Technology and Vendor Partnership Inquiries

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the San José State University Career Center.

Please note that the Career Center does not schedule vendor meetings, product demonstrations, pilot discussions, or exploratory calls before the review of a completed Technology and Vendor Partnership Inquiry Form and an assessment of alignment with the university’s current priorities, strategic goals, and operational requirements.

Vendor submissions are reviewed annually in January. To ensure a fair and consistent review process for all vendors, we are unable to provide status updates or respond to follow-up inquiries regarding submissions. If your solution is determined to align with current institutional needs and priorities, a member of our team will contact selected vendors following one of these review periods to discuss potential next steps.

We appreciate your understanding and your interest in supporting our students and campus community.

SJSU Technology Review Requirements

All online applications, software platforms, AI tools, and technology services must undergo appropriate university review before procurement, adoption, or implementation.

To support an efficient evaluation process, vendors should be prepared to provide the following information and documentation:

  • A current Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) demonstrating conformance with Section 508 Accessibility standards.
  • Information regarding data privacy, security, and compliance practices
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities and integration details
  • HECVAT and/or SOC 2 Type II documentation, upon request
  • Information regarding AI governance, risk management, and responsible AI practices, where applicable

Vendors whose solutions advance for further consideration may be invited to participate in the university’s technology, procurement, accessibility, security, privacy, and legal review processes. Please note that submission of a Vendor Intake Form does not guarantee a meeting, product demonstration, pilot opportunity, procurement review, or implementation. Review decisions are based on institutional priorities, available resources, and the outcome of the evaluation process.

Minimum Requirements for Consideration

Privacy, Security, and Accessibility 

Solutions must:

  • Be FERPA compliant
  • Meet CSU and SJSU privacy and security standards
  • Support Single Sign-On (SSO)
  • Include a current Voluntary Accessibility Template (VPAT)
  • Demonstrate the ability to support implementation at university scale (approximately 40,000 students)

Product Maturity and Reliability

Solutions should demonstrate an established level of maturity and stability by:

  • Being beyond the beta-testing stage
  • Maintaining an established customer base
  • Demonstrating reliability, ongoing product development, and responsive support

Strategic Value

Proposed solutions should:

  • Address a clearly demonstrated student need
  • Provide functionality that is not currently available through existing SJSU or CSU-supported tools
  • Complement, rather than duplicate or conflict with, existing university contracts or services (Please refer to our Digital Career Tools page for the current suite of solutions)

Responsible AI Practices (if applicable)

For solutions that incorporate artificial intelligence, vendors must:

  • Clearly explain how AI capabilities are used within the product
  • Provide documentation regarding AI privacy, security, governance, and risk-management practices
  • Describe how student data is collected, stored, and used
  • Confirm that student data is not used to train AI models without explicit institutional approval

Alignment with CSU Priorities

Preference may be given to solutions that:

  • Are offered by CSU-approved vendors
  • Are currently implemented at two or more CSU campuses
  • Demonstrate measurable outcomes in higher education environments
  • Integrate effectively with existing CSU technology ecosystems

Next Steps

Organizations that meet the requirements outlined above are welcome to submit a Vendor Intake Form for consideration. While submission does not guarantee approval, it enables our team to evaluate potential alignment with university needs, priorities, and existing technology investments.

Submit a vendor partnership Inquiry form