History of NPU

Seeing the dearth of high quality engineering schools in the Bay area, Dr. Ramsey Carter and Dr. Barbara Brown started Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) on January 2, 1984 and soon thereafter incorporated as a California nonprofit public benefit institution. Because of her knowledge of education administration, Dr. Brown was appointed NPU first president in June 1984.

While Dr. Brown managed the office, Dr. George Hsieh and Dr. Young You taught classes, recruited instructors, and developed the graduate and the undergraduate degree programs. Because of the strong demand in Silicon Valley for qualified engineers, the School of Engineering began granting Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering in November 1984 followed by the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1985.

As Silicon Valley's high tech industries grew, so did NPU. Seeing the lack of engineers in the computer industry, NPU opened the Computer Systems Engineering programs at both the Bachelor and Master levels in 1987. Under high-spirited teamwork, NPU grew quickly from a budding school of a few students and faculty in 1984 to a well-established one by 1989. February 23, 1989 marked a milestone for the University as NPU attained full institutional approval from the California Department of Education. After seven devoted years to the University, Dr. Brown and Dr. Carter retired on March 31, 1991. The Board then nominated and appointed Dr. George Hsieh, then the incumbent Dean of Academic Affairs and former Graduate Division Chair, the new president of NPU on April 1, 1991. Since Dr. Hsieh's tenure, the school has continued to grow and now attracts students from over 30 countries.

When the entrepreneurial spirit in Silicon Valley demanded students with business training, NPU established the School of Business and began to offer the Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration and Information Sciences degrees in 1995. At the same time, the School of Engineering continued to expand its programs by offering bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science. In January 1998, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) accredited NPU to award bachelor and master degrees.