Frequently Asked Questions

Accreditation is one way that universities ensure quality. An educational institution in the United States is not mandated to seek accreditation; however, most do because of the associated benefits (e.g., the ability to apply for federal grants). At the institutional level, SSU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). WSCUC conducts cyclical reviews of colleges and universities to ensure institutional accountability and compliance with federal regulations, as well as to provide support for institutional improvement. The accreditation process aids our campus in developing and sustaining effective educational programs and assures the educational community, the general public, and other organizations that we have met high standards of quality and effectiveness.

Accreditation is about meaningful, inquiry-based self-assessment that conveys our unique story and describes plans for the future based on the institution’s mission and strategic goals. As part of the accreditation activities, SSU completes a self-study process where we demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the continuous improvement of our programs,both curricular and co-curricular. The method for doing this is the institutional report. SSU’s most recent Institutional Report was submitted to WSCUC in Spring 2025. In four main essays and a subsequent reflection, we directly addressed and provided evidence for the WSCUC Standards and more specific Criteria for Review (CFRs). It was the job of the SSU Accreditation Steering Committee to coordinate gathering the data from the University community to demonstrate how SSU met these expectations.

As part of the accreditation process, WSCUC appointed a team of professionals from member organizations that conducted an evaluation of SSU’s self-study. After submitting the Institutional Report and Appendices, SSU participated in a virtual meeting to address any additional evidence requests and a final on campus visit in September 2025. During the on-campus visit, the WSCUC Team met with different groups of SSU Stakeholders for questions and discussion. Upon completion of the site visit, the WSCUC Team prepared a report containing their findings which was submitted to the WSCUC Commissioners for consideration in February 2026 to reaffirm SSU’s accreditation status. The WSCUC Commission decided to maintain SSU’s current accreditation and postpone reaffirmation until submission of a report to address CFRs in a Notice of Concern and a subsequent on site visit planned for April 2027. 

All members of our campus community participate in the reaffirmation process. This is because our accreditation covers the entire institution.

The self-study process is led by a WSCUC Accreditation Steering Committee. This group is charged with preparatory activities including collecting preliminary evidence used to prepare the Special Visit Report. The committee meets on alternating Mondays from 2pm to 3pm. If you have evidence or suggestions about what we should include in our report, please reach out to any of the committee members.

The Committee is chaired by Dr. Jennifer Whiles Lillig, Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies who serves as Sonoma State's Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and communicates with WSCUC on behalf of the campus.

Draft timeline for the 2026-2027 WSCUC Special Visit.

Standards of Accreditation are the principles used as a basis for judgment in accreditation reviews, and they constitute the basic standards against which the university is measured in evaluating its acceptance of the core commitments. They are used to guide institutions in assessing institutional performance and to identify areas needing improvement. WSCUC's Standards of Accreditation for our current review are:

• Standard 1: Defining Institutional Mission and Acting with Integrity

• Standard 2: Achieving Educational Objectives and Student Success

• Standard 3: Assuring Resources and Organizational Structures

• Standard 4: Creating an Institution Committed to Quality Assurance and Improvement 

Each standard is expanded by a number of Criteria for Review. 

Because SSU is an accredited institution, students, faculty, administrators, parents, legislators, and others have the assurance of outside experts that our academic offerings are exemplary and that the university is well managed and fiscally sound. Accreditation provides evidence that our programs are relevant and that the university has been and will continue to hold itself accountable to the needs of its students, the community, potential employers, legislators, California taxpayers, and the standards set by higher education.

The importance that WSCUC attributes to quality assurance is emphasized by the fact that it is now required for institutions to devote an entire chapter in the Institutional Report to illuminating how the meaning, quality, and integrity of every degree conferred enhances students’ lives and prepares them for their future roles in society. What WSCUC is seeking is something more than facts, however; they want the institution to illustrate how these elements are woven together into the fabric that makes up the student’s whole educational experience. More on this new element of the Institutional Self-Study can be found here.

WSCUC requires that each campus maintain a website that is used to broadcast accreditation-related information to the campus and community for the purpose of being transparent; to archive meeting minutes, self-study, findings, and responses (both current and historical); to showcase data on core competencies; and generally to function as a permanent resource for accreditation information. This site serves as the home for information regarding the accreditation process, as well as a repository for the documents that SSU submits to WSCUC and the accreditation-related documents received from WSCUC.

Representatives on the Steering Committee will be reaching out to their constituents to provide evidence and feedback and to lead campus wide discussions. Stakeholders can also ask questions or provide feedback for the Special Visit Report directly by emailing acadmicprograms@sonoma.edu. 

Additionally, prior to the on-site visit in April 2027, AVP While Lillig will send out a campus-wide communication with instructions for stakeholders to provide anonymous feedback directly to WSCUC.