About Accreditation

Accreditation Types

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. 

• Institutional Accreditation

  • Accreditation's quality assurance function is one of the three main elements of oversight governing the Higher Education Act's (HEA's) federal student aid programs. In order for students to receive federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education for postsecondary study, the institution must be accredited by a "nationally recognized" accrediting agency. SJSU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

    WSCUC is an institutional accrediting agency serving a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific as well as a limited number of institutions outside the U.S. At SJSU, the Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) is representative of the entire SJSU community and oversees our accreditation. 

    On September 6, 2021, SJSU submitted it's Institutional Self-Study Report 2021-2022 [pdf]. In July 2022, the WSCUC Commission reaffirmed SJSU’s accreditation for six years as summarized in its findings in the July 2022 letter [pdf]. Review the process for reaffirmation of accreditation and SJSU's institutional accreditation history.

    SJSU is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A national advocate and institutional voice for academic quality through accreditation, CHEA is a U.S. association of degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations. CHEA is the only national organization focused exclusively on higher education accreditation and quality assurance.

• Specialized or Programmatic Accreditation

  • Several programs are accredited by specialty organizations. A specialized accreditation, also known as a programmatic accreditation, will award membership to programs and departments within a specific field of study. Rather than accredited the entire institution, only departments and programs that fall within the scope of the field will be considered.

Campus Contacts

Email: accreditation@sjsu.edu

Pamela Richardson

Chair of the Accreditation Review Committee
408-924-2900
pamela.richardson@sjsu.edu

Sarah Schraeder

Research Associate and Program Coordinator
408-924-1521
sarah.schraeder@sjsu.edu

Accreditation Review Committee (ARC)

Accreditation is a campus-wide responsibility and a permanent accreditation review committee (ARC) coordinates the review processes. ARC is charged with fostering campus engagement in re-accreditation activities, encouraging continuous improvement focused on student learning, and leading the campus in preparing for accreditation review.