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

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 pursues excellence and promotes success for all students. The institution clearly defines its essential values, culture, distinctive elements, and contributions to society and the public good. The institution functions with integrity and transparency.

Acheiving Education Objectives and Student Success

The institution achieves its objectives for educational effectiveness and success for all students through the core functions of teaching and learning, removal of barriers to student success, and support for student learning, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution demonstrates that core functions are student-centered and performed effectively by evaluating valid and reliable evidence of learning and other outcomes.

Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures

The institution achieves its objectives for educational effectiveness and success for all students through allocation of human, physical, fiscal, technology, and information resources within appropriate organizational and decision-making structures and consistent with its stated mission and objectives.

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 and achieving its objectives for educational effectiveness and success for all students. 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.