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    TCS Education System
   
 
  Dec 13, 2024
 
2017-2018 Colleges of Law General Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Colleges of Law General Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Institution and Accreditation



2.1 Institutional Identity and Degrees Offered

  1. The School is incorporated in California as The Santa Barbara and Ventura 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 Student Gateway (“Gateway”) URL is: https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/. It operates two campuses:
  Santa Barbara campus Ventura campus
  20 E. Victoria St. 4475 Market St.
  Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Ventura, CA 93003
  (805) 979-9860 (805) 765-9300

 

  1. The School offers two educational degree programs, as described in this Catalog:

Juris Doctor (JD) , an evening program with onsite classes, offered at both campuses
Master of Legal Studies (MLS) , an online program. 

  1. The School is an affiliate of TCS Education System (TCSES), a charitable, tax-exempt entity identified under IRS regulations as a Type II supporting organization because it supports its affiliates, including the School, in the advancement and achievement of their missions. TCSES maintains its offices at 350 N. Orleans St., 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654; its telephone number is (312) 379-1699.

2.2 Mission and Vision Statements

  1. Mission
    The mission of The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law is to prepare leaders, for law and law-related professions, through graduate-level legal education that emphasizes academic excellence and accessibility. The Colleges seek to develop well-prepared graduates capable of integrating knowledge of legal theory, practical skills, and professional values. (Adopted by Board of Trustees, November 28, 2012.)
     
  2. Vision
    The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law will be an accredited, professionally recognized institution of legal education with student-centered outcomes that emphasize the pursuit of excellence in legal fundamentals and preparation for professional practice. (Adopted by Board of Trustees, November 28, 2012.)

2.3 Accreditation and Bar Eligibility

  1. Accreditation and State Authorization
    The School is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as a single institution with two campuses. In keeping with our mission to offer excellent yet accessible legal education, the School has neither sought, nor presently expects to obtain, accreditation from the American Bar Association.

    The School is also accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.  WSCUC is a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and serves higher education institutions primarily in the western United States.
     
  2. The School has authority to operate in the State of California by way of an exemption granted by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education pursuant to California Education Code section 94874(i).
     
  3. JD Program Information
    Students who attend the 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. 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 Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California:

    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. MLS Program Information
    The following language is provided by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California:

    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
    The School is governed by the Board of Trustees and the Fiduciary Council, which approves strategic goals and final budgets set by the Board. The Board has delegated authority for daily operations of the School to the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO); the Dean serves as Chief Academic Officer.
     
  2. Fiduciary Council members for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year include:
  Edward Bergmark, Chair
Marilyn Anticouni, Vice Chair
Michael Horowitz, Corporate President
Richard Chaifetz
Mary Jane Miller
George Mitchell
Steve Nakisher
Donald Packham
Mehul Patel
Mary Pattiz
  1. Board of Trustees members for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year include:
  Marilyn Anticouni, JD, Board Chair Attorney at Law, Private Practice, Santa Barbara
  Jana Johnston, JD, Board Vice-Chair Attorney at Law, Private Practice, Santa Barbara
  Rachel Bishar, PhD Professor, Touro University Worldwide, Westlake Village
  The Hon. Manuel Covarrubias, JD Judge, Ventura Superior Court
  Michael Horowitz, PhD President, TCS Education System
  Mary Jane Miller, JD Attorney at Law, Private Practice, Santa Barbara
  Matthew Nehmer, PhD Executive Director, The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law
  Lindsay Nielson, JD Attorney at Law, Private Practice, Ventura
  Donald Packham, MBA Senior Vice President - Human Resources, TCS Education System
  Mary Turner Pattiz, PhD Board Chair, Betty Ford Center
  M. Carmen Ramirez, JD Attorney at Law, Private Practice and Oxnard City Council Member
  Monique Snowden, PhD Vice President for Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Fielding Graduate University
  Richard Winn, EdD President of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  1. Administrative Staff includes:
  Matthew Nehmer, PhD Executive Director
  Jackie Gardina, JD Dean and Professor of Law
  Mehul Patel CFO
  Barbara Doyle Registrar/Assistant Dean/Disabilities Coordinator
  Alexis Burdick Business Manager and Special Assistant to the Executive Director
  Shawn Taylor Director, Admissions
  Deborah Jurgensen, JD Law Librarian
  Jennifer Mackie Student Services Coordinator, Ventura
  Christian Winnewisser Student Services Coordinator and Assistant Registrar, Santa Barbara
  Virginia Fuentes, JD Academic Services Coordinator/Title IX Coordinator
  Sarah Moloney Financial Aid Advisor
  Julane Barthelmess Enrollment Counselor
  Nick Hendry On-site IT Support
  1. Faculty members committed to teach in the 2016-2017 Academic Year are listed below. Others who have taught recently and who may teach in upcoming terms are listed on the School’s website.

1. Full-time Faculty (law degrees/school/graduation years)

Jackie Gardina, JD, Boston College Law School ‘99 (also Dean)
Craig Smith, JD, UC Hastings ‘76

2. Adjunct Faculty (law degrees/school/graduation years)

  Marc Anderson, JD, Pepperdine SOL, ‘94 Kata Kim, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘10
  Kathleen Barrett, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘10 Christopher Kroes, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘87
  Joel Block, JD, Colleges of Law ‘04 Jeanne Kvale, JD, Pepperdine ‘95
  Erica Bristol, JD, UC Los Angeles, ‘99 Paul Larsen, JD, UCLA ‘88
  Clair Burrill, JD, Univ. of Wisconsin ‘73 Julie Lawrence, JD, Colleges of Law ‘12
  The Hon. Michael Carrozzo, JD, Loyola ‘92 Lori Lewis, JD, Colleges of Law ‘90
  Peter Cooney, JD, UC Hastings ‘72 Rylan Martin, JD, Washburn, ‘01
  Jennifer DeMay, JD, Loyola Univ. Chicago, ‘98 Samantha Medlock, JD, Vermont Law School, ‘08
  Commissioner Von Nguyen Deroian, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘06 Deborah Moritz, JD, Hofstra Law School, ‘79
  Jason Dominguez, JD, UC Berkeley, ‘95 Joaquin Nava, JD, Colleges of Law ‘08
  Jeanette Eicks, JD, Vermont Law School, ‘08 David Nyssen, JD, UC Davis ‘90
  Renee Fairbanks, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘04 Roger Pao, JD, Harvard Law, ‘06
  Steve Feder, JD, U. of San Diego ‘82, LL.M ‘87 Mark Saatjian, JD, Loyola ‘05
  Jack Futoran, JD, Colleges of Law ‘98 Commissioner Anthony Sabo, JD, Univ. of ND, ‘92
  Gisele Goetz, JD, UC Hastings, ‘85 Robert Sanger, JD, UCLA ‘73
  Michael Hanley, JD, U. of San Francisco ‘92 James Scafide, JD, Boston College ‘99, LL.M., Harvard ‘02
  Eric Hanson, JD, Southwestern ‘76 Jake Stoddard, JD, Loyola ‘77
  Carla Hartley, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘07 John Thyne, III, JD, U. of Tulsa ‘96
  The Hon. Brian Hill, JD, U. of San Francisco ‘81 Arnie Tolks, JD, Santa Clara ‘81
  Commissioner JoAnn Johnson, JD, Colleges of Law ‘93  
  Joseph Jones, JD, Colleges of Law ‘09  
     

3. Adjunct Faculty - Academic Advisors (law degrees/school/graduation years)

Kata Kim, JD, Colleges of Law, ‘10
Lena Alker, JD, Colleges of Law ‘12

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 (JD students at the campus they attend, MLS students at the Santa Barbara campus). Students should contact the Administration Office for information about the School’s curriculum and policies, to make appointments with the Dean, to inquire about Veterans’ benefits, and to attend to other matters referred to in this Catalog.
     
  2. Administration Office Hours (Closed on holidays.)
    Santa Barbara Hours Ventura Hours
  Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  Friday by appointment by appointment

Emergency messages cannot be relayed after 6:30 p.m. on class nights or on weekends and holidays, as the Office is closed.

  1. Transcripts and Student File Reviews
    1. A student’s request to review his or her 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 blieves that information in his or her 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 such transcript requested. Students who are not in good financial standing with Colleges of Law will not be eligible to receive a transcript.
  2. 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.). Where a form is available for the purpose sought by the student, the form should be used. Forms are found on the Gateway. Inquiries not set forth in writing will be treated as casual inquiries; students should assume that casual inquiries will not be acted upon by the School, administrative staff, or faculty.

2.6 Facilities

  1. Description of Facilities
    1. Each school has a physical campus where instruction for the Juris Doctor degree program is held.  The Santa Barbara campus consists of a single story building of approximately 8,000 square feet, with 4 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 6 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 restricted to staff ONLY at all times. On-street parking and a city parking lot are available for students. The Santa Barbara campus can be reached by a variety of alternative means including bicycle, bus, shuttle, or by foot. A student intending to take Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District transportation to and from campus for class may submit a bus pass reimbursement request to the Administration Office.
  3. Facilities Regulations
    Smoking is prohibited by law in the School’s buildings and within 25 feet of them. Eating or drinking (except water in non-spill-able bottles) is prohibited in the classroom. Water 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 the School. 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.
     
  5. Description of Facilities
    Each school has a physical campus where instruction for the Juris Doctor degree program is held. The Santa Barbara campus consists of a single story building of approximately 8,000 square feet, with 4 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 6 classrooms, a library, a student lounge/common room, and faculty and administrative office space.