Statement of Accreditation Status

William Paterson University of New Jersey

  • CEO: Dr. Richard Helldobler, President
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Jonathan Lincoln
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Terence Peavy, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs » Four-year, medium, primarily residential
  • Control: Public
  • Former Name(s): William Paterson College of New Jersey, Paterson State College
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
  • Accreditation Granted: November 1, 1958
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2021
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2028-2029

Contact Information

300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

(973) 720-2000

www.wpunj.edu

  • October 31, 2023
    To note the verification visit took place on June 20, 2023 to the main campus at 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
  • June 23, 2022
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
  • June 24, 2021
    To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To request a supplemental information report, due March 1, 2022, documenting further evidence of (1) the periodic assessment of the effectiveness of student support programs and experiences (Standard IV); (2) demonstrated and documented use of assessment results to improve educational effectiveness (Standard V); and (3) sufficient support to sustain the assessment of student achievement and to communicate results of assessment to stakeholders (Standard V). To note that a verification visit is required by USDE guidelines and will be conducted within a reasonable period of time following the virtual site visit. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
  • October 29, 2020
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first Doctor's - Research/Scholarship, Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind approval of this substantive change if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-2021.
  • October 29, 2019
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second Post-Master's Certificate (Family Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care Certificates) within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-2021.
  • July 2, 2019
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first Post-Master's Certificate program, School Library Media Specialist Certificate within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-2021.
  • April 30, 2019
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the second Doctor's Professional Practice degree program ( Doctor of Clinical Psychology) within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-2021.
  • November 17, 2016
    To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-2021.
  • July 1, 2013
    To note that State approval is not required for the online programs. To include the online graduate Certificate in Learning Technologies and online Master of Education in Literacy within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
  • June 27, 2013
    To accept the monitoring report. To remind the institution that the Periodic Review Report, due June 1, 2016, should document the implementation of the online programs, including support services, student success, and financial impact on the institution (Standard 13).
  • April 29, 2013
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to provisionally include the online graduate Certificate in Learning Technologies within the scope of the institution's accreditation pending receipt of State approval. To remind the institution that the Periodic Review Report, due June 1, 2016, should document the implementation of the online program, including support services, student success, and financial impact on the institution (Standard 13). To note that the monitoring report due April 1, 2013 has been received and will be acted on by the Commission at its meeting in June.
  • March 5, 2013
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to include the online Master of Education in Literacy provisionally within the scope of the institution's accreditation pending receipt of State approval. To request that the Periodic Review Report, due June 1, 2016, document the implementation of the online program, including support services, student success, and financial impact on the institution (Standard 13). To remind the institution of the monitoring report, due April 1, 2013, documenting (1) implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making, budgeting, and resource allocation processes at the departmental and university-wide levels (Standards 2 & 3); (2) implementation of a comprehensive, systematic, and sustainable process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness (Standard 7); and (3) steps taken to align the strategic and academic plans with the institution's mission and goals to guide ongoing and future program review, planning, and resource allocation (Standard 11).
  • June 28, 2012
    To accept the progress report. To remind the institution of the monitoring report, due April 1, 2013, documenting (1) implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making, budgeting, and resource allocation processes at the departmental and university-wide levels (Standards 2 & 3); (2) implementation of a comprehensive, systematic, and sustainable process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness (Standard 7); and (3) steps taken to align the strategic and academic plans with the institution's mission and goals to guide ongoing and future program review, planning, and resource allocation (Standard 11). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2016.
  • June 23, 2011
    To reaffirm accreditation. To request a progress report, due by April 1, 2012, documenting implementation of a documented assessment process for general education (Standard 12). To further request a monitoring report, due April 1, 2013, documenting (1) implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan that links long-range planning to decision-making, budgeting, and resource allocation processes at the departmental and university-wide levels (Standards 2 & 3); (2) implementation of a comprehensive, systematic, and sustainable process for the assessment of institutional effectiveness (Standard 7); and (3) steps taken to align the strategic and academic plans with the institution's mission and goals to guide ongoing and future program review, planning, and resource allocation (Standard 11). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2016.
  • March 3, 2011
    To note the visit by the Commission's representative and to affirm the inclusion of the additional location at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2010-2011.
  • December 8, 2010
    To acknowledge receipt of state approval from the New Jersey Presidents' Council and to include the Doctor of Nursing Practice within the scope of the institution’s accreditation.
  • Distance Education
    Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
  • Correspondence Education
    Not approved for this delivery method

Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Postsecondary award (< 1 year) Included within the scope to offer ONE program: Creative Writing Certificate
  • Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope
  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-Master's Certificate Included within the scope
  • Doctor's Degree - Professional Practice Included within the scope
  • Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope to offer ONE program: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership
  • Main Campus
    William Paterson University of New Jersey
    300 Pompton Road
    Wayne, NJ 07470
  • Additional Location
    Mercer County Community College
    1200 Old Trenton Road
    West Windsor, NJ 08550
    Opened: 09/01/2010
  • Other Instructional Site
    Passaic County Technical Institute
    45 Rheinhardt Rd
    Wayne, NJ 07470

The following are links to sites that are not maintained by the MSCHE. These are provided as additional external resources about each institution that the MSCHE accredits.