Shortly after enrollment, students are provided with login information which allows them to access the electronic course syllabi, a list of required and recommended course materials as well as the official Student Handbook for the Program.

First year students may commence formal study on the first Monday of January, April July, or September. (In 2007, there will also be a November study commencement date for first year students.) Second and third year students may commence study on the first Monday of October or April.

Each academic year consists of 44 or 45 weekly lesson assignments plus a three or four week review period. At least one final examination must be completed after the last day of the 48th week and all final exams must be complete by the last day of the 52nd week. The majority of these assignments contain research/ writing projects or quizzes which are submitted electronically and evaluated by faculty. Students also benefit from examinations throughout the academic year.

Elective courses are generally six weeks in length and may, at the option of the student, be completed between academic years.

Our faculty believe that regular and substantive interaction with students is an important element of the learning process. Therefore, through electronic message boards, electronic mail or by telephonic means, faculty is regularly available throughout the academic year. The learning modality also allows, but does not require, students to communicate directly with each other.

The Program also offers optional real-time Electronic Classroom sessions. However, all required assignments are completed asynchronously. (Students are not required to login at a specific time.)

The Program utilizes materials available at virtually every elite law school in the United States. In addition to casebooks, of equal importance are treatises, outlines, audio lectures recorded by some of the most prestigious law professors in the United States, and other study aids. Simple “busy work” found in many programs is eliminated. Students, with the advice of faculty, are encouraged to emphasize the study methods he or she find most beneficial.

Certain assignments require the use of the LEXIS^® online library. (Students have access to the LEXIS^® through the Internet with no hourly usage charges.) This library, which includes online tutorials, can be accessed through a personal computer from any location that has Internet access. The service contains major archives of United States federal and state case law, continuously updated statutes of all 50 states, state and federal regulations, administrative rulings, law review articles, and numerous other legal resources.

As a general rule, the final examination represents approximately 20% of a course grade. The midterm examination and electronic assignments make up the other 80%.

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The Juris Doctor - Executive Track Program

Financial Information

The tuition for the Juris Doctor–Executive Track Program is $250 per unit ($6,000.00 for year one, $5,750.00 to $6,750.00 for year two, and $6,000.00 to $7,000.00 for year three). Tuition rates are “locked” for thirty six months at the time of matriculation. An enrolled student will be protected from future tuition increases during this period of time. Additional information on financial aid and tuition financing can be found under Tuition, Financial Aid and Financing.

Fee Schedule
Application Fee	None
Transfer Student Evaluation Fee	$55.00
Registration Fee	None
Library Fee	$75.00
Enrollment Commitment Fee (Applies Only to Matriculating Students)	$100.00
Non-Resident Surcharge (Applies Only to Students Residing Outside of the United States)	$250.00
Administrative Accounting Fee (Applicable to Installment Payment Plans Only)	$  50.00
Withdrawal Processing Fee (Applicable to Withdrawing Students Only)	$  100.00
Returned Check Fee	$  25.00
Transcript Fee (Two Provided at No Charge)	$    7.50
Graduation/Diploma Fee	$  75.00

The cost of required books and materials, other than each course syllabus, is not included in the tuition. The current average annual costs for required materials is approximately $475.00 (somewhat more in the first year). Most books and materials may be purchased through any legal book store. However, students will always be provided with mail and/or online sources for obtaining any required materials. The University does not sell books or study aids.

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The Juris Doctor - Executive Track Program

How to Enroll

To apply for admission to the Juris Doctor-Executive Track Program, an applicant must first complete the University’s Application for Admission form and submit it to the Admissions Office. There is no application fee. Applicants seeking transfer credit for courses completed at other law schools must also provide, via mail, a transcript documenting all prior law study and a check in the amount of $55.00.

It is not necessary to submit official transcripts at the time of application. (However, official transcripts must be received by the University within 45 days of enrollment. The University provides students with a form which may be used for this purpose.)

If the applicant is accepted for admission to the Program, an enrollment commitment form will be prepared and sent to the applicant. At the time the commitment material and the $100.00 commitment fee is received by the Admissions Office, a formal enrollment agreement will be prepared and sent to the applicant for review and signature. All payments submitted for tuition and fees must be payable in U.S. dollars. Payments may be made by major credit cards (MasterCard^® /Visa^® /American Express^® ) and or personal/ business check.

1. Q. What books and other materials are utilized in the Program?
   A. In the field of law, there are literally dozens of textbooks on any given subject. The books and other resource materials used in the Program were selected by the faculty to give our students a direct black letter approach to learning the law. These materials are published by the leading legal book publishers and are available at most ABA law school bookstores and other legal book outlets including many Internet sources.
   
   
2. Q. Does Taft University use the “case method” of study in the Program?
   A. The case method, also known as the Socratic method, is not emphasized in the JDET Program. Students are required to read and sometimes prepare briefs on cases. But case briefs are not the focus of courses in this Program. The courses emphasize direct sources of the law such as treatises and outlines supported by computer access to legal databases. This gives the student a clear explanation of the law and an almost instantaneous ability to explore, online, the latest developments in a given subject.
   
   
3. Q. How are grades and final examinations handled?
   A. Grades for the JDET courses are primarily based upon research/writing projects prepared and submitted by students. Eighty percent of a student’s grade is based on these open book assignments. The final examination for the course constitutes the other twenty percent. Certain final examinations are closed book and must be proctored.
   
   
4. Q. What type of preparation is advisable for the study of law?
   A. Successful law students have come from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. Consequently, the University does not prescribe a specific course of study or employment experience for admission. Any person who has the ability to learn, is well motivated, has reasonable writing skills, and possesses a logical mind has the basic tools necessary to become a successful Taft University student.
   
   
5. Q. Can the Juris Doctor-Executive Track Program be completed in less than three academic years?
   A. No, the minimum completion time is three years.
   
   
   
6. Q. Can a student take more than 3 years to complete the Juris Doctor-Executive Track Program?
   A. Yes. A student may take a leave of absence between academic years. However, once study has commenced, the academic year (period) must be completed in not less than 48 nor more than 52 weeks unless special authorization is obtained from the University. All degree requirements must be satisfied within seven years from the date of original enrollment.
   
   
7. Q. If I enroll in the Juris Doctor-Executive Track Program can I later transfer to the Juris Doctor-Attorney Track Program at a later date?
   A. No, students cannot enroll (or re-enroll) in the Juris Doctor-Attorney Track Program after commencing study in the JDET Program. Accordingly, students must carefully evaluate their long-term objectives before enrolling in the Juris Doctor-Executive Track Program. Students in good standing enrolled in the JDAT Program can transfer to the JDET Program at any time before beginning their fourth year of study.
   
   
8. Q. What financial aid is available?
   A. Special grants-in-aid are available to outstanding prospects such as graduate degree holders and certain members of professional groups such as CPA’s and law enforcement personnel. These grants-in-aid are generally equal to 10% of the tuition. In addition, SLM Financial Corporation (a division of Sallie Mae) and Wells Fargo Bank offer qualified students loan programs to finance 100% of tuition and recommended books and materials. The University also offers a no-interest financing alternative which permits students to pay approximately 30% of tuition at the time of enrollment and the balance over a 12 month period.
   
   
9. Q. Does the University participate in tuition assistance for military personnel?
   A. Yes. The University participates in the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Program. The DANTES Program provides tuition assistance to members of the military.
   
   
10. Q. How soon can I get started?
    A. First year students may commence formal study on the first Monday of January, April July, or September. (In 2007, there will also be a November study commencement date for first year students.) Second and third year students may commence study on the first Monday of October or April.To allow sufficient time to obtain books and materials and initiate the login process, all enrollments must be finalized at least five business days before formal study can commence. An enrollment can be finalized only upon the receipt by the University of a properly executed Enrollment Agreement.

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