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FEATURE STORY
A New Era of Legal Innovation
For more than 50 years, The Colleges of Law has been an innovator in the legal education space. Many significant milestones have been reached in that time, including the first commencement in 1973, the Ventura and Santa Barbara campuses coming together in the late ‘70s, State Bar accreditation, TCS Education System affiliation, WSCUC accreditation, and the development of new programs like the Hybrid J.D.
This year a new, exciting milestone was reached—the launch of a new brand identity and logo. The Colleges of Law is streamlining its many naming conventions (Ventura College of Law, Santa Barbara College of Law, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law) into one: The Colleges of Law. This name change will foster continued innovation and allow for broader
The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law Board of Trustees Elects New Members
Judge Von Deroian, Dr. Julius Sokenu, and Attorney Lori Trofemuk Join Governing Board of Region’s Leading Law School Focused on Access, Opportunity, and Affordability
SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA – Judge Von Deroian, Dr. Julius Sokenu, and Attorney Lori Trofemuk, and are the newest members of The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) Board of Trustees. All three were elected unanimously this fall to serve as fiduciaries for the region’s oldest and largest independent law school.
Judge Von Deroian (JD ’06) joins a distinguished pedigree of officers of the court elected to the Board, including Judges Colleen Toy White (JD ’77), Michele Castillo, Manuel Covarrubias, Frank Ochoa, Rebecca Riley (JD ’84), and David Long (JD ’83). She is currently the criminal supervising judge and
California Supreme Court appoints Dean Jackie Gardina to committee on California Bar Exam
Gardina, who has helped propel The Colleges of Law’s mission to make legal education more accessible, will sit on the committee to consider changes to the state exam.
Jackie Gardina, dean and chief academic officer at The Colleges of Law, has been appointed to the Supreme Court of California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of the California Bar Exam. Gardina, who is currently the chair of the Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools, will serve on the commission’s California Attorney Practice Analysis Working Group.
The 19-person commission will recommend “whether to adopt alternative or additional testing or tools to ensure minimum competence to practice law.” This area of discussion has gained urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Bar Exam was administered
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) Reaffirms The Colleges of Law’s Regional Accreditation for Eight More Years
SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA, Calif., December 3 -- The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) received reaffirmed accreditation for a period of eight years from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The announcement marks the culmination of a five-year endeavor to show ongoing alignment with WSCUC’s standards of accreditation focused on institutional quality, sustainability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“It’s a great achievement,” said COL President Matthew Nehmer. “Because of our work with WSCUC, The Colleges of Law is stronger and more prepared to help our students achieve success and advance our mission onward. We are thrilled by the outcome.”
WSCUC is an accreditation agency for higher education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Among its duties is to
The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law board of trustees elects three new members
Three distinguished leaders—Art Hernandez, Charlita Shelton, and Casey Summar—join governing board of the Central Coast’s leading law school focused on access, opportunity, and affordability
SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA – Arturo “Art” Hernandez, Charlita Shelton, and Casey Summar are the newest members of The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) board of trustees, the governance body that oversees the region’s oldest and largest independent law school.
Art Hernandez brings to COL extensive experience in education governance. He served on the board of the Rio Elementary School District followed by the Oxnard Union High School District, where he helped supervise an enrollment of more than 16,000 students across five high schools. Thereafter, Hernandez was elected to the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) board of
