LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas School of Business has maintained its global accreditation in business and accounting for an additional five years with AACSB International, the Association for Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
KU is one of only 194 institutions that hold both an academic accreditation and an accounting program. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business and accounting education, and less than 6% of business schools worldwide meet the organization’s accreditation standards.
“We are honored to maintain our affiliation with this elite group of business schools,” said Dean Paige Fields. “This extension of AACSB dual accreditation validates our collective work to deliver excellent and comprehensive business and accounting education.”
AACSB-accredited schools must meet standards of excellence in the areas of strategic management and innovation, faculty research productivity, learning and teaching, and academic and professional engagement. Accountancy accreditation entails an additional set of regulations specific to the accounting discipline and profession.
Every five years each accredited institution undergoes a continuous improvement review process that includes a self-assessment report and an evaluation conducted by a team of deans or directors of other AACSB-accredited business schools. These peer review teams make recommendations after evaluating quality and continuous improvement in relation to the school’s mission and AACSB accreditation standards. Business and accounting accreditation reviews are separate processes completed synchronously.
The KU School of Business first obtained AACSB accreditation in 1925, one year after the business school was founded. The school’s accounting program was first accredited in 1998.
Stephanie Bryant, AACSB executive vice president and chief accreditation officer, congratulated each institution that recently gained or extended accreditation.
“Each AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning,” said Bryant. “The intensive peer review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education.”
