Institutional Accreditation

San José State University was first granted institutional accreditation in 1949 and has had continued reaffirmations, with the most recent reaffirmation of accreditation having occurred in 2022.

• Accreditation Timeline

  • 1857: San José State is founded as a Normal School and becomes the first institution of public higher education in the state

    1935: Renamed San José State College

    1949: SJSU accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC)

    1960: The individual California State Colleges were brought together as a system by the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960

    1972: The system becomes California State University and Colleges

    1974: Renamed San José State University

    1982: The system becomes the California State University (CSU)

    2012: First joint doctoral program with California State University, Fresno - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

    2015: WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Visit - reaffirmation of accreditation for 7 years

    2017: WSCUC Special Visit

    2021: Submitted institutional self-study to WSCUC in September and Offsite review in November

    2022: WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Visit - reaffirmation for 6 years

    2025: WSCUC Special Visit 

    2027: Submit institutional self-study to WSCUC in September and Offsite review in November

    2028: WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Visit

• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) 2023 Standards

  • The Standards of Accreditation define the foundational values and board principles that institutions must adhere to in order to achieve and maintain accreditation.

    By affirming these Standards and taking ownership of the accreditation process, institutions create learning environments that continuously strive for educational excellence and operational effectiveness in order to serve students, stakeholders, and general public.

    Defining Institutional Mission and Acting with Integrity

    The institution defines its mission and establishes educational and student success objectives aligned with that mission. The institution has a clear sense of its essential values, culture, and distinctive elements, and its contributions to society and the public good. It promotes the success of all students and makes explicit its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution functions with integrity and transparency.

    Acheiving Education Objectives and Student Success

    The institution achieves its educational and student success objectives through the core functions of teaching and learning, and through support for student learning, scholarship, and creative activity. It promotes the success of all students and makes explicit its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution demonstrates that core functions are performed effectively by evaluating valid and reliable evidence of learning.

    Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures

    The institution achieves its educational and student success objectives through investments in human, physical, fiscal, technology, and information resources within appropriate organizational and decision-making structures, and consistent with its explicit commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    Creating an Institution Committed to Quality Assurance and Improvement

    The institution engages in sustained, evidence-based, and participatory reflection about how effectively it is accomplishing its mission, achieving its educational and student success objectives, and realizing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The institution envisions its future in light of the changing environment of higher education. These activities inform both institutional planning and systematic evaluations of educational effectiveness.

Previous Reviews

Institutional Review 2021-2022

• Institutional Self Study Report - September 2021 [pdf]
• Institutional Self Study Report 2021 Appendices
• WSCUC Review Team Final Report - May 2022 [pdf]
• SJSU Response to WSCUC Team Report - June 2022 [pdf]
• WSCUC Commission Action Letter - July 2022 [pdf]
• Interim SJSU President Perez Campus Message - July 2022

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  Institutional Special Visit 2017

• Institutional Special Visit Report - 2017 [pdf]
• Institutional Special Visit 2017 Appendices
• WSCUC Special Visit Report - September 2017 [pdf]
• WSCUC Special Visit Review Team Exit Presentation [Video]
  
• WSCUC Special Visit Action Letter - March 2018 [pdf]

Institutional Review 2014-2015

• Institutional Self Study - August 2014 [pdf]
• • SJSU's Lines of Inquiry Responses per the Off-Site Review - Fall 2014
    • Component 1: Institutional Review [pdf]
    • Component 2: Compliance with Standards [pdf]
    • Component 3: Meaning, Quality and Integrity [pdf]
    • Component 4: Core Competencies [pdf]
    • Component 5: Student Success [pdf]
    • Component 6: Program Review [pdf]
    • Component 7: Sustainability and Finances [pdf]
• Institutional Self Study Report 2014 Appendices
• WSCUC Review Team Final Report - May 2015 [pdf]
• WSCUC Commission Action Letter - July 2015 [pdf]