August 11, 2022 – Fall 2022 Semeseter FAQ

COVID-19 DEFINITIONS AND FAQ 

The Colleges of Law’s accreditation status requires us to hold in-person classes as dictated by the program. Remote options for individual students are not available under current policies. These policies are subject to change based on public health mandates. We need to work together to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy.  

The following definitions and protocols follow Current CDC and CDPH guidelines. They are subject to revision based on the changing public health conditions. 

DEFINITIONS 

Close Contact 

The definition of close contact has been changed to acknowledge that COVID-19 is an airborne disease, rather than one spread by respiratory droplets.  Close contact is currently defined as someone sharing the same indoor airspace (e.g. home, clinic, waiting room, airplane, classroom, etc.) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person’s infectious period. 

Infectious Period  

• For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR 
• For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test. 

For the purposes of identifying close contacts and exposures, infected persons who test negative on or after Day 5 and end isolation are no longer considered to be within their infectious period. Such persons should continue to follow isolation recommendations, including wearing a well-fitting face mask through Day 10. 

FAQs 

Will I have to wear a mask on campus? 

We follow local, state, and federal guidelines. Masks are strongly recommended for all persons, regardless of vaccine status, in indoor public settings. Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit are highly recommended. You can read about the effectiveness of masks here. 

What do I do if I test positive for COVID, have symptoms, or I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID? 

All students, faculty, and staff are required to report if they have tested positive for COVID-19, if they are experiencing symptoms, or if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID.  

• Students should use the COVID-19 Positive Case / Exposure reporting form on the Gateway to report their status. 
• Faculty and Staff should use the COVID-19 Positive Case / Exposure reporting form on the Employee Intranet.   

These protocols are based on current CDPH Guidelines and may be subject to change. 

Can I come to campus if I test positive for COVID, have COVID symptoms, or I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID? 

No, if you test positive for COVID-19 or if you believe you have been exposed (in close contact) and develop symptoms: 

• You should isolate to prevent spreading the disease and you may not come to campus. Even if you are vaccinated or had COVID-19 before, you should isolate for at least 5 full days beginning the day after symptoms start (or the day after your first positive test if you are asymptomatic).  
• Test on Day 5 (or later) and contact COL-covid to see if you can end isolation after Day 5. 

If you have been in close contact with someone who is COVID+ (Exposure) but have not developed symptoms:  

• Consider testing as soon as possible (especially if you have symptoms) to see if you are already infected.  You should test during the 3–5 days following exposure.  Even if you test before day 3, you should test again 3-5 days after exposure.   

• Wear a well-fitting mask around others, especially indoors, for 10 days following your exposure, even if your test result is negative. 
• Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days. If symptoms develop, stay home, test, and report symptoms. 

When can I return to campus after isolation? 

You can return to campus after five (5) days of isolation if: 

• You test negative on day 5 or later,  

• Symptoms are not present or are improving,  
• You have not had a fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and  
• You are cleared by the COL-COVID team to return to campus.  

Will I be required to get a booster shot? 

As this time, boosters are not required for campus access.   

Will I be told if I have been on campus with someone who tested COVID positive? 

Students, faculty, and staff will be informed of any COVID-related exposures as required by CAL-OSHA and CDC guidelines. The names of individuals will remain anonymous, however. 

Can I attend class remotely if I am not allowed on campus due to a COVID+ test or diagnosis? 

No, all weekly classes and hybrid residencies must be attended in person. Both WSCUC and the California State Bar approved both programs based on the in-person component. Until February 14, 2022, we were able to operate remotely based on an emergency authorization by WSCUC, our accreditation agency recognized by the Department of Education. The emergency authorizations were not renewed. Students are responsible for working with cohort members to obtain notes and/or lecture recordings as indicated in the Audio/Video Recording Policy found in the Student Gateway.   

Will I be marked absent for missing class due to COVID?  

Yes, all students are subject to the attendance policy as published in the Academic Catalog Section 9.1A.  

Testing Protocols 

Beginning Fall 2022, students, faculty, or staff members are no longer be required to provide attestation of testing prior to attending the campus program, before arriving on campus for the hybrid JD residencies, or attending COL-sponsored events, regardless of vaccination status. 

All faculty, students, and staff, may be required to submit a COVID negative PCR or antigen test pursuant to any provision in the FAQs and/or COL policies. 

July 18, 2022

After careful review, COL will be sunsetting its COVID-19 vaccination policy after the summer 2022 semester; therefore, we no longer require students to submit COVID-19 vaccination information, or policy exemption form, to enroll.

Note that our contact tracing procedures—informed by the latest guidance from CDC and the CA Department of Public Health—will remain in place this fall. As a result, members of our community will continue to be asked to notify COL if they test positive for COVID-19 or were in direct contact with someone who tested positive. Such notifications will trigger guidance on when the affected individual can return to campus, whether they will need to test beforehand, and whether or not they will be required to wear a mask. We believe this approach reflects the latest science and current practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are, however, prepared to reinstate a mandate for masks and/or vaccinations should there be cause to do so.

Feel free to contact COL administration ([email protected]) with any questions.

July 11, 2022

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, The Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

April 8, 2022

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

March 8, 2022 – A Message from COL Administration

Dear COL Community,
After reviewing the latest updates from the CDC, DCPH, Cal/OSHA, and in consultation with our Covid Task Force and key college stakeholders, we announce the following update to campus access policy:

Effective Monday, March 21, masks will no longer be required to access campus; instead, they will be encouraged and left to individual choice.

The policy update aligns COL with guidelines from public health agencies at all levels (local, state, and national) and other higher education institutions, including universities like UCSB, which is lifting its mask mandate on March 18. The current policy will remain in effect for the hybrid JD residency on March 19–20, an event that influenced our timeline as it draws from outside our geographic region.

COL’s vaccination policy remains in place; likewise, our policies in the event one tests positive for Covid remain unchanged. Learn more here.

We appreciate your continued compliance with our polices and protocols as we take another step toward normalcy. That said, if there is anything we’ve learned in these two years of pandemic response, it’s that things can change. We continue to be diligent with monitoring the latest developments and stand at the ready to adjust our policies as needed.

While we are lifting our mask requirement, we do ask that students be sensitive to the health care concerns of their fellow students and faculty.

Thank you for your cooperation and support. As always, we are here should you have any questions or feedback.

With appreciation,

Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D.
President

Jackie Gardina, J.D.
Dean & Chief Academic Officer

February 11, 2022 – A Message from COL Administration

Dear COL Community,

The time has finally come. After more than 700 days of remote delivery, our campuses on Monday will once again be fully open for classroom learning.

While we are excited to once again deliver our onsite and Hybrid JD programs as intended, Covid remains a concern. Here is an overview of our current policies and procedures with more information found on our Covid information page:

• We are happy to report that our community is currently 100 percent in compliance with the school’s vaccination policy introduced last August. Read more here. Our thanks for your continued cooperation.
• While we recognize there have been some modifications to mask policy at the state and county level since our last update, we remain aligned with mask guidelines for workplaces and schools. Masks remain required on campus. We strongly encourage use of KN95 or N95 masks. We will have free KN95 masks available on campus for those who need them. Professors will have access to microphones to amplify their lectures. Additionally, our campus HVAC units have been upgraded with the latest air filtration systems.
• Our policies in the event one tests positive for Covid remain unchanged. Learn more here.

We look forward to seeing you in person—some of you the first time in nearly two years, others for the first time. We do so with an acknowledgment of the significance of this moment to our academic community, and you individually. Next week means change for all of us. COL was founded 53 years ago as a community law school. We have a deep tradition of looking out for each other and are confident this spirit of collaboration will continue next week and beyond.

Thank you for your patience and persistence as we carry on the work of our mission. As always, we are here should you have any questions or feedback.

With appreciation,

Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D.
President

Jackie Gardina, J.D.
Dean & Chief Academic Officer

January 7, 2022

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

CAMPUS RETURN UPDATES AND FAQ – Updated: Jan. 20, 2022

In the weeks since our last communication, the Covid omicron strain has delivered on its promise of yielding a significant surge in cases and hospitalizations across the local region. To illustrate, collective case counts in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties at this point last month were fewer than 300. This week they eclipsed 3,600. The good news is that the projection models are showing us closing in on a peak. Read more.

Considering these developments, we announce the following updates to our campus-access and instruction plan for the Spring 2022 semester:

• We are extending our target date for campus return by two weeks—from January 31 to Monday, February 14
• All onsite J.D. courses will remain remote until Monday, February 14
• The February 19–20 Hybrid J.D. residency will be held on-campus
• Our MLS and Hybrid Spring-start students remain unaffected as their classes this semester are fully online

The decision comes after a consultation with WSCUC, our accreditation agency, who acquiesced to COL continuing remote delivery by two more weeks. Other local institutions—e.g., Santa Barbara City College and Ventura College—have taken like actions of extending their campus-return timelines further into the semester.

We updated our FAQ to reflect the latest developments and new CDPH guidelines (see below).

We will discuss our plan further and be available to answer your questions at our first town hall of the semester on Thursday, January 27, at 5:30p. Click here to register. Until then, consider us always available to listen and answer your questions.

We thank you for your continued understanding and support.

Latest COL Return-to-Campus Protocols and FAQ

The COL accreditation status requires us to return to in-person classes as dictated by the program. The campus program faculty and students will return on Monday, February 14. The hybrid JD faculty and students are eligible to return to campus on February 19 for the weekend residency. Remote options for individual students are not available under current policies. These policies are subject to change based on public health mandates.

We need to work together to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy.

The following protocols follow Current CDPH guidelines. They are subject to revision based on the changing public health conditions.

Will I have to wear a mask on campus?

We follow local, state, and federal guidelines. Currently, both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties require that mask be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. Even if the mandate is lifted, we may keep the mask requirement in place. You can read about the effectiveness of masks here.

What do I do if I test positive for COVID, have symptoms, or I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID?

All students, faculty, and staff are required to report if they have tested COVID+, if they are experiencing symptoms, or if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID. Close contact is defined as within six feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour report.

• Students should use the form on the Gateway to report their status.
• Faculty and staff should use the form available on the Faculty Gateway or Workday.

Can I come to campus if I test positive for COVID, have COVID symptoms, or I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID?

If you test positive or have symptoms, you should not come to campus. You can return to campus after five (5) days if symptoms are not present and you submit a COVID negative antigen test.

If you have been in close contact with someone who is COVID+,

• If you are fully vaccinated or vaccinated but not yet booster-eligible, and asymptomatic, you can return to campus but must test on day 5 after exposure.
• If you are unvaccinated or vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not received a booster dose, you are not allowed to return to campus until at least five (5) days after your last exposure if symptoms are not present and you submit a COVID negative antigen test.

These protocols are based on current CDPH Guidelines and may be subject to change.

Will I be required to get a booster shot?

As this time, boosters are not required for campus access; however, based on the current CDPH Guidelines, booster status is a factor in the applicable isolation and return to campus protocols following a report of symptoms, exposure or testing positive for COVID-19. 

Will I be told if I have been on campus with someone who tested COVID positive?

Students, faculty, and staff will be informed of any COVID-related exposures as required by CAL-OSHA and CDC guidelines. The names of individuals will remain anonymous, however.

Can I attend class remotely if I am not allowed on campus due to a COVID+ test or diagnosis?

All weekly classes and hybrid residencies must be attended in person. Both WSCUC and the California State Bar approved both programs based on the in-person component. Until February 14, 2022, we were able to operate remotely based on an emergency authorization by WSCUC, our accreditation agency recognized by the Department of Education. The emergency authorizations were not renewed.

Testing Protocols

Any student, faculty, or staff member who did not submit a proof of vaccination is required to submit a negative COVID test weekly for the campus program and before arriving on campus for the hybrid JD residencies. You must fill out the attestation form each week for those in the campus program and before each hybrid JD residency.

All faculty, students, and staff, regardless of vaccination status, may be required to submit a COVID negative PCR or antigen test as outlined in the FAQ.

October 8, 2021

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

Student COVID Vaccination Policy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Updated: September 30, 2021

Vaccination Requirement and Exemptions

When does the policy go into effect?
This policy takes effect immediately, with a deadline for submitting proof of vaccination or exemption request by:

• Proof of vaccination by November 7 for continuing students; October 15, 2021, for an exemption request;
• For new JD students enrolling for Spring 2022 and beyond, the deadline to comply is upon deposit and before one can register for their first semester courses.

Is this a one-time mandate or will I be required to get boosters or annual shots?
This is a permanent policy. COL anticipates that the CDC may update the definition of Fully Vaccinated once booster shots are available and, in order to continue to be classified as Fully Vaccinated, students may be required to obtain the booster shot and to provide proof of vaccination. Students will be notified of the deadline for compliance should additional information about boosters be made available.

Will this policy be amended?
This policy is subject to amendment, especially as the COVID-19 landscape continues to change and vaccination requirements continue to evolve. In the event that a federal, state or local governing public health agency imposes a requirement that conflicts with this policy, the applicable public health mandate shall govern and be implemented. Please refer to the Academic Catalog or Student Gateway for the most current version.

How can I get a vaccine?
Find a vaccination site near you.

Who will pay for the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone in the United States at no cost, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Vaccines were paid for with taxpayer dollars and will be given to all people living in the United States.

Exemptions

Are medical exemptions or disability or religious accommodations allowed?
Yes. Requests for an exemption based on a medical condition, disability or religious belief will be permitted. Students whose requests are granted will still be subject to additional safety measures. Forms to make these requests are available on the Student Gateway. 

I am pregnant. Will I be eligible for a medical exemption?
You may be eligible for a temporary medical exemption throughout your pregnancy. Students should complete and have their medical provider complete the Disability Accommodation Request form.  

Employees with approved exemptions will still need to follow the safety measures outlined in this document.

I was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, does this support a medical exemption?
You are eligible for a temporary medical exemption for up to 90 days after your diagnosis of COVID-19. Proof of a positive COVID-19 test result must be submitted to the secure portal on the Student Gateway. The 90-day exemption will begin from the test date marked on the test results.

What if I am not eligible for a vaccine?
All people ages 12 and older across the United States are now eligible to receive a vaccine.

If I have applied for or been granted an exemption, what additional safety measures will I be required to observe?
Students with an approved exemption will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. Test results should be submitted on Monday of every week with the test date marked as no more than 72 hours of having been completed an should be uploaded to the secure portal on the Student Gateway. For more information on testing centers near you, click here.

For those students who are fully remote and have an approved exemption, proof of a COVID-19 negative test result from a test taken no more than 72 hours before a COL campus is accessed and must be submitted at least 24 hours before physically accessing a COL campus. Masks will be required per COL Policy for anyone who is approved for an exemption.

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past three months and recovered, if they do not develop new symptoms, do not need to get tested. After the three months have passed and the student is not Fully Vaccinated, weekly testing will be required.

Additional safety measures may be deemed necessary, depending on the circumstances, by local public health, environmental health and safety, occupational health, or infection prevention authorities. In that case, a person who has received an approved exemption (or whose request is pending) will be informed of any additional requirements.

I received a medical or religious exemption, can I come to campus during the Fall 2021 semester?

Those with confirmed medical or religious exemptions can begin accessing campus in the Spring 2022 semester. The timeline allows for weekly testing protocols to be in place. All students and employees have the option to attend class to work remote until the end of 2021.

Proof of Vaccination

How do I upload my vaccine information and card?
New and continuing students should follow the upload link titled “Proof of Vaccination” on the Student Gateway.

I lost my vaccine card.
Contact the site where you received your vaccine. They may be able to provide you with proof of vaccination. You can also contact your state’s health department. Some states have registries that include adult vaccines.

I have two vaccine cards.
If you received separate vaccine cards for each dose of a multi-dose vaccine (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna), please upload a photo or scanned copy of the front of each card.

I made a mistake uploading my vaccination documentation (e.g. card photo).
If you made an error, you can update your record at any time. Follow the upload instructions to upload a different file.

Do I have to wait until I receive the final dose to upload my proof of vaccination?
Yes. If you only received the first dose of a multi-dose vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna), please wait until after you have received the final dose to complete this process.

How do I know if my proof of vaccination was accepted?
After you complete the upload process, it will take our team about one week to review your information. If there are any issues with your proof of vaccination, we will contact you by email. You do not need to check the status of your upload.  We will contact you if there is a concern.

How are you maintaining the security of my vaccine information?
Your vaccine information will be treated as confidential medical information and only limited individuals will have access to the information. The information will be maintained in accordance with all applicable laws and public health regulations.

How will vaccination data be used?
Vaccination data will be used to confirm compliance with this policy, track community vaccination rates, and to comply with federal, state, and/or local public health guidelines. The information will be maintained in accordance with all applicable laws and public health regulations.

How will I know if my fellow students are unvaccinated?
You won’t know. Because vaccination-related information is private and confidential, COL will not disclose the vaccine status of students except on a need-to-know basis.

Applicability to Students

Does this policy apply to COL MLS and Hybrid students?
Online Campus or remote students who are enrolled in programs that require residency, field experience, presence on campus or presence at any COL-sponsored event will be required to meet the vaccination requirement prior to attending those events. Failure to submit proof of vaccination will not serve as an excused absence.

If you have questions about whether this applies to you, please contact Rosalie Robles at [email protected]. 

Accountability and Violations

How will this policy be enforced?
Efforts will be made to encourage participation in the COVID-19 vaccination policy prior to the implementation date. Students who fail to comply or request an exemption on or before the implementation date will not be allowed on site and will experience consequences because of non-compliance, up to and including not being able to register for classes and dismissal.

Other Questions 

Do I have to be vaccinated to stay enrolled at Colleges of Law in the Fall 2021 semester?
No. You must submit proof of vaccine or obtain an exemption to be on campus during the Fall semester.

Do I have the option to stay remote in the Fall semester?
Yes. Faculty and students have the option to stay remote through the end of the Fall semester.

I am vaccinated. Does this mean that I will have classes on campus in the evenings?
It depends. If you are in the evening program and you have submitted proof of vaccine you are welcome to be on campus after September 20, but your faculty member may remain remote. Each faculty member will make an independent decision about whether he or she is comfortable teaching on campus in the Fall semester.

I am vaccinated. Does this mean I will have residencies on campus starting in October?
The October hybrid JD residency will be fully remote to allow us more time to adapt to a Hyflex residency for November. COL will not charge a Residency Fee this semester for hybrid JD students.

Do I still need to wear a mask on campus?
Yes. Both Ventura and Santa Barbara Public Health Departments require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. We adjust our policies to align with any local, state, or federal mandates.

When will I be able to access campus?
We will have any faculty comfortable teaching on campus do so starting on September 20 and students who have submitted proof of vaccine will be able to attend class that week on campus and take any midterms on campus.

What happens if someone who has been on campus tests COVID positive?
We will require anyone who tests COVID positive to inform the school so that we can conduct appropriate contact tracing. Any student who tests COVID positive must have a COVID negative test before returning to campus. If necessary or recommended by the public health department, we will have the cohort pivot to remote learning during the quarantine period.

When will we be required to return to campus?
We plan to return to in person in the Spring 2022 semester. We do not have regulatory authorization to continue teaching remotely after the Fall semester.

Will I need to be vaccinated to be enrolled in The Colleges of Law in the spring semester?
You will either need to submit proof of vaccination or seek a medical or religious exemption to remain enrolled in the program.

What if I don’t intend to get vaccinated for personal reasons?
We respect every person’s right to make that decision for him or herself. Because we have a responsibility to keep our community and campuses safe; however, you will not be able to remain enrolled in the program after the Fall semester nor, at this time, will a remote option be available.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions about the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement?
You can contact your Program Manager:

• Hybrid JD students: Rosalie Robles, Program Manager – [email protected]
• Onsite JD students: Christian Winnewisser, Program Manager – [email protected]

August 31, 2021 – Letter to Community

Dear COL Community,

This is our 35th Covid update since the first domestic cases were reported more than 18 months ago. Since then we’ve pivoted time and again to face the challenges posed by the global pandemic—the most recent being our decision to open the Fall semester remotely in response to the Delta variant. Our thanks to all for your flexibly, understanding, and support over these past weeks.

Today’s announcement is yet another significant policy update, one informed by new announcements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the latest guidance by public health experts, our Board of Trustees, and you, our community.

Announcing COL’s Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement for Campus Access

Effective September 20, 2021, COL will require proof of a Covid-19 vaccination for students, faculty, and staff accessing a COL campus location to work, attend classes, study, or attend a COL-sponsored event or meeting.

Details:

• Faculty and students will have the option to stay remote through the end of the Fall 2021 semester.
• Exemptions will be reviewed for medical and religious reasons.
• Vaccination documentation can be submitted through our secure portal on the Student Gateway and Faculty/Staff intranet:
  • Click here for students.
  • Click here for faculty and staff.
• The final deadline for JD students to submit vaccination information is November 7th. JD students who do not submit vaccination information or documentation for a medical or religious exemption will not be allowed to register for the next semester. December 1st is the final deadline for faculty and staff who are required to be on campus in Spring 2022.
• COL’s vaccination incentive program continues: community members (students, faculty, and staff) who show proof of a completed Covid vaccination will receive an Amazon gift certificate: $50 for students and $25 for faculty and staff. The program applies to all Covid vaccinations (J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer) regardless of when they were received.
• The COL policy of wearing masks on campus (regardless of vaccination status) remains in place.
• For the purposes of this policy, we are adopting the CDC definition of “vaccinated” as two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Janssen vaccine. We define “unvaccinated” as those who do not meet the CDC definition regardless of age.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine on August 23, 2021, for the prevention of Covid-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The Moderna and J&J vaccines are in review for full FDA approval and have met the FDA’s rigorous and scientific standards for emergency use authorization.

Updates on our Return to Campus and Flexible Plan for Fall

Our plan is to re-open the Santa Barbara and Ventura campuses on Monday, September 20, to those who are vaccinated. From there, we will continue the Fall 2021 semester with flexible options for our academic community.

Details: 

• A remote option will continue for all JD students this Fall, including those who are vaccinated.
• Faculty will be given the option to continue their course fully virtual or come to campus and teach both to those in-person and remote (often called “Hyflex”). The availability of Hyflex classes will be dependent on faculty preference and their comfort with the technology to teach with mixed modalities.
• Starting September 20, vaccinated JD students will have the option to engage in their program on campus regardless of whether the faculty member is present. 
• The October Hybrid JD residency will be fully remote to allow us more time to adapt to a Hyflex residency for November and December. COL will not charge a Residency Fee this semester for hybrid JD students.
• Our Hyflex option is made possible under a policy variance from WSCUC and the State Bar for remote learning. This variance is expected to be lifted at the end of this year; thus, we don’t anticipate having the same options for remote learning in Spring 2022.

Our flex plan is the result of numerous feedback loops with our community, including students, faculty, staff, trustees, and other stakeholders. Our goal is to use the rest of this semester as a transition period from 18 months of exclusive virtual delivery to fully being back on campus. The plan also allows us to put our new classroom technology to the test and evaluate its potential to further innovate our program delivery model.

Next Town Hall set for Thursday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m.

We will discuss these plans and policies, share new information, and answer your questions at our next town hall meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m. Click here to register.

Updated FAQ

We updated our FAQ page with more details on these plans and policies. Click here. More information will be added as it is confirmed.

In Closing

COL joins more than 800 colleges and universities who have adopted comparable vaccination policies; likewise, thousands of workplaces, with more announcing every day now that one vaccine has received full FDA approval. We join them with a shared commitment to your health and safety and a social responsibility to do our part to follow the science and act to put the pandemic behind us.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support to keep our community healthy.

Regards,
Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D. – President
Jackie Gardina, J.D. – Dean & Chief Academic Officer

August 31, 2021 – COL Fall 2021 FAQ Update

Do I have to be vaccinated to stay enrolled at Colleges of Law in the Fall 2021 semester?
No. You must submit proof of vaccine or obtain an exemption to be on campus during the Fall semester.

Do I have the option to stay remote in the Fall semester?
Yes. Faculty and students have the option to stay remote through the end of the Fall semester.

I am vaccinated. Does this mean that I will have classes on campus in the evenings?
It depends. If you are in the evening program and you have submitted proof of vaccine you are welcome to be on campus after September 20, but your faculty member may remain remote. Each faculty member will make an independent decision about whether he or she is comfortable teaching on campus in the Fall semester.

I am vaccinated. Does this mean I will have residencies on campus starting in October?
The October hybrid JD residency will be fully remote to allow us more time to adapt to a Hyflex residency for November. COL will not charge a Residency Fee this semester for hybrid JD students.

Do I still need to wear a mask on campus?
Yes. Both Ventura and Santa Barbara Public Health Departments require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. We adjust our policies to align with any local, state, or federal mandates.

When will I be able to access campus?
We will have any faculty comfortable teaching on campus do so starting on September 20 and students who have submitted proof of vaccine will be able to attend class that week on campus and take any midterms on campus.

How do I submit proof of vaccination or obtain a medical or religious exemption?
If you have not done so already, you can submit proof of vaccination using the secure portal on the Gateway. You must submit proof of vaccination before accessing the campus this Fall and no later than November 14 to register for the spring semester.

To obtain a medical exemption, please follow our ADA policy. We are currently working on a process for obtaining a religious exemption.

What happens if someone who has been on campus tests COVID positive?
We will require anyone who tests COVID positive to inform the school so that we can conduct appropriate contact tracing. Any student who tests COVID positive must have a COVID negative test before returning to campus. If necessary or recommended by the public health department, we will have the cohort pivot to remote learning during the quarantine period.

When will we be required to return to campus?
We plan to return to in person in the Spring 2022 semester. We do not have regulatory authorization to continue teaching remotely after the Fall semester.

Will I need to be vaccinated to be enrolled in the Colleges of Law in the spring semester?
You will either need to submit proof of vaccination or seek a medical or religious exemption to remain enrolled in the program.

What if I don’t intend to get vaccinated for personal reasons?
We respect every person’s right to make that decision for him or herself. Because we have a responsibility to keep our community and campuses safe; however, you will not be able to remain enrolled in the program after the Fall semester nor, at this time, will a remote option be available.

August 10, 2021

Dear COL Community,

Our thanks to all who attended yesterday’s virtual town hall.

Click here for a recording. (Access Password: COL1969!)

Topics we discussed:

• Plans to begin the Fall semester remotely due to the Covid delta surge
• Considerations and input that went into our decision making
• Factors that will inform returning to campus
• Plans to revisit our campus access policies, including vaccination and testing considerations
• Federal HEERF grants to eligible students enrolled during the Summer term
• Study abroad programs to The Hague and Mexico City postponed until 2022
• Ongoing importance of health and wellness; a reminder of ComPsych services for students, faculty, and staff

Visit our Covid information page for more updates. We’ll keep you updated as we have news to share.

As always, we are here should you have any questions or feedback.

August 6, 2021

To our Community,

For over 16 months our team has been diligently monitoring the latest developments with Covid. What began as a summer of progress for virus containment is now facing headwinds that grow stronger with each passing day. The delta variant continues to surge: cases up 119% over the past 14 days, new deaths up 74%. If current trends continue, we could be seeing cases peak just as we begin our Fall semester on Aug. 16.

Meanwhile, we announced our amended mask policy this week; and, as expected, received responses from concerned students and faculty about being on campus at this time. We acknowledge this feedback and took your comments into this week’s Re-open Task Force meeting.

We came out of the meeting with a new path for Fall, one that we hope will be embraced as a reasonable, hopefully short-term solution, as we ride out this latest storm.

Continuing Virtual Delivery into the Fall Semester

We announce the following updates to our Fall semester:

• The Colleges of Law will begin the Fall semester remotely for its onsite programs
• The September Hybrid JD residency will be delivered remotely
• Campuses access will remain by appointment until further notice

Unlike our previous remote plans that carried through an entire semester, we hope to be back on campus this semester. Factors that we’ll be looking at include falling Covid cases, higher vaccination rates, and the lifting of indoor mask mandates. We’ll also continue to consider feedback from our academic community.

We want to be back on campus because, as mentioned in previous updates, we know that strong, connected cohorts enhance student engagement, academic performance, and bar results. Virtual delivery can only go so far to recreate this experience. We look forward to a return to campus as soon as the circumstances permit it.

Town Hall on Aug. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.

We will discuss today’s news and share other updates at our town hall meeting set for Monday, August 9, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. The program will be recorded for those unable to attend. Click here to register.

Today’s announcement is the outcome of careful review of the latest developments with Covid and listening to our community, including students, trustees, faculty, and staff. We thank all for your input. Our commitment to providing an excellent legal education carries on this fall as we celebrate our 52nd academic year as an institution of higher learning. We look forward to you joining us on this journey and to the day we see each other again on campus.

August 4, 2021

To our Community,

We announced on Monday that our policies regarding masks on campus were under review in light of new developments with the Covid Delta variant. We pledged to share updates as they are confirmed. Here is the latest:

New On-Campus Mask Requirements

Effective immediately, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (regardless of vaccination status) are required to wear a mask while on the Santa Barbara and Ventura campuses.

Our amended policy aligns with a mandate issued yesterday (8/3) by the Santa Barbara Co. Public Health Department requiring masks in all publicly accessible spaces beginning this Friday (8/6) at 5 p.m. The Centers for Disease Control and California Department of Public Health also are recommending universal masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Masks will be available on campus for those who need them. Read the CDC guide to masks.

Town Hall set for Aug. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.

As announced on Monday, our first town hall (delivered on Zoom) of the 2021–2022 academic year is set for August 9 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. We will be available to answer questions about our policies in addition to sharing more information about the fall semester. The program will be recorded for those unable to attend. Click here to register.

Vaccination Incentive Program Continues

We at COL continue to encourage all to get vaccinated against Covid. Read more here. We announced a vaccination incentive program last month that continues through October. COL community members (students, faculty, and staff) who show proof of a completed Covid vaccination will receive an Amazon gift certificate: $50 for students and $25 for faculty and staff. The program applies to all Covid vaccinations (J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer) regardless of when they were received.

Click here to learn more about our incentive program.

We hope to see you at our town hall on Monday. In the meantime, we appreciate your resilience, understanding, and patience as we continue to navigate all that has come before us these past 16 months and onward. 

July 15, 2021 – Introducing a Vaccine Incentive Program

Dear COL Community,

As we do our part to combat the Covid pandemic, COL is pleased to announce a new vaccination incentive program made possible through a federal grant from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The Program:

COL community members (students, faculty, and staff) who show proof of a completed Covid vaccination will receive an Amazon gift certificate: $50 for students and $25 for faculty and staff. The program applies to all Covid vaccinations (J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer) regardless of when they were received.

How to Participate:

You can submit a copy of your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or digital documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider or other issuer.

We offer two options to document proof of vaccination:

• You can bring your documentation to campus on or after August 9. 
• Access our secure portal on the Student Gateway and Faculty/Staff intranet for you to digitally submit your documentation.
  • Click here for students.
  • Click here for faculty and staff.

If you do not have a copy of your vaccination record, you can request one. Learn more about requesting a copy of your vaccination record here. 

Timeline: The program runs through September with gift cards distributed in October.

Questions: Respond to this email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

More COL Covid Updates:

Because Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective at protecting people from becoming seriously ill, we are encouraging all of faculty, staff, students, and visitors to get vaccinated. We are fortunate that the vaccines are free and widely available.

Read our FAQ for more information as we prepare to re-open our campuses on Aug. 9. Read our policy on vaccinations and masks.

We thank you for your support and cooperation.

Regards,
Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D. – President
Jackie Gardina, J.D. – Dean & Chief Academic Officer

July 9, 2021

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

June 25, 2021 – COL Letter to Community

Dear COL Community,

Earlier this month we announced our plan to once again hold in-person JD classes and residencies for the Fall 2021 semester that begins on August 16 for onsite students and August 30 for hybrid JD and MLS students. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus!

In that same communication we pledged to provide updates on campus-access policies regarding masks, social distancing, and vaccinations after the California Dept. of Public Health and CA/OSHA updated their Covid safety guidelines for public spaces. These guidelines have since been released and have informed the following COL policies.

COL Policy Regarding Campus-Access

The purpose of our policy is to maintain a safe and healthy campus environment in a manner that aligns with all applicable national, state, and local guidelines, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and California/OSHA.

To access a COL campus to work, study, or attend class without a mask, COL will require proof of Covid-19 vaccination for all COL students, faculty, staff, and alumni beginning August 9, 2021.

Parties unable or unwilling to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccination will be required to wear a mask while on a COL campus. COL will provide a mask to individuals that don’t have one. Barring any changes to public health guidelines, COL will be running campus operations this Fall at full capacity with no social distancing provisions in place.

The full policy can be found here. We also updated our FAQ with more information, including how to submit proof of vaccination.

Summer Semester Town Hall, June 28

Join us on Monday, June 28, for our Summer semester town hall where we’ll discuss this policy and answer your questions. Click here to register.

Other Updates

New Campus Hours: Beginning Monday, August 9, COL will have new campus and administrative hours:

Ventura Campus: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday by appointment only
Santa Barbara Campus: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday by appointment only

New Student Grants: COL received a grant from the American Rescue Plan to be allocated directly to eligible COL students enrolled in campus-based courses disrupted by Covid. Funds will be distributed this summer.

In closing, COL stands united with local, domestic, and international government institutions and public health officials in strongly encouraging members of the public to get the Covid-19 vaccination. While we remain optimistic about Covid cases being in decline, should this change, we will be prepared to adjust our planning accordingly in alignment with local and public health guidelines. As always, we thank you for your ongoing cooperation, patience, and input. We look forward to seeing you once again in person. Until then be safe and be well.

Warm regards,

Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D. President

Jackie Gardina, J.D. Dean & Chief Academic Officer

June 25, 2021 – UPDATED FAQ

Over the last year, The Colleges of Law (COL) has made the health and safety of our community a priority. The staff, students, and faculty have worked together to make this possible. We are so pleased that the public health circumstances have improved sufficiently that we can now open our campuses. We need staff, faculty, and students to continue to work collaboratively to ensure a safe and healthy campus experience.  

Because Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective at protecting people from becoming seriously ill, we are encouraging all of faculty, staff, students, and visitors to get vaccinated. We are very fortunate that the vaccines are free and widely available.

When will the COL campuses be open to the COL community?

Our current plan is to open both the Ventura and Santa Barbara campuses for students, faculty, and staff on Monday, August 9, in time for the new onsite student orientation on August 10 and the first day of the onsite classes on Monday, August 16. COL community members will use their key card to access campus—to be provided to those yet to receive one.

Is COL mandating vaccines?

No, COL is not mandating vaccines. Instead, the school is requiring that all visitors, students, staff, and faculty offer proof of vaccine or wear a mask while on campus. COL will have masks available for anyone who forgets.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe and healthy campus environment during the Covid-19 global pandemic in a manner that aligns with all applicable national, state, and local guidelines, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and Cal/OSHA. 

How do I submit proof that I am vaccinated? 

You can submit a copy of your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or digital documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider or other issuer.

We offer two options to document proof of vaccination:

• You can bring your documentation to campus on or after August 9. 
• Access our secure portal on the Student Gateway and Faculty/Staff intranet for you to digitally submit your documentation.
  • Click here for students.
  • Click here for faculty and staff.

If you do not have a copy of your vaccination record, you can request one. Learn more about requesting a copy of your vaccination record here. 

What if I do not want to submit proof of vaccination? 

No one is required to submit proof of vaccination. But if you do not submit proof of vaccination then you will be required to wear a mask while you are on campus.   

Who must wear a mask while on campus? 

For the health and safety of our community, we will require that any individual who has not submitted proof of vaccination to wear a mask while on campus. While anyone is welcome to wear a mask while on campus, if you have submitted proof of vaccination you are not required to wear a mask.

What other safety protocols will be in place? 

We will ensure that all protocols required under the federal, state, and local guidelines are followed. COL has upgraded its facilities, including upgraded HVAC systems and touchless bathroom facilities. We have also increased the frequency of campus cleaning.

What happens if a student who has not submitted proof of vaccine fails to wear a mask? 

We hope that all students will work collaboratively to create a safe and healthy campus environment. If a student fails to wear a mask who is required to do so under this policy, however, the student may be asked to leave the campus. If it occurs during class, they may be counted as absent. After receiving the warning, if the student fails to comply a second time, the student may be told to leave campus and will be unenrolled from his/her courses and administratively withdrawn from the program. (Catalog 3.7-3.9) 

What if I am not comfortable returning to campus? 

Due to our accreditation requirements and how we have structured our programs, students are required to return to campus. In exceptional circumstances during the fall semester, we may be able to provide an accommodation through the ADA policy.  

I’m a JD student, what if I want to stay virtual for the rest of my program?

Our JD programs were designed to incorporate an in-person experience. We know that strong, connected cohorts enhance student engagement, academic performance, and bar results. Virtual delivery can only go so far to recreate this experience. Beyond these benefits, we are bound by our accreditors and school policy to deliver our programs as close to their original design as possible. Thus, we are unable to offer a virtual option carte blanche.

Will waivers be granted for students not able or willing to return to campus this fall?

As is standard practice, COL administration leads with policies documented in The Colleges of Law Academic Catalog and Student Handbook. Per the Catalog, our onsite JD program is currently designed and regulated to be delivered in-person three nights a week and our hybrid JD through a 70/30 percent combination of online delivery and weekend residencies (see Section 8.2 of the Catalog). With campus expected to re-open this fall, the default delivery for those programs will proceed as outlined in the catalog. Information about ADA accommodations and policy waivers can be found in the Catalog (see Section 1.5 and Section 3.14).

Will classes be recorded like they were on Zoom? 

No, and personal recordings of the classes are only permitted with an ADA Accommodation or by submitting a form. Please review the Audio and Video Recording policy. You can request permission to record your class by submitting this form.    

I’m a student, will there be an opportunity to visit the campus before August 9?

The campuses will remain closed to students as they have been since last year. However, like in terms past, the Student Services team will be reaching out to onsite students to gain interest in using the campus for Summer 2021 Final Examinations.

What is the plan for new student orientation?

The onsite JD program is planning an on-campus orientation on Tuesday, August 10, for new Ventura and Santa Barbara students and boot camp on Thursday, August 12. The hybrid J.D. orientation and boot camp will be virtual and held the weekend of August 21–22.

How have the campuses changed since COL was last open to the public?

You will see a difference when you return. We’ve made significant upgrades since March 2020 when the campuses were last open to the public. An overview:

Ventura:

• All classrooms outfitted with new technology, including drop-down screens, digital projectors, and audio
• New security system with key card access for all students, faculty, and staff
• Updated administration space and front-desk area
• Updated exterior lighting
• Updated interior design
• New HVAC units with improved air circulation
• Charging stations for those with EVs
• Resurfaced parking lot

Santa Barbara

• New classroom technology
• Refurbished interior space
• Updated front-desk area
• Updates to HVAC system for better temperature and air control
• Resurfaced parking lot

June 8, 2021

Dear COL Community,

Nearly 15 months have passed since COL last held class on campus. It is our goal to end that streak as soon as it is safe to do so. Given the progress being made every day to conquer Covid, and positive momentum to re-open California, we are pleased to report that COL is planning on holding in-person JD classes and residencies during the Fall 2021 semester.

As for our campus-access policies regarding masks, social distancing, and vaccinations, we will have more to share later this month. The California Department of Public Health is expected to update their Covid safety guidelines for public spaces in mid-June, guidelines and mandates that will inform our campus policies. In the meantime, we join the chorus of public health experts and higher education leaders in strongly encouraging that all to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Click here to learn more.

We recognize that many of you have questions about our re-open plans. We’ve started an FAQ to be updated as we have additional details to share. We also will be hosting a Summer semester town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 28, to share more about our plans, hear your feedback, and answer questions. Click here to register.

While we feel optimistic about Covid cases being in decline, should this change, we will do what we’ve always done, follow local and public health guidelines and update our plan accordingly.

As always, we thank you for your cooperation, patience, and input over these past months. We look forward to seeing you once again in person. Until then be safe and be well.

July 9, 2021

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

April 9, 2021

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

October 30, 2020

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for various expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

October 23, 2020

Dear COL Community,

Our thanks to all who attended yesterday’s virtual town hall. Your feedback is acknowledged and appreciated.

Click here for a recording. (Access Password: COL1969!)

Topics we discussed:

• Spring 2021: Courses will run on schedule with no alterations to our academic calendar. The Santa Barbara and Ventura students will begin their Spring courses on Jan. 4 with hybrid J.D. and MLS programs starting on Jan. 11.  Meanwhile, we submitted a request to WSCUC, our accreditor, to continue virtual delivery of course content into Spring. We have been advised to not announce our definitive plans until we hear back from them, which we expect will happen soon.
• Expanding Campus Access: Early returns from our most recent student survey shows interest in accessing campus for study space, to take midterm exams, and class time if we can do so safely. Our Re-open Task Force is reviewing student feedback to inform its plans with more updates to follow. 
• Additional CARES Act Student Stipends: COL received additional funds from the CARES Act that will be used for student stipends—we previously issued stipends in the summer. Financial aid eligibility and program modality will determine who qualifies for a stipend. We expect to begin rolling out this program in early November.

All for now. Please keep the feedback coming. It really makes a difference.

October 15, 2020

Dear COL Community,

We write with updates on our Covid-19 response planning. As it stands, both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are at the “Red” tier of California’s re-open plan, meaning more indoor spaces can open to the public as long as safety guidelines are observed, including a mandate of 25 percent occupant capacity. Progress for sure, although we know that Covid remains an unpredictable public health threat and that counties could face more restrictions should infection numbers move in the wrong direction.

So where do we go next? Our Re-open Task Force meets every week to take on this question. We look at the latest news from the state and county public health departments. We monitor the higher education landscape to compare our approach with others. And we track progress on updating our campus policies and protocols to align with the latest safety guidelines.

The question before us is the scope and timing of opening our campuses to more members of our community, including students. To that end, we seek your input. We circulated a survey to students in the early summer. Your feedback then was instrumental in informing our approach to Fall. We now have many new students, including our 1Ls, who can contribute. The purpose of our new survey will be to assess student interest in returning to campus, including for midterms and for study space, as long as safety protocols are observed.

Our outreach schedule:

• Onsite students (Ventura and Santa Barbara) will receive a survey this week
• Hybrid students will be canvassed at the next residency (Oct. 17–18)
• MLS students will receive an abridged survey focused on campus access

The more response we receive the more informed we’ll be with planning. We also will be canvassing faculty and staff on the topic. It should be noted that any decision regarding campus access, while informed by these data, will be dependent on public health guidelines and our ability to create a safe learning environment for our community.

We are planning our next town hall for 5:30p–6:20p on Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss feedback from the survey and provide more updates. Click here to register.

Until then, we welcome continued feedback on how we’re doing with delivering course content virtually. We thank you for your ongoing patience and positivity as we navigate this pandemic together.

October 9, 2020

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

July 21, 2020

Our thanks to all who attended yesterday’s virtual town hall. Your feedback is acknowledged and appreciated.

Click here for a recording. (Access Password: COL1969!)

Updates as we close out the week:

• All Fall campus-based classes and Hybrid J.D. residencies will be delivered virtually as we continue to do our part to contain the pandemic.
• We are waiving the Fall residency fee for Hybrid J.D. students.
• Waivers of all other transactional fees—payment plan fee, late payment fee, late registration fee, etc.—will continue through Fall.
• COL campuses remain closed to the public and student use. Any change to this status would be dependent on guidelines from Governor Newsom and county departments of public health.

We plan to host at least one more town hall before the beginning of the fall semester. Watch your email for updates. Until then, our best wishes for your health and safety.

July 14, 2020

Much has happened since our last update. While we continue to make substantive progress with plans to deliver a “HyFlex” (onsite and virtual) learning experience, we face the reality that coronavirus containment efforts are currently not moving in the right direction to ensure a safe opening of our campuses. Therefore, in light of this week’s announcement by Gov. Newsom, and in consultation with the Executive Committee of our Board of Trustees, we have decided to continue virtual delivery of all courses and residencies through the Fall 2020 semester. As a result, our Santa Barbara and Ventura campuses will remain closed to the public through at least the end of the calendar year.

Although the containment situation could change, we thought it was important to confirm our Fall plans with a least a month’s notice before the start of the semester (Aug. 17, 2020, for Santa Barbara and Ventura students and Aug. 31, 2020 for Hybrid J.D. and Master of Legal Studies students).

Looking to Spring

With plans set for Fall, the Colleges of Law Re-open Task Force continues to work on new onsite and virtual delivery options for students and faculty, including upgraded classroom technology and social-distancing protocols. We hope to introduce HyFlex in Spring 2021, although we recognize that our efforts are dependent on consent by state and local public health officials, along with acquiescence from WSCUC, our regional accreditor.

Next Town Hall set for July 16, 2020

We will host the next Town Hall on Thursday, July 16, 2020, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Click here to register.

On the agenda will be more information on the updates presented here, plus an opportunity for you to ask questions and share your thoughts. A recording of the program will be circulated on Friday, July 17 2020.

In closing, we acknowledge all who provided us with feedback to inform our Fall planning—including those with a strong desire to return to campus and those who were more comfortable keeping their distance. It was our hope to accommodate both. This decision means we join a growing number of higher education institutions opting to maintain virtual delivery as we all do our part to bend the Covid curve. We thank you for your understanding.

July 1, 2020

UPDATE: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

June 23, 2020

The following updates are regarding plans for the Fall 2020 semester.

First, our thanks to students who completed the re-open survey that was released earlier this month. The survey remains open. The more responses we receive the more informed our planning efforts. We’ve also gathered feedback from all faculty slated to teach this Fall.

While data are still being collected, we can report that survey respondents have expressed a desire to have campus access restored this Fall for classes, residencies, and study space—that is, if we can do so in a manner that is safe and aligned with best practices of social distancing.

Meanwhile, The Colleges of Law Re-open Task Force continues to meet every week and review the latest local and state guidelines, along with best practices across higher education, toward shaping our campus re-open policies and procedures.

Guided by these developments, here is where we stand at this time:

• Our campuses remain closed to the public, including students.
• Our campus re-open plan is ultimately dependent on clearance from state and local public health officials. Until then, our current status of campus closure and virtual delivery remains in place.
• The Fall semester will begin as scheduled: Aug. 17, 2020, for Santa Barbara and Ventura students and Aug. 31, 2020, for hybrid and MLS students. We are currently not planning to alter the Fall academic calendar, i.e., finishing early.
• Orientation programming for incoming students is currently being planned to be delivered remotely.
• For the onsite program, preparations continue to deliver a “HyFlex” model of instruction—both on-campus and virtual—for Fall with the following considerations:
  • The option to attend or teach a class on-campus or virtually.
  • The option for faculty to teach their entire class virtually.
  • Acknowledging best practices in social distancing, including proper spacing, limiting the number of students in the classroom, and PPE use.
  • Taking further advantage of education technology tools, including Canvas and Zoom, to provide a more enriched and engaging learning experience.
  • Further faculty training in the hybrid learning pedagogy.
  • Significant campus-technology upgrades are underway, including drop-down screens, digital projectors, and enhanced audio and microphone capabilities. The project is expected to be finished in early August.
• HyFlex planning also is underway for Hybrid J.D. program residencies this Fall.
• We received official word on June 19, 2020, that the State Bar of California extended its distance-learning waiver for fall, our official clearance to proceed with virtual delivery of course content.
• We will release our full Fall plan in July with more details. We are saving our next virtual town hall until then to review the plan and answer your questions.

We want to thank our community at large for your support and understanding as we continue to face this challenge together. As always, we are available to listen to your feedback and answer your questions.

June 10, 2020

The following update is specifically in regards to commencement. Informed by our community’s feedback, The Colleges of Law is planning for several events to honor the accomplishments of our graduates. None will be virtual. Instead, we wanted to take the time to do this right and create opportunities for graduates, family, and friends to gather in person and share in the celebration.

Our plan:

Individual Campus Celebrations:

Carrying on a tradition that began in 2017, we are organizing campus celebrations to be held at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Ventura campus. It’s here where we will take the class photos and open the floor for reflections from our students, faculty, alumni, and administration. We are targeting late summer/early fall, with further details dependent on local health and safety guidelines. We hope to confirm dates soon and will keep our community posted. Note that anyone who picked up their regalia in March should continue to hold onto it until further notice.

An Invitation to Join us at Commencement 2021 next Spring

Many in our community expressed a desire to still have a commencement ceremony and were willing to wait for when the time was right. It’s no surprise the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the entire events industry for 2020. As a result, given the uncertainties when large gatherings will again be allowed, we accepted a proposal by our venue of choice, the Hilton Beachfront Resort in Santa Barbara, to secure March 27, 2021, to stage the next Colleges of Law Commencement.

The move means that we will expand Commencement 2021 to acknowledge both your graduating class and the Class of ‘21. To make it work, our planning team secured more space for our post-event reception and more time for the Order of Exercises to accommodate both classes. SBA leadership for our rising 4Ls has endorsed the plan and welcome the opportunity to share the stage. We will provide more updates when they are available.

An Invitation to a Luncheon Hosted by the Alumni Council

Lastly, The Colleges of Law Alumni Council wishes to host luncheons in both Ventura and Santa Barbara to recognize your class and welcome you to The Colleges of Law alumni community. You will hear directly from Alumni Council Board leadership with specifics, including how to RSVP.

To our MLS graduates: We welcome you to all graduation functions. Note that we typically take your photo at commencement. We’ll be in touch with details.

Looking back on our survey, respondents ranked campus celebrations and a rescheduled commencement as the top two choices (they nearly tied) with luncheons coming in third. As you can see from our planning, instead of choosing one option, we went with all three. We hope you’ll find an opportunity to participate in one or all.

We are excited to see you again and wish you continued success in 2020 and onward.

May 21, 2020

As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law has received Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to be used for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to assist students with expenses related to the disruption of our campus operations. To learn more about the distribution of these funds, please click here.

May 21, 2020

Ten weeks ago today, The Colleges of Law closed its campuses to onsite instruction. And yet, our mission carries on. We completed the Spring semester on schedule, started the Summer term for MLS and J.D. hybrid students, and will welcome our Santa Barbara and Ventura students back to their courses next week. After observing a short hiatus with our community updates, we return with news on Summer, CARES grants for students, our plans for re-opening campus operations, a look ahead to Fall, and an invitation to our next town hall.

Virtual Summer Semester Planning Complete, Ventura and SB Students Return on May 26

After weeks of preparation, our plan to convert all Summer onsite classes and hybrid residencies to full virtual delivery is complete. The first Summer Hybrid residency takes place May 30–31 with Santa Barbara and Ventura students starting their classes on Tuesday, May 26 (COL is off on May 25 for Memorial Day).

We learned a lot during the last five weeks of the Spring semester. Guided by feedback from students and faculty, and our own observations, we endeavored to deliver a better student experience in Summer—one with more faculty/student engagement and taking further advantage of our learning technology.

CARES Grants for Students

COL was notified last month that it was awarded $27,158 under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to be directly dispersed to students in the form of Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Based on its review of Department of Education guidelines, COL administration established following award criteria:

Award Criteria for CARES Grants to Students:

1. Be actively enrolled at COL
2. Be eligible for Federal Financial Aid
3. Be enrolled in an onsite or hybrid program that saw its delivery disrupted due to Covid-19; we define “disrupted” as classes lost, classes rescheduled for virtual delivery, residencies delivered virtually.
4. Be willing to acknowledge that allocated funds will be used for expenses resulting from their education being disrupted; examples include technology equipment, internet costs, child care, and other costs related to maintaining engagement in their education.

Our funding formula in turn was tied to the scope of disrupted classes for the Spring semester, i.e., the more onsite seat time lost, the greater the grant. Given the number of eligible students, and the relatively small amount of Federal funds initially allocated to COL, initial grants will range between $91.44 to $171.45 per awardee. Eligible students will be notified via email of their grant amount and how to accept the award.

Our Progress with Re-Opening Santa Barbara and Ventura

As mentioned, COL campuses remain closed to the public with only minimal staffing in place for essential duties. We have a re-open task force in place to review the latest developments at the local, state, and federal level to guide our efforts to further open COL to the community. The group is actively working on policies and procedures around PPE and social distancing expectations, cleaning protocols, signage, and more. As is the case with other public-facing buildings, we likely will have a staged approach that may begin with accessing campus “by appointment” and then expanding. Watch for more updates as they become available.

Meanwhile, our efforts to maintain and upgrade the campuses continues. We’re happy to report that our project to install new lighting at the Ventura Campus is complete. Visitors to that campus also will see that the parking lot has been regraded, repaved, and restriped.

Looking to Fall

With Spring in the rearview mirror and Summer conversion complete, we look next to Fall. COL joins the higher education community at large in facing the question of how to best prepare for what’s ahead. Many of you likely heard about the California State University plan to go mostly virtual this fall, whereas much of the sector appears to be planning for some kind of campus operations. From our analysis, we see three emerging scenarios:

• Campuses fully open to students with few restrictions: We see this as very unlikely at this point.
• Campuses fully virtual: More the CSU approach; something we should be prepared for, although not our ideal state.
• Campuses open with significant physical distancing restrictions in place, or with meaningful numbers of students not physically on campus: Called the “HyFlex” approach, we see this as gaining traction across the sector and something we are actively exploring. Under HyFlex there will be options for attending sessions in the classroom and virtually.

Efforts continue to scope these scenarios while monitoring progress to contain the Covid outbreak. Our goal is to announce our intentions for Fall by the end of this month. Look for updates in the days ahead.

Next Town Hall Set for May 21 @ 5:30 p.m.

As you can see there is a lot of new information to discuss. To that end, we are scheduling a virtual town hall for this Thursday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m. Click here to register.

We hope to see you there and will record the session for those unable to attend. Of course, we’re always available to answer your questions or collect your feedback. Don’t hesitate to reach out via email or schedule an appointment.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we move toward hopefully a new phase of managing the Covid event, of preparing to open our doors instead of closing them.

April 27, 2020

Thank you to all who attended last week’s virtual town hall. Click here for a recording. (Access Password: COL1969!)

See below for some additional important reminders:

• All Summer campus-based classes and hybrid J.D. residencies will be delivered virtually as we continue to do our part to contain the COVID epidemic.
• We are actively working with Summer faculty to create engaging classroom experiences. Campus faculty are currently adjusting their syllabi to reflect the new modality (to be circulated in May).
• We are waiving all add/drop fees for Summer for those wishing to make a change to their class schedule. We will send details on when the drop add period will be open.
• We are waiving the Summer residency fee for our hybrid J.D. students.
• Waivers of all other transactional fees—payment plan fee, late payment fee, late registration fee, etc.—will continue through Summer.
• We plan to return to our usual grading and examination format for the Summer semester.
• COL campuses remain closed to the public and student use. Any change to this status would be dependent on guidelines from Gov. Newsom and county departments of public health.

Thank you for your continuous feedback and support as we carry on through this event one day, one week, one month at a time.

April 3, 2020

We wish to again express sincere appreciation to our academic community—from students to staff to faculty, trustees, and our colleagues across TCS Education System—for their collaborative work to keep our school moving forward.

Preparations for Summer Courses Proceeding on Schedule

As we enter the final month of Spring classes, we recognize curiosity persists about the Summer semester. On that we have two updates:

1. Summer courses will run on schedule with no alterations to our academic calendar (the hybrid J.D. and MLS programs start on May 4 with the Santa Barbara and Ventura students returning the last week of May).

2. No final decision has been made on modality, although we are exploring different options. Additionally, we await guidance from our state and regional accreditors on the matter. We pledge to keep you updated with more information expected to be available soon. In the meantime, special thanks to all students who met their deadlines for Summer registration. It really helps.

State Bar Acknowledges Pass/Fail Grading Policies

Since our town hall last week, we received confirmation from the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California that they acknowledge actions taken by California Accredited Law Schools to adopt a Pass/Fair grading option for courses in response to the pandemic crisis. We are fully in compliance with the CBE on the matter and pledge to keep you posted on further developments with our grading policies.

Updates to Academic Catalog Available for Review

As discussed in our communications and town halls, the COVID-19 emergency has called on us to amend select school policies and procedures, as authorized by the COL Academic Catalog, Section 1.4, Extraordinary Circumstances. A document describing these changes is posted on the home page of the Student Gateway, titled “Emergency Policy/Procedures Update.” More detailed information specific to final examination format and grading is found in the accompanying “Spring 2020 Exam and Grading FAQ.”

Updates to Program Fees

Due to the virus, the following student transactional fees are suspended for the Spring and Summer semesters.

• Admission Application Fee
• Payment Plan Application Fee
• Late Payment Fee
• Late Registration Fee

Federal Work Study Funds Available for Students in Need

COL has additional Federal Work Study funds available for those who qualify as eligible recipients of Title IV Financial Aid. The program is designed to help participating colleges and universities build capacity for operations while helping students earn money for school. To learn more, respond to this message or email Alexis Burdick at [email protected].

Introducing Zoom Accounts for All COL Students, Faculty, and Staff

COL is going Zoom! Soon all students, faculty, and staff will have Zoom as long as you use your collegesoflaw.edu account to sign-up for the service. Look for an email from TCS Education System IT for next steps on how to access your new account. We’ll have more updates at the next town hall.

A Charge to Practice Self-care

With this event expected to persist through the coming months, self-care will become more and more essential—especially with our mental health. Fortunately, COL is a close partner with other institutions of higher education that specialize in this critical area.

• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has started a blog with a special focus on how to cope with recent events. Topics include managing anxiety, working from home, and other tips for self-care.  Read it here.
• As reported last week, Saybrook University is running mindfulness moments every weekday at 9:15 a.m. PT. Participate by visiting: https://www.gotomeet.me/LuannFortune/mindfulness-meditation-moments or dialing 1 866 899 4679 | Access Code: 195-157-605. Past recorded mindfulness sessions can be found here here.
• Our friends at Pacific Oaks College, through its Center for Community and Social Impact, is producing programming around coping. Their first episode debuted this week on the topic of working from home and caring for kids.
• Of course, ComPsych remains available for personal support during this time. Reach them by calling 866-519-7419 or visiting this website.

Next Town Hall Set for April 9

Finally, we appreciate the positive response to our first two virtual town halls. Our next session is scheduled for 5:30p on Thursday, April 9.

Click here to register.

March 27, 2020

Sending a short update to close out the week.

Our thanks to the more than 70 community members joined us for last night’s virtual town hall.

Click here for a recording.

As expected, most of the forum was devoted to our updated policies on grading and final examinations. As promised, we prepared an FAQ on the topic, which can be found on the homepage of the Student Gateway.

This week also saw the completion of our first round of virtual classes for our Santa Barbara and Ventura campuses. Students can find recordings of those classes on the Gateway under the “My Courses” tab. Our thanks to all who made those possible, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

We’ll be back next week to continue our work to keep the Colleges of Law moving forward. We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback. Have a great weekend.

March 24, 2020

Over the past weeks our COVID-19 response plan has advanced on three fronts: First, to move our operations remotely as we do our part for public health; second, to convert all campus-based instruction to virtual delivery; and third, to monitor what’s happening externally, listen to our community internally, and make adjustments as needed to our policies and procedures.

Today’s update focuses on the third front: the disruptive effect the global pandemic is having on our communities, especially our students and their families. In response, COL administration, working in concert with our faculty, and informed by feedback from our students, has reevaluated the school’s approach to grading and examinations and offers the following updates.

Our J.D. Grading and Final Examination Plan for Spring 2020

Grading for J.D. Courses

• COL is adopting the Pass/Fail grading system outlined in section 10.1 of our Academic Catalog. 

Final Examinations for J.D. Courses

• COL is adopting an open-book, open-note format. Students with three courses will have 72 hours to complete their examinations, adjusted to 48 hours for those with two courses. Exams will be available starting on a specified date and time with students required to submit their work by a certain date and time. Section 11.1 (B) of our Catalog offers more insights into our take-home exam procedures with more details to follow.
• The exam format will consist of two essay questions for each subject and no multiple-choice questions. Page counts and character limits for each essay will be determined by faculty.

Both policies were vetted by the Academic Standards and Admission Committee (ASAC) of our faculty and reviewed by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Colleges of Law Board of Trustees. They were developed with three primary goals in mind:

• Support the students as they grapple with their and their families’ physical and mental health as well as financial security;
• Provide a path for the students to complete the semester; and
• Create a grading and exam format that is compassionate yet has integrity.

More Details to Follow, Town Hall Scheduled for March 26 @ 5:30p

To our J.D. students, check your email regularly for more information from Academic Affairs and Student Services on how we will advance these policies. We also are working on an FAQ to be circulated and posted on the Student Gateway by the end of this week.

Join our Next Virtual Town Hall

We will discuss our plans further at the next COL Community Town Hall scheduled for 5:30–6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.

Click here to register.

We invite all to bring your questions to the forum, which will be recorded for those unable to attend.

We close by acknowledging all who helped turn our virtual classroom plan for Santa Barbara and Ventura into reality. We launched it last night and are encouraged by the results thus far. Our synchronous classes continue tonight and for the next four weeks. We invite participants to share your experiences at the town hall, or through email.

Thank you again for your patience and support as we get through this event together—one day, one challenge, one success at a time.

March 20, 2020

We appreciate all who attended yesterday’s virtual town hall (click here for a recording). Participant feedback, especially students, was positive. We’re planning for another one next week. Details will be sent via email.

Today’s update covers news shared during the town hall, plus news made today by the Department of Education.

Campus Operations Updates
We closed our campuses and transitioned to remote operations on March 17, several days ahead of Gov. Newsom’s shelter-in-place order. Regarding the latter, it identifies “educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning,” as among the “essential businesses” in the state. While we will continue to be virtual, we have clearance to use the campuses as needed to advance our distance learning plan.

Other reported updates:

• Commencement 2020 postponed until further notice
• WSCUC site visit postponed until September
• Spring semester campus events are either postponed or moving to virtual delivery
• Our summer Asylum Advocacy course and study abroad to Mexico is cancelled

Virtual Delivery Updates
As mentioned in a previous update, COL’s hybrid J.D. virtual residency went well last weekend. Our thanks to all who played a role in its success.

We take another step forward on Monday when we start our Santa Barbara and Ventura classes virtually. To that end, our faculty training sessions are complete, and communication is underway to prepare students for what’s ahead. GoToMeeting will be our resource for synchronous classes with Canvas as our asynchronous platform.

Of course, our MLS courses are already delivered online and are proceeding without any reported issues.

Final Exams and Grading
We acknowledge that exams and grading as top of mind for our J.D. students.

Here’s what we can report to date:

• We are seeking guidance from the State Bar on their flexibility with establishing variances for grading policy and examinations
• We are reviewing Dept. of Education regulations, especially policy related to financial aid, and how we observe our policies for student academic progress
• We are observing the actions of other law schools, including our ABA counterparts, and are engaged with other CA Accredited Law Schools on the matter
• We are receiving feedback directly from students; likewise, listened to comments during the town hall. You can send more feedback in response to this communication or email the Dean’s Office direct ([email protected])

These inputs will inform discussions at a special session of our Academic Standards and Admissions Committee scheduled for Monday, March 23. Their recommendations will then go before the full faculty with notification to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. Such attention to process will be important, especially for our regulators, as we consider any changes to our established policies and procedures.

We pledge to have an update on exams and grading by next Thursday, March 26.

Student Services Updates
Our student services team are actively calling students to check in and support their needs. Meanwhile, another reminder that ComPsych is available to you 24-hours per day, seven days per week if you would like personal support during this time, including counseling services. You can reach them by calling 866-519-7419 or visiting their website.

Registration for the Summer 2020 semester is proceeding as scheduled. Hybrid J.D. registration is already underway with Santa Barbara and Ventura J.D. registration to begin on March 25.

Department of Education Updates
Finally, we have updates to share from the Department of Education. It was announced on March 20 that “all borrowers with federally held student loans will automatically have their interest rates set to 0% for a period of at least 60 days. In addition, each of these borrowers will have the option to suspend their payments for at least two months to allow them greater flexibility during the national emergency. This will allow borrowers to temporarily stop their payments without worrying about accruing interest.” Read more here.

Thank you again for your patience and support as we face this challenging episode together. As always let us know if you have any questions or feedback on how we’re doing.

March 18, 2020

To our Community,

Sending a quick update on our continuity plans and to invite you to a virtual town hall.

First, on our virtual classroom plan, all is proceeding on schedule to go full remote on Monday, March 23. Our IT platforms are ready, faculty are being trained, and communication is going out to our Santa Barbara and Ventura J.D. students. Special thanks to our faculty and operations teams for their amazing work to make this happen.

Virtual Town Hall

Our thanks to all who have offered feedback on our efforts thus far. Your input really makes a difference. We would value hearing from more of you. To that end, we’re hosting a virtual town hall tomorrow, March 19, from 5:30–6:30p.

Click here to register.

The forum will provide us an opportunity to deliver more updates, including what we’re hearing from the Department of Education. Above all, we’ll have the privilege of hearing from you. We pledge to circulate a recap of the forum for those unable to attend. Of course, we’re always available to answer your questions via email ([email protected]; [email protected]).

Our thanks for your continued patience and positivity throughout this episode. We recognize that law school calls for immense focus and determination on its own, a reality that is compounded by recent events. We’ll get through this together.

March 17, 2020