Institution and Accreditation

2.1 Institutional Identity and Degrees Offered

1. COL is incorporated in California as The Colleges of Law, a nonprofit, public benefit corporation recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board. Its website URL is: www.collegesoflaw.edu/; its password-protected Gateway URL is: https://my.collegesoflaw.edu/. It operates two campuses and one residency Location:

2. COL offers three educational degree programs as described in this Catalog:
   1. ​Juris Doctor (JD) , an evening program with onsite classes, offered at both campuses
   2. Hybrid Juris Doctor (HJD), an online program with onsite residences at the Pasadena location of Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena
   3. Master of Business, Law and Technology (MBLT) [Formerly known as Master of Arts in Law prior to Spring 2024, an online program

3. COL is one of the colleges and universities of The Community Solution Education System, a charitable, tax-exempt entity identified under IRS regulations as a Type II supporting organization because it supports its colleges and universities, including COL, in the advancement and achievement of their missions. The Community Solution maintains its offices at 400 S. Jefferson Street Chicago, IL 60607; its telephone number is (312) 379-1699.

2.2 Mission, Vision and Values Statements

1. Mission
   COL’s mission is to provide access to law and law-related professions, through emphasizing opportunity, academic excellence, and community engagement. (Adopted by Board of Trustees, April 27, 2018.)
    
2. Vision
   To be a pioneer in modernizing legal education. (Adopted by Board of Trustees, April 27, 2018.)
    
3. Our Values (Adopted by the Board of Trustees, October 2, 2024)

• ​​Student Centered: We put our students first.
• Community: We build community one student, one graduate, one team member at a time.
• Inclusive: We celebrate opportunity, diversity, accessibility, and a sense of belonging.
• Community: We build community one student, one graduate, one team member at a time.
• Excellence: We champion quality and innovation.
• Integrity: We live our values. 

​​2.3 Accreditation and Bar Eligibility

1. Accreditation and State Authorization
   COL is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as a single institution with two campuses and a residency location. In keeping with our mission to offer excellent yet accessible legal education, COL has neither sought, nor presently expects to obtain, accreditation from the American Bar Association.
   
   COL is also accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500. Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001. WSCUC is an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 
    
2. State Authorization
   For information on where COL is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to authorization, please visit https://www.collegesoflaw.edu/about-the-santa-barbara-ventura-colleges-of-law-2/.
    
3. JD Program Information
   Students who enroll in a Juris Doctor program, other than students admitted as “special students,” are not required by the State Bar to sit for the First Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX). JD graduates are eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam and, upon passing the exam and meeting the State Bar’s other admission requirements, eligible to practice law in California. The following language is provided by the CBE:
   
   Study at, or graduation from The Colleges of Law may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek admission to practice outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements.
    
4. MBLT Program Information
   The MBLT program does not qualify graduates to sit for California’s Bar Examination, nor does it satisfy requirements for admission to practice law in California. Prospective students who wish to practice law should consider the JD program after carefully reviewing the JD program information in this section. Please read the following statement, which is provided in compliance with State Bar requirements:
    
5. Except as provided in rule 4.30 of the Admissions Rules (Legal Education in a foreign state or country), completion of a professional law degree program at this law school other than for the Juris Doctor degree does not qualify a student to take the California Bar Examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to practice law in California. It may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy requirements for admission to the practice of law in any other jurisdiction. A student intending to seek admission to practice law should contact the admitting authority in the jurisdictions where the student intends to qualify to sit for the bar examination or to be admitted to practice for information regarding their legal education requirements.

2.4 Governing Boards, Administration, and Faculty

1. General Provisions
   COL is governed by the Board which has delegated authority for daily operations of COL to the CEO; the Dean serves as COL’s Chief Academic Officer.
    
2. Board of Trustees members for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year include:

3. Administrative Staff can be found at The Colleges of Law website:  HERE

4. Faculty members committed to teaching at COL can be found on The Colleges of Law website HERE. 

2.5 Administration Office

1. General Provisions
   Unless the context otherwise makes clear, the term Administration Office denotes the Administration Office at the campus where the student is principally enrolled (onsite JD students at the campus they attend, HJD students at the Pasadena Location, and MBLT students at the Santa Barbara campus). 
    
2. Administration Office Hours During Terms (Closed on Holidays)
   Ventura Campus: 3:00PM - 6:30PM on scheduled class nights, all other times by appointment only
   Santa Barbara Campus: 3:00PM - 6:30PM on scheduled class nights, all other times by appointment only
   Emergency messages cannot be relayed after 6:30 p.m. on class nights or on weekends and holidays, as the Office is closed.

 Administration Office Hours during Intercession at Both Campuses: By appointment only.

3. Lost and Found
   Found items should be brought to the Administration Office where owners may reclaim them. COL will donate to a charitable organization or discard any item not picked up within 30 days

4. Transcripts and Student File Reviews  

   A student’s request to review their student file must be made in writing to the Registrar. Hard copies of the student’s digital file will be made available to the student at the Administration Office within 45 business days. A student who believes that information in their education record is inaccurate, or misleading may submit a written request to the Registrar to amend the information. See Section 3.7 for details on file review and amendment requests.  Requests for official copies of transcripts must be in writing. A charge of $15.00 will be made for each transcript requested

5. Requests for Administrative or Faculty Action

   All requests for action by the Administration or faculty must be made in writing, dated and signed by the student, and submitted to the Administration Office. Submissions must clearly state what action the student requests. Submissions must fulfill any applicable requirements set forth elsewhere in this Catalog (for example, as applicable to requests for disability accommodation, petitions for change of grade or probation, etc.). Forms are found on the Gateway. Inquiries not set forth in writing will be treated as informal inquiries; students should assume that informal inquiries will not be acted upon by COL, administrative staff, or faculty.

2.6 Facilities

1. Description of Facilities
   
   COL has two physical campuses for the onsite Juris Doctor degree program.  The Hybrid Juris Doctor degree program holds its residencies four times per semester at the Pacific Oaks campus in Pasadena. The Santa Barbara campus consists of a single-story building of approximately 8,000 square feet, with four classrooms, a library, a student lounge, and faculty and administrative office space.  The Ventura campus consists of a two-story building of approximately 20,000 square feet, with six classrooms, a library, a student lounge/common room, and faculty and administrative office space.
    
2. Parking Regulations
   1. At the Ventura campus, the parking lot is for use by students only while attending classes or otherwise participating in campus activity. Under no circumstances is overnight parking allowed.
   2. At the Santa Barbara campus, the parking lot is always restricted to staff ONLY. On-street parking and a city parking lot are available for students.
3. Facilities Regulations
   Smoking is prohibited by law in COL’s buildings and within 25 feet of them. Eating in the classrooms is prohibited except by express permission during special school activities. Drinking from non-spillable containers is allowed during class sessions but is prohibited during examinations. Outside doors at the Santa Barbara campus may not be propped open.
    
4. Campus Visitors
   Campus facilities are open for use only by enrolled students and invited guests of COL. With prior permission of the Administration, an adult guest may accompany an enrolled student to a class session. However, to enhance the educational experience of all students and to promote safety, the facilities are not open to minor children and pets.

2.7 Transcripts

COL maintains a permanent record of any student who was or is enrolled in a course.  The transcript may be changed only upon a showing of cause, in writing, authorized by the Academic Standards Committee (ASC).  Requests for a change to a student’s transcript must be made in accordance with Sections 10.6 (JD) and 16.3 (MBLT) of this Catalog.