Accreditations & Associations

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT CALIFORNIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (AICCU)

The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) is comprised of 83 private nonprofit colleges and universities in California with a core mission to improve lives through higher education. The AICCU members range from small to large traditional liberal arts institutions, including nationally ranked research universities; colleges offering faith-based, performing and visual arts, and “non-traditional” programs of study; as well as professional schools that specialize in business, law, and medicine. www.aiccu.edu

COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (CCCU)

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is an international higher education association of internationally Christian colleges and universities. Founded in 1976 with 38 members, the council has grown to 103 members in North America and 58 affiliate institutions in 21 countries. The CCCU is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  Mission: To advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.  The CCCU provides a variety of professional development programs and resources for member schools as well as cooperative academic programs for students. www.cccu.org

CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING (CTC)

Teaching credentials of SDCC graduates are certified by the CCTC an agency in the Executive Branch of California State Government in 1970. The major purpose of the agency is to serve as a state standards board for educator preparation for the public schools of California, the licensing and credentialing of professional educators in the State, the enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the discipline of credential holders in California. www.ctc.ca.gov

CTC Preconditions 2023-24

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is the regional accrediting agency that serves a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific as well as a number of international institutions. Through its work of peer review, based on standards agreed to by its members, the Commission encourages continuous institutional improvement and assures the membership and its constituencies, including the public, that accredited institutions are fulfilling their respective established missions in service to their students and the public good. The WSCUC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as certifying institutional eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid.

Current Accreditation Status – Currently On Show Cause

The WASC Senior College and University Commission has acted to vacate our appeal and restore our accreditation under the sanction of Show Cause. The Commission’s letter dated November 17, 2023 can be found below as well as found on the WSCUC website (www.wscuc.org) at this link: https://www.wscuc.org/

Commission Action Letter (CAL 11.17.23)

What Does This Mean?

  1. The Commission accepted the evidence that we provided subsequent to the withdrawal of accreditation.
  2. The Commission found that we are in compliance with three out of the four areas of non-compliance that led to the adverse action in July 2023.
  3. We have an opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the remaining issue through a special visit in July 2024.
  4. “The Commission also acted to revise its policies to extend from two to four years the maximum time allowed for institutions to be on good cause extension. The Commission subsequently determined that there is sufficient basis to grant SDCC a good cause extension of accreditation” (Page 2 of the Commission Action Letter, Nov. 17, 2023. Please see the entire letter for more information).
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