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Why AACSB Accreditation Matters When Choosing a Business Program

Written by: Appalachian State University   •  Jul 25, 2024

A young man at desk with computer and tablet considering online BSBA degrees

Anyone who has attended a college or university has likely heard the term “accreditation” many times without giving it much thought. Accreditation can be defined as a process that ensures quality and validates that a program or an institution meets or exceeds a set of relevant standards; it can impact the quality of the education received as well as post-graduation employability. AACSB accreditation is vital when considering a business program, such as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Supply Chain Management.

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary, nongovernmental review process that a school or program can undertake; the purpose is to validate its quality and commitment to established industry standards. Accredited business schools, for example, are held to business industry standards and generally accepted best practices. Accreditation isn’t permanent; it must be renewed at regular intervals to ensure that the program or school has maintained its standards.

Accreditation is an external quality review conducted by a team of academic or industry experts, usually peers or third-party experts; they volunteer their expertise and time to improve education in their respective fields. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education (ED) must recognize these independent agents.

Factors Considered in the Accreditation Process

The agency responsible for determining whether a school or program qualifies for accreditation considers numerous factors, including the following:

  • Faculty Credentials: Accreditation is only given to schools and programs when all the faculty members have the appropriate credentials, including education, licensure and experience. 
  • Recruitment and Admissions: Only schools and programs with transparent recruitment and admissions processes can be accredited. 
  • Financial Stability: Accrediting agencies also consider whether a school or program has the capacity to uphold its promises to students. 
  • Provision of Resources: The school or program must offer robust support to students, including access to online and in-person resources, such as career counselors and job placement services. 
  • Preparation: Only schools and programs that have been proven to adequately prepare their graduates to work in their fields can receive accreditation.

What Is the AACSB? 

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a professional accreditation organization that was founded in 1916 as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. Though AACSB is an American accreditation organization, AACSB accreditation is recognized internationally, and the organization is ISO 9001:2015 certified. AACSB provides ample resources to accredited schools, faculty and students, offering course materials, mentorships and sponsored conferences and seminars.

AACSB’s mission involves improving the quality and impact of business schools worldwide; improving society as a whole through business schools; and promoting inclusivity, global unity and excellence. To date, more than 1,000 schools across 100 countries have achieved AACSB accreditation, and more than 5 million students have enrolled in AACSB-accredited programs.

AACSB Business Accreditation Standards

AACSB’s 2020 Guiding Principles and Standards for Business Accreditation outlines accreditation eligibility and offers transparency into the type of quality and excellence that AACSB accreditation requires. The guidelines introduced nine standards, which are still in effect today.

1. Strategic Planning

Accredited schools must maintain a strategic plan that includes input from stakeholders, defines resource allocation for the school, and provides a clear and focused school mission. The plan must embrace innovation and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact on society.

2. Physical, Virtual and Financial Resources

For a school to receive AACSB accreditation, it must manage its resources in a way that promotes quality education and fosters success among participants. The school must prove that it has and can manage its physical, virtual and financial resources to provide ongoing sustainability.

3. Faculty and Professional Staff Resources

The school’s faculty and staff must be qualified and credentialed, and they must also demonstrate a high level of academic and professional engagement to produce desired outcomes. The school must also have clearly documented and articulated processes designed to help staff and faculty with professional development.

4. Curriculum

The school’s content must be relevant, forward-looking and current, and it must be subjected to transparent assessments to ensure that it remains relevant. The curriculum must foster innovation and learning, promote a positive societal impact, and support engagement between learners and faculty.

5. Assurance of Learning

Schools must use a well-documented Assurance of Learning (AoL) process that ensures the quality of all accredited degree programs. Programs must ensure the same quality outcomes regardless of their delivery or location.

6. Learner Progression

The policies and procedures for admissions, including transfer credits and progression toward degree completion, must be clear, effective and aligned with the school’s mission. Graduate success must be in alignment with expected outcomes, and schools must publicly disclose that program’s learner progression and success consistently.

7. Teaching Effectiveness and Impact

AACSB accreditation considers the effectiveness and impact of teaching, including developmental activities that foster better teaching practices, ensuring that faculty is able to teach diverse groups of students in inclusive environments. The schools must also demonstrate the impact of their faculty through learner satisfaction and success.

8. Impact of Scholarship

Faculty must develop thought leadership for their respective programs via impactful intellectual conversations and contributions. The school must collaborate with external stakeholders to develop mission-driven thought leadership, and the school’s portfolio of these contributions should contain research that has had a positive social impact.

9. Engagement and Societal Impact

Finally, the school must show that it has had and will continue to have a positive impact on society at large through its internal and external activities.

How Graduating From Programs With AACSB Accreditation Can Improve Careers

A college degree is a major investment, and students should choose programs that can provide the best possible returns. Students who graduate from AACSB-accredited schools gain worldwide recognition from top employers, and in many cases, some employers will only hire students who graduate from AACSB-accredited programs for business roles. Choosing a school with AACSB accreditation gives students more access to recruiters, higher salaries and more fulfilling roles.

Because only 6% of business schools have achieved AACSB accreditation, it’s widely considered the gold standard, and it sets a quality benchmark for business education around the world.

Secure Your Future With a Business Degree From an AACSB-Accredited College 

Graduating from a business program with AACSB accreditation can open the door to more employment opportunities, higher salaries and even better opportunities for higher education.

Secure your future with Appalachian State University’s BSBA in Supply Chain Management degree at our Walker School of Business, which has been AACSB accredited since 1976. Explore sourcing, logistics, manufacturing, quality control and distribution to prepare for a high-demand career in supply chain management.

Sources:

AACSB, AACSB Accreditation

AACSB, Business Accreditation

AACSB, 2022 State of Accreditation Report

AACSB, Why Accreditation Matters

ABET, What Is Accreditation?

Council for Higher Education Education, Your Biggest Questions About College Accreditation Answered

Forbes, “What Accreditation Should a College Have? What to Know”

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