Spartan East Side Promise

What is the Spartan East Side Promise (SESP) Program?

The Spartan East Side Promise is a San José State University program that supports East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) students from exploring college to graduation. Launched in 2016, it guarantees admission for qualified graduates from participating high schools and helps students and families understand requirements and resources for success. SESP has expanded within Student Outreach and Recruitment (SOAR) to provide programs that ease the transition to SJSU, build connections, and promote academic, personal, and professional growth.

How It Works

1. High school students from an SESP eligible school apply at calstate.edu/apply starting October 1st of senior year. First-time, first-year (FTFY) applicants must first meet the CSU eligibility requirements for admission and apply by the application deadline.
2. Applicants are then reviewed for provisional admission through SJSU's admission selection process, called impaction. Students must meet the eligibility index (EI) score for the major they applied to in order to be offered provisional admission.
   • If an eligible student does not meet the EI for their intended major, the Spartan East Side Promise guarantees an offer of provisional admission to Undeclared for qualified ESUHSD applicants with a 2.75 GPA or higher only if:
     • The eligibility index score for their applied major is not met, 
     • A-G courses are completed with a C- or better, and
     • All deadlines are met
       Note: The 2.75 GPA is calculated using only 10th - 11th grade A-G high school courses to determine eligibility for provisional admission. Review our impaction page for more information on the eligibility index score formula, and our local preference for Santa Clara County high school graduates.
3. Students will be notified of their provisional admission offer through their MySJSU account December - March of senior year. Students will have until May 1st of senior year to complete the Intent to Enroll process. Students must complete admission requirements by their high school graduation, and will be verifed with an evaluation of their final transcripts.
4. Students can register for the ESUHSD Spartan Summer Program, designed by our program in partnership with the East Side Union High School District and the East Side Education Foundation. This program typically is offered in June prior to incoming students' mandatory Sparta Camp orientation. Students must attend orientation to retain their provisional admission offer and register for courses. 

Students will meet academic advisors from their College Student Success Center during Sparta Camp orientation, so that they may learn the process of registering for classes, and declaring a major if Undeclared. 

Services and Resources

Interested in a presentation for your classroom?

Email eastsidepromise@sjsu.edu to schedule an SESP presentation for your class or organization.