California’s ‘University for Peace’ Receives Accreditation

First graph, first sentence of the release should read: On May 3, 2001, Soka University, Aliso Viejo was dedicated as a new private, non-profit four-year liberal arts college founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life … (sted Soka University, Aliso Viejo was dedicated as a new private, non-profit four-year liberal arts college founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life …)

The corrected release reads:

CALIFORNIA’S ‘UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE’ RECEIVES ACCREDITATION; SOKA UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA RECEIVES FIVE-YEAR ACCREDITATION FROM WASC

On May 3, 2001, Soka University, Aliso Viejo was dedicated as a new private, non-profit four-year liberal arts college founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life … the first new private liberal arts college with a full campus (103 acres) to open in California in over 25 years. 120 pioneering students came from 18 countries and 18 states to Orange County, Calif., to study the non-sectarian curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with emphasis areas in international studies, humanities, or social and behavioral sciences. They came for the 9:1 student/faculty ratio, the stunning hilltop campus, the top faculty – and the dream of becoming a leader for peace.

On May 22, 2005, 100 seniors from Soka University’s Class of 2005 proudly marched across stage to receive SUA, Aliso Viejo’s first diplomas – an 83% graduation rate in four years. All 100 students had completed a semester abroad in their junior year (required for graduation) and had become fluent in a non-native language.

On June 16-17, 2005, the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC) granted Soka University of America accreditation for five years.

SUA’s Provost, Tomoko Takahashi, Ed.D., noted that it is a remarkable achievement for a new university to become regionally accredited so quickly after the required graduation at a new campus was achieved. "Our master’s program in Calabasas has graduated 10 classes, but May 2005 was the first graduating class for our new four-year liberal arts campus in Aliso Viejo. We’re very proud that WASC has granted a five-year accreditation to Soka University of America."

In the official accreditation letter, WASC Executive Director Ralph Wolf wrote that, "The list of graduate school acceptances by members of the first graduating class is impressive."

All 32 SUA seniors who decided to attend graduate school were accepted by such schools as the London School of Economics, Yale, Columbia University Teachers College, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, UCSB, USC, Claremont Graduate University, and University of Hawaii Law School. Other students have accepted jobs or are pursuing additional training.

SUA President Daniel Y. Habuki, Ph.D., smiled when asked what the next milestone might be for the university. "Every fine university owes its reputation to the achievements of its students," he said. "SUA students have a heart for creating peace, and I’m looking forward to seeing what our graduates will achieve to help make this world and their communities a better place. Soka means ‘to create value’ – and that will be our most important milestone."