About Accreditation

SJSU was first accredited in 1949. Since that time, reviews for re-accreditation have occured at least once every 10 years. The most recent review period began when the campus submitted its institutional proposal in 2002.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits institutions, not individual programs. Therefore, in addition to assessing the academic quality and educational effectiveness of institutions, the Commission emphasizes institutional structures, processes, and resources. Following acceptance of an institutional proposal framing the review, SJSU prepares for two separate visits from WASC. The first is referred to as the Preparatory Review and the second is the Educational Effectiveness Review.

Timeline

SJSU submitted its institutional proposal to WASC in July of 2002. A steering committee, utilizing campus input from an initial forum in the spring of 03, then developed processes to engage the many constituents affiliated with the campus in the review. The preparatory review report was sent July 1 2004. The WASC team subsequently made its preparatory review visit to SJSU on October 13, 14th & 15th. Subsequently, the WASC commission requested a special visit which took place March 1,2,3 of 2006. The educational effectiveness review report was submitted December of 2006. The WASC team made its educational effectiveness review visit to SJSU March 7, 8, 9 of 2007.

Core Principles and Standards

The accrediation process has changed considerably since SJSU's previous review. To its credit, WASC, following an extensive period of reflection and discussion with the many institutions it accredits, has developed a focused review process. This new approach provides institutions with the flexibility needed to make the review one that facilitates the growth and development of the institution along its own unique path.

WASC reviews institutions with respect to their committment to core principles called Institutional Capacity and Educational Effectiveness. To become and remain accredited,each institution is expected to demonstrate that it is committed to developing and sustaining Institutional Capacity and Educational Effectiveness. With respect to Institutional Capacity, WASC expects an institution to function with clear purposes,high levels of institutional integrity,fiscal stability, and organizational structures to fulfill its purposes. With respect to Educational Effectiveness, WASC looks for evidence of clear and appropriate educational objectives and design at the institutional and program level. WASC also expects institutions to employ processes of review, including the collection and use of data, that assure delivery of programs and learner accomplishments at a level of performance appropriate for the degree or certificate awarded.

At each review (preparatory/capacity & educational effectiveness) institutions need to present information that conveys to WASC the extent to which they have met each of four standards articulated by WASC.

• Standard 1. Defining Institutional Purposes and Ensuring Educational Objectives.
• Standard 2. Achieving Educational Objectives Through Core Functions
• Standard 3. Developing and Applying Resources and Organizational Structures to Ensure Sustainability.
• Standard 4. Creating an Organization Committed to Learning and Improvement.

WASC Accreditation Handbook
Extensive documentation of the accreditation process.

WASC Evidence Guide
A Guide to Using Evidence in the Accreditation Process: A Resource to Support Institutions and Evaluation Teams is the first of a series of resource materials designed to support institutions and teams in the implementation of the new accreditation process developed over the past several years.

• back

contact us | campus map

San José State University - Home of the Spartans
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192 - 408.924.1000