Institutional Accreditation

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Announcement of Reaffirmation

In July 2026, President Carvajal announced that the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) reaffirmed Cal Poly Humboldt’s accreditation through 2034. In light of the review team’s report, the Commission’s action letter commended the University for our deep commitment to our values and aspirations, the strength of our educational and student-support practices, our culture of data-based decision making, and the alignment of our planning processes guiding us through the University’s dynamic changes.

WSCUC also identified areas for development in aligning budget decisions with polytechnic priorities, maintaining discipline in strategic enrollment management, filling permanent senior leadership positions, implementing the goals of our campus plans, and advancing learning assessment in the General Education and All-University Requirements (GEAR) program. 

Together, these commendations and recommendations will inform the University’s strategic planning across the coming accreditation cycle. 

This achievement is the culmination of years of thoughtful planning and collaborating across the University. Faculty, staff, administrators, and students worked for two years to prepare our institutional report, respond to the review team's requests, and host April’s campus visit. This also reflects the sustained efforts made over the past eight years to address the recommendations from the University’s 2018 accreditation review.

The importance of Humboldt’s WSCUC accreditation cannot be overstated. Accreditation assures students and the public of the quality and integrity of our educational programs and the meaning of a Cal Poly Humboldt degree. An eight-year reaffirmation with minimal follow-up obligations is also consequential in practical terms. Beyond brief progress reports in 2027 and 2029, the University can move through the coming years without the demands of additional accreditation reviews or visits. That means more of our collective time and energy can remain focused on educating and supporting students, strengthening our programs, and carrying forward the work of the University.

That stability is especially meaningful during a period of significant change and challenge across higher education. WSCUC’s decision both recognizes Humboldt’s institutional strengths and gives us a clear set of priorities for continued improvement as we move forward.

Cal Poly Humboldt WSCUC Institutional Report, September 2025
WSCUC Review Team Report, May 2026
WSCUC Action Letter, July 2026