trial courts and the district courts of appeal (DCA) join with attorneys to judge the preliminary, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds. In fact, this year, there were DCA judges judging the very first preliminary round that the Stetson team argued in. And if that were not enough, one of the issues involved a certified conflict between the DCAs, and in one round, the judges from those specific courts were all represented on the same panel. (Great argument, Ben!)

Continuing on: And if a team advances to the final round, the advocates get an opportunity to argue in front of the justices of the Florida Supreme Court. An opportunity that very few Florida attorneys ever have an opportunity to do. Side note: In the 29 years that Stetson has participated in the competition, a Stetson team has been in the finals 19 times.

Now back to the announcement:

After preliminary rounds against Miami, FSU, and FIU, and a quarterfinal round against FAMU, and a semifinal round against Nova, our Stetson team faced off against Miami again (on opposite sides) for the final round. And the result?

The Stetson team WON the competition (Elizabeth and Mariana argued in the final round). This is the seventh time that Stetson has won the competition. AND there is more! The Justices of the Florida Supreme Court awarded Elizabeth the Best Oralist, Final Round. This is the eighth time that a Stetson advocate has won this award.

Congratulations, Elizabeth, Mariana, and Ben!

Go Stetson!
Professor Bowman

Zoom Bombing – What It Is and How to Prevent It

The term “Zoom bombing” gained notoriety at the start of COVID as our world transitioned online. Unfortunately, people (oftentimes hackers) have learned how to find open meetings and disrupt them. There are protections and ways to prevent a Zoom bombing incident from happening to your meeting. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your Zoom meetings.

We understand the need to share some of the advanced features with your participants to allow interaction. Zoom has added some suggestions to mitigate the chance that an unwelcome participant engages in disrupting behavior.

If you share your meeting link on social media or another public location, anyone with the link can join your meeting. You may, however, occasionally require a meeting link (for office hours, for instance) that is open to a broader community. Here are some tips you can use to help when public meeting space is necessary:

Zoom Meetings:

Avoid using your Personal Meeting ID (PMI) to host public events. Your PMI is essentially one continuous meeting, and people can pop in and out all the time. Learn more about meeting IDs.
Familiarize yourself with Zoom’s settings and features. Understand how to protect your virtual space when you need to. For example, the Waiting Room is a helpful feature for hosts to control who comes and goes.
Set up a password. A password adds an additional layer of security, one that may be useful for meetings outside of regular class hours. You may wish to share the password in your syllabus or direct emails to your students or classmates.
Disable attendees’ video. Hosts can turn anyone’s video off. This allows them to block unwanted, distracting, or inappropriate gestures on video.
Mute participants. Hosts can mute/unmute individual participants or all of them at once to block unwanted, distracting, or inappropriate noise. You can also enable Mute Upon Entry in your settings to reduce confusion in large meetings.

If you need help creating your meeting or need some additional tips on how to secure your event, please reach out to [email protected].

Regards,
Information Technology Department
STETSON UNIVERSITY College of Law
1401 61st Street South | Gulfport, FL 33707
Email: [email protected] | Office: +1 (727) 562 7323

ABA Forum on Construction Law – Law Student Writing Competition – $1,000 Prize for Winner – Deadline Less Than TWO WEEKS Away!

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT! We’re nearing last call for the ABA Law Student Writing Competition! Please share this information with law students you know – your students, summer clerks/associates, family, friends. Students may have an article/paper they submitted during the semester that is relevant to the competition. Papers can be newsletter format (1,000-2,000 words) or law journal format. Please ensure your students are aware of this opportunity.

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE ABA FORUM ON CONSTRUCTION LAW STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION ARE DUE JUNE 30, 2024.

This is a reminder of the Annual Law Student Writing Competition – please inform your students and law clerks/associates, share via social media, law school e-blasts, morning announcements, etc.! This is a great resume builder and even if a particular student does not receive first place, he/she/they may have an opportunity to be nationally published in one of the ABA Forum on Construction Law publications. Runners up will have an opportunity for publication as well! Here are the details:

The winning participant will receive:

National recognition via the ABA Forum on Construction Law
$1,000 cash prize
Travel expenses to the Fall Meeting 2024 in an amazing location TBD (not to exceed $2,000)
First place plaque
One-year membership in the Forum

A second place winner may be recognized as well, and all participants will be considered for publication in a Forum on Construction Law publication. The official rules of the competition are located here: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/construction_industry/2024/2024-fcl-writing-competition-rules.pdf

Bookstore closure due to construction!

Please note that the Bookstore will be closed for in-person business from Tuesday, June 18-Tuesday, June 25 due to access issues during construction around the store. We plan to re-open for in-person business on Wednesday, June 26 or when the repairs in the Banyan Courtyard are completed. Sorry for the inconvenience that this may cause.

*We will be open from 9am-4pm on Monday, June 17th, which is the last day for drop/add book refunds for the summer.

Bookstore Closure Due to Construction

*We will be open from 9am-4pm on Monday, June 17th, which is the last day for drop/add book refunds for the summer.

Juneteenth: Freedom Day

An official federal holiday in the United States since 2021, Juneteenth is synonymous with freedom. The day commemorates the date those enslaved in Texas were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation.

You can learn more by consulting the links listed on our Juneteenth community resource page: https://www.stetson.edu/law/about/home/inclusive-excellence/juneteenth.php

Employee Computer Systems

The Office of Information Technology provides a Dell laptop or desktop to all employees. Our preference is for a laptop, where possible, to allow our users to have access to their computer when working remotely.

The system model is driven by the needs of the College of Law and establishing a standard across all users. We aim to provide the following specifications as a baseline for all computers:

Intel i7 CPU
256GB SSD Drive
8GB – 16GB RAM

We provide Dell business models to improve reliability and support. Business computers are built for the enterprise and have a lower failure rate when compared to consumer computers. These are typically ordered with three or four-year Pro Service and Support from Dell. We also standardize the laptop and desktop models to improve support by introducing familiarity with the systems. Additionally, this allows us to carry additional inventory for unexpected accidents. All our systems are ordered with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to allow for seamless encryption of your data. We are not just concerned with Stetson information; your personal and private information is just as important.

Here is a short list of how we manage our systems:

Windows updates are maintained and updated on a weekly basis.
All systems are scanned for malware and viruses twice a week.
Because systems are joined to Microsoft 365, services such as Intune, Microsoft Office installation, and activations are automatic.
Wireless setups are pre-configured in our computers and work at all our campus locations.
Advanced Threat Protection antivirus is activated by default, offering cloud-based AI (artificial intelligence) protection.
Drive encryption is enabled by default on laptops for greater security.
Software installed on our computers will alert IT if they are running out of disk space, need critical updates and more; it will even update important software like Zoom and Adobe products automatically. This can all be done while on campus or when you are remote.

Best of all, Stetson-issued computers are fully supported – we take care of it all!

You may review this information any time at https://www.stetson.edu/law/offices/it/employee-computers.php

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Regards,
Information Technology Department
STETSON UNIVERSITY College of Law
1401 61st Street South | Gulfport, FL 33707
Email: [email protected] | Office: +1 (727) 562 7323

Come one, come all! Participate in Pride with Stetson Law

As we celebrate Pride Month this year, the community is invited to join Stetson Law and Lambda in taking part in St. Pete Pride festivities, including the night parade along Bayshore Drive on Saturday and the street fair the following day in the Grand Central District. See a full list of events and register.

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024.

After reviewing the renewal checklist on Registering For and Requesting Accommodations – College of Law (stetson.edu) webpages, log in to your Accommodate Student Portal with your Stetson credentials to renew your accommodations request for Summer 2024. (If you have not previously received ADA Accommodations and/or ESL Modifications and you want to submit a first-time request, please fill out the Accommodate Public Registration Form found on Stetson Law’s Accessibility Resources web page: Accessibility Resources for Students with Disabilities – College of Law (stetson.edu))

Students with accommodations or testing modifications must renew their request every term (Fall, Spring, Summer). This gives Accessibility Resources time to work collaboratively to ensure every student receives their needed accommodations; the College of Law does not provide retroactive accommodations. Here, you will see any accommodations you have been previously approved for and are currently eligible for renewal.

NOTE: Unless you receive a confirmation email from Accommodate that your request has been submitted, your request has not been properly submitted and you should reach out to the office of Accessibility Resources. Once your request is submitted, Accessibility Resources will process your request and you will receive your letter of accommodation or testing modification. It is from that date that accommodations will be in effect for the current term.

**A testing modification for foreign students is not considered a disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act in accordance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504, as amended).

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024

Come one, come all! Participate in Pride with Stetson Law

Cyber Security – Submit Phishing Emails

If you receive a suspicious email, you can report the email to the Information Technology department by clicking the Phish Alert Report button in Outlook or Microsoft 365. If you receive a SPAM or marketing message, please delete the email or unsubscribe from the vendor if they are reputable. By reporting phishing emails, proper steps can be taken to block senders as well as remove malicious messages from the inboxes of affected users.

We encourage all faculty, staff, and students with Windows Outlook to use the Phish Alert Report button.

To use the button in Outlook:

Select the suspicious email and press the Phish Alert Report button.
Confirm your submission by pressing the Submit Email button.
A copy of the message will be automatically sent to I.T. that we can use to evaluate and respond appropriately.

Learn more about the Phish Alert Button feature here:

https://share.synthesia.io/cdcb1181-e657-44df-b435-f01bec0c9076

Phishing Emails & How to Handle Them

If you have questions or comments, please contact I.T. at [email protected]

Regards,
Information Technology Department
STETSON UNIVERSITY College of Law
1401 61st Street South | Gulfport, FL 33707

Summer 2024 Tuition and Fees

The Business Office has received inquiries about the amount of tuition, when tuition is due for the summer 2024 semester, and when financial aid checks are to be distributed. Please find the relevant information below:

Summer 2024 tuition for the various programs are:

Full-time JD and LLM International students who are taking 5 or more credits is $13,255.
Full-time JD and LLM International students taking less than 5 hours will be charged $2,651per hour.
Part-time JD tuition is $8,731.
MBA tuition is $3,150 per class ($1,050 per credit hour)
MJur in Health Care Compliance is $1,063 per credit hour.
LLM Elder Law tuition is $1,410 per credit hour.
LLM Advocacy is $1,250 per credit hour.
JD/LLM is $1,100 per credit hour.

Summer 2024 fees for the various programs are:

Full-time JD and LLM International students is $30.
Part-time JD is $30.
Full-time students and LLM International students are also charged $50 for SBA fees.
LLM Elder Law, LLM Advocacy, JD/LLM, and MJur in Health Care Compliance are charged a $50 technology fee.

The Book Store will open book advances starting 5/20/24-6/5/24. If you have any questions, please contact the Book Store at [email protected] or (727) 562-7806

Tuition and fees have been posted to your student account based on your current registration status.

To review your charges and view any payments/financial aid received:

Log into your MyStetson account
Click on ‘Student Dashboard’
Click on ‘Student Account’
Click on ‘Account Summary’

Tuition is due by the first day of classes, Monday, June 10, 2024.

Any student who has not paid the balance on their student account or has not made financial arrangements with the Business Office will be charged a late fee of $200.

Methods of acceptable payment are cash, check, money order, credit card or E-check.

Please make checks payable to:

Stetson University College of Law

1401 61st Street South

Gulfport, FL 33707

Attn.: Business Office

If method of payment is credit card or E-checks, this must be paid through the student payment portal at https://www.stetson.edu/forms/law/student-accounts/payment/

As a condition of using your credit card, a non-refundable convenience fee equal to 2.5% of the payment will be charged. E-checks do not incur a convenience fee.

If the amount of your financial aid is in excess of the amount of your tuition and fees for the fall, you will receive a refund for the difference to cover your living expenses. This refund can be paid to you by check or more expeditiously by direct deposit. If you wish to have your refund paid by direct deposit, and have not already completed the paperwork, please be sure to contact the Business Office at [email protected]. If you chose to receive your refund by check, it may be picked up in the Business Office on Monday, June 10, 2024. If your refund is direct deposited, it will be processed late afternoon on Friday, June 07, 2024.

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024.

After reviewing the renewal checklist on Registering For and Requesting Accommodations – College of Law (stetson.edu) webpages, log in to your Accommodate Student Portal with your Stetson credentials to renew your accommodations request for Summer 2024. (If you have not previously received ADA Accommodations and/or ESL Modifications and you want to submit a first-time request, please fill out the Accommodate Public Registration Form found on Stetson Law’s Accessibility Resources web page: Accessibility Resources for Students with Disabilities – College of Law (stetson.edu))

Students with accommodations or testing modifications must renew their request every term (Fall, Spring, Summer). This gives Accessibility Resources time to work collaboratively to ensure every student receives their needed accommodations; the College of Law does not provide retroactive accommodations. Here, you will see any accommodations you have been previously approved for and are currently eligible for renewal.

NOTE: Unless you receive a confirmation email from Accommodate that your request has been submitted, your request has not been properly submitted and you should reach out to the office of Accessibility Resources. Once your request is submitted, Accessibility Resources will process your request and you will receive your letter of accommodation or testing modification. It is from that date that accommodations will be in effect for the current term.

**A testing modification for foreign students is not considered a disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act in accordance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504, as amended).

Affinity/ERG Summer Discussion Dates announced!

Our first opportunity to discuss affinity groups was very well received. We had many colleagues join from both DeLand and COL participate in the first groups identified.

To aid in continuing the conversations, it was decided that we would maintain the format of the first meeting throughout the summer. This format allows for people to join conversations in a specific group, or several. We anticipate having a page launched on the HR website for our affinity groups for the fall, and at that point, the groups will have established their own desires for meetings, resources and information. All this can be shared on the newly established page.

Dates for summer discussions will be 5/30, 6/27 and 7/25.

At this time, the meetings will remain virtual Zoom meeting (click https://stetson-edu.zoom.us/s/99075353557 ) so that both campuses are able to participate on a larger scale.

As a reminder, to create a welcoming experience for all, here are ways in which we can enhance and benefit the discussions:

· All are welcome

· Our stories are ours to tell; not yours to tell others

· Limit assumptions; you only see the tip of the iceberg

· Respect the process and more importantly, each other

Please join us on 5/30, 6/27 and 7/25 from 12pm-1pm. Click https://stetson-edu.zoom.us/s/99075353557 to access the meeting or use the information below. Breakout rooms will be available.

Meeting Topic:	Stetson Affinity Group Meeting
Meeting Time:	May 30, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Every month on the Last Thu, until Jul 25, 2024, 3 occurrence(s) May 30, 2024 12:00 PM Jun 27, 2024 12:00 PM Jul 25, 2024 12:00 PM
Phone one-tap
Phone one-tap:	US: +13052241968,,99075353557# or +16469313860,,99075353557#
Join by Telephone
For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location.
Dial:	US : +1 305 224 1968 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 689 278 1000 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000
Meeting ID:	990 7535 3557
Passcode:	912958

Bookstore: Summer Book Refunds

The last day to get a full refund for summer books with your receipt is Monday, June 17th. Our summer book refund policy is as follows:

SUMMER 2024

The last day for textbook refunds with original receipt is June 17, 2024. Books must be in the condition you purchased/rented them in for a full refund. New books must still be shrink wrapped (if they were sold that way) and free from any markings to be eligible for a refund! ******If you are mailing your returns back, you must make sure they are shipped to arrive at the Bookstore on or before June 17, 2024 to be eligible for a refund.******

Textbooks purchased on or after June 17, 2024 are refundable within 3 business days, if returned in the condition sold and accompanied by the receipt. Books for condensed/weekend or shortened courses may have their own refund date TBD. Books sold within a week of finals beginning are final sale.

Shrink-wrapped texts must be unopened, all enclosures (CDs etc) must be included. Software included with textbooks must be unopened.

“eBook” textbooks are returnable if code/password has not been accessed online and within the stated refund date for that platform. Some e-book/digital delivery fees are not refundable.

Non-Textbook Return Policy

Non-textbook items may be refunded or exchanged at any time with the original receipt if the merchandise is in salable condition.

Items such as Electronics, CDs, DVDs and Computer Software must be unopened if returned.

Law Study Guides and BarCharts are not returnable/exchangeable.

Gift Cards are not returnable.

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024

DO NOT WAIT: Renew your ADA Accommodations and ESL Testing Modifications for Summer 2024.

After reviewing the renewal checklist on Registering For and Requesting Accommodations – College of Law (stetson.edu) webpages, log in to your Accommodate Student Portal with your Stetson credentials to renew your accommodations request for Summer 2024. (If you have not previously received ADA Accommodations and/or ESL Modifications and you want to submit a first-time request, please fill out the Accommodate Public Registration Form  found on Stetson Law’s Accessibility Resources web page: Accessibility Resources for Students with Disabilities – College of Law (stetson.edu))

Students with accommodations or testing modifications must renew their request every term (Fall, Spring, Summer). This gives Accessibility Resources time to work collaboratively to ensure every student receives their needed accommodations; the College of Law does not provide retroactive accommodations. Here, you will see any accommodations you have been previously approved for and are currently eligible for renewal.

NOTE: Unless you receive a confirmation email from Accommodate that your request has been submitted, your request has not been properly submitted and you should reach out to the office of Accessibility Resources. Once your request is submitted, Accessibility Resources will process your request and you will receive your letter of accommodation or testing modification. It is from that date that accommodations will be in effect for the current term.

Don’t forget to notify the Accessibility Resources team of any midterms and quizzes for your classes by submitting Student Formative Assessment Survey.

**A testing modification for foreign students is not considered a disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act in accordance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504, as amended).

Pathway to Justice Academy: Youth Civics Program

The Pathway to Justice Academy is a free weeklong hybrid learning experience that teaches students how to empower themselves and others to become catalysts for positive social change through civic education and advocacy. Students will engage with law faculty, staff, law students, attorneys, and judges in the local community. Please feel free to share this opportunity with your local networks.

You may find more information about the program and a link to apply here.

Pride Month

As Pride Month 2024 kicks off, Stetson Law celebrates the LGBTQ+ community on campus and beyond. From effective strategic initiatives for increasing LGBTQ+ student enrollment to partnering with local organizations that serve the community, the College of Law students, faculty, and staff are committed to affirming the LGBTQ+ community. See full list of events and register to participate in the Pride Month festivities.

Volunteers Needed – Annual Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) Conference

The Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) Conference has been hosted by Stetson Law for almost two decades. This unique Conference invites advocacy educators from law schools all over the country to share their experiences, while facilitating the exploration of new teaching techniques in this specialized area.

More than 100 people attend this Conference each year. As you can imagine, the event has many moving parts, and we need your help to make sure it runs smoothly. In particular, we need help with set up on Friday afternoon, June 7th, and during the Conference on Monday, June 10th through Wednesday, June 12th during the time slots indicated in this VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP LINK. (https://forms.gle/Zt5hi4JJM2kiXQY76)
Please click on the link and select the time slot(s) for which you are available to volunteer. You may sign up for multiple slots and can receive up to 10 hours of credit toward your on-campus, non-legal pro bono hour requirement.

Detailed instructions regarding your specific duties and where to report will be sent out as the event gets closer. If you have any questions, please email Kate Donoghue, Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, at [email protected].

Business Law Concentration Summer Submission Deadline is June 15th

The deadline to apply for the Business Law Concentration during the summer submission period is June 15th.

Summer 2024 Tuition & Fees

Summer 2024 tuition for the various programs are:

Full-time JD and LLM International students who are taking 5 or more credits is $13,255.
Full-time JD and LLM International students taking less than 5 hours will be charged $2,651per hour.
Part-time JD tuition is $8,731.
MBA tuition is $3,150 per class ($1,050 per credit hour)
MJur in Health Care Compliance is $1,063 per credit hour.
LLM Elder Law tuition is $1,410 per credit hour.
LLM Advocacy is $1,250 per credit hour.
JD/LLM is $1,100 per credit hour.

Summer 2024 fees for the various programs are:

Full-time JD and LLM International students is $30.
Part-time JD is $30.
Full-time students and LLM International students are also charged $50 for SBA fees.
LLM Elder Law, LLM Advocacy, JD/LLM, and MJur in Health Care Compliance are charged a $50 technology fee.

The Book Store will open book advances starting 5/20/24-6/5/24. If you have any questions, please contact the Book Store at [email protected] or (727) 562-7806

Tuition and fees have been posted to your student account based on your current registration status.

To review your charges and view any payments/financial aid received:

Log into your MyStetson account
Click on ‘Student Dashboard’
Click on ‘Student Account’
Click on ‘Account Summary’

Tuition is due by the first day of classes, Monday, June 10, 2024.

Any student who has not paid the balance on their student account or has not made financial arrangements with the Business Office will be charged a late fee of $200.

Methods of acceptable payment are cash, check, money order, credit card or E-check.

Please make checks payable to:

Stetson University College of Law

1401 61st Street South

Gulfport, FL 33707

Attn.: Business Office

If method of payment is credit card or E-checks, this must be paid through the student payment portal at https://www.stetson.edu/forms/law/student-accounts/payment/

As a condition of using your credit card, a non-refundable convenience fee equal to 2.5% of the payment will be charged. E-checks do not incur a convenience fee.

Pathway to Justice Academy: Youth Civics Program

You may find more information about the program and a link to apply here.