The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law Receives Initial Accreditation from Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The 45-year-old institution adds another credential to long-time state accreditation by Committee of Bar Examiners.

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Mar 30, 2015, 07:30 ET

SANTA BARBARA and VENTURA, Calif., March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) is pleased to announce it has been granted initial accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). COL is already accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California and graduates of the J.D. program are eligible to take the state bar exam.

"We are proud to have achieved institutional accreditation that affirms the quality of the education we have been providing to law students for 45 years," said COL President Dr. Charles McClintock.

WSCUC is a regional accrediting agency serving a diverse membership of public and private colleges and universities. Through its work of peer review, the WSCUC accreditation process included rigorous reporting and multiple site visits to confirm that COL has the resources, policies, and best practices in place to meet high academic standards and achieve its educational goals.

"WSCUC accreditation is a testament to our commitment to offer the very best affordable and accessible legal education to residents of our area," added Dr. McClintock.

With Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) programs that combine quality, convenience, affordability, and real-world practicality, the nonprofit COL has provided students a strong foundation in legal education since 1969. In 2010, COL joined TCS Education System (TCS Ed System), a nonprofit higher education consortium dedicated to creating educational experiences that change the way students learn, educating them to apply their skills to bring about lasting social change.

Dr. Eileen Heveron, TCS Ed System's Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Information Technology, said this new accreditation reflects the high standards of quality and effectiveness displayed by COL since its inception.

"WSCUC accreditation is meant to promote the active exchange of ideas among public and independent institutions that further the principles of improved institutional performance, educational effectiveness, and the process of peer review," Dr. Heveron added. "This deep institutional engagement will help solidify COL's position in the California law school landscape. It is a tremendous achievement."

About The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law was founded in 1969 with a clear mission in mind—to prepare leaders, for law and law-related professions, through graduate-level legal education that emphasizes academic excellence and accessibility. With Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) programs that combine quality, convenience, affordability, and real-world practicality, graduates from the nonprofit Colleges of Law have found successful careers as judges, commissioners, or attorneys in both public and private practice. COL is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In 2010, the law school became an affiliate partner of TCS Education System, a Chicago-based consortium of nonprofit higher education institutions devoted to graduating "change agents" in professional fields of psychology and behavioral sciences, education and human development, law and legal studies, nursing and health sciences, and organizational development.

About TCS Education System:

TCS Education System (TCS Ed) was founded in 2009 as a nonprofit organization with a mission of preparing innovative, engaged, purposeful agents of change who serve our global community. TCS Ed features a community of specialized institutions, which are backed by a model of education that prepares socially responsible, culturally competent professionals in applied fields such as psychology and behavioral sciences, education and human development, law and legal studies, nursing and health care, and organizational development.

TCS Ed's community of institutions—The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College & Children's School, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Dallas Nursing Institute, and Saybrook University—each offer scholarship, training, and service opportunities directed to a specific career path while providing a transformative educational experience. For more information, visit www.tcsedsystem.edu.

SOURCE TCS Education System