AACSB Accreditation
The University of North Alabama is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB International (AACSB), a global nonprofit association, connects educators, students, and businesses to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and learning and development services to over 1,850 member organizations and more than 950 accredited business schools worldwide.
When educational, professional, and business organizations become members of the AACSB Business Education Alliance, they are part of a movement united to improve the quality of business education around the world. AACSB connects, shares, and inspires innovation and quality throughout the member network, as well as the business community. The collective strength of the organization is founded on diverse perspectives, a global mindset, and a commitment to making a difference. AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education.
Why Should AACSB Accreditation Matter to You?
Going to college is a big investment. You are going to spend hours studying, writing papers, and taking exams. You also are going to spend a lot of money. All that work and money should give you what you paid for, right?
AACSB Accreditation ensures you receive a return on the investment you've made in your education. AACSB-accredited schools must pass very rigorous quality standards. They have been proven to provide the best in business education worldwide.
AACSB-accredited schools:
- are recognized worldwide by top employers and other universities.
- have employers that only hire their graduates.
- have more access to recruiters.
- have graduates that receive higher, more competitive salaries.
- say being accredited improves the quality of their business programs.
- say being accredited helps them hire and retain the best professors and researchers.
- have students that are more international and are likely to earn higher levels of education.
- have students with high-graduating GPAs.
- are challenging and teach the best skills that give a distinct advantage in the real world.
Achieving AACSB accreditation is a rigorous process. Each accreditation standard assesses a school's ability to perform in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning. Generally, it takes a lot of work and time to meet all of the AACSB accreditation standards.
Here's a simplified version of how the process works:
- A school must have the ability to grant degrees in their country and have the appropriate local/regional institutional accreditation.
- AACSB begins by working with the school to develop a plan to meet the accreditation standards and its own strategic goals.
- Committees and mentors are assigned to help the school implement their accreditation and strategic plans.
- Once the mentors believe the school has met the standards, a review team, made up of highly experienced educators and business school administrators, will visit the school and make a recommendation for accreditation.
- The review team's recommendation is given to an accreditation committee and the AACSB board of directors for final approval.
- Many times, a school will have to return to the mentors and committees for further development.
- Finally, if all parties believe the school has satisfied the standards, it is granted with AACSB accreditation for its business programs. (All of them.)
- The business school must then be reviewed every five years to ensure it continues to meet the standards.
Education is one of the most important investments you will ever make. It has the potential to change your career dramatically. Your degree really could be the tool to help with your career change, or it could be the factor that pushes you above another candidate for that sought-after promotion.
From the beginning of the recruitment process, your education is likely to be a key factor. Many employers will look at where you obtained your degree from and, if it is not from what they consider is a reputable school, your resume will be put at the bottom of the pile–a harsh, but unfortunately common practice in the workplace.
For this reason, a degree from a school that does not meet rigorous quality standards is not a good investment, as it is unlikely to be much help in advancing your career–and once you make that choice, you may not have the chance to start over again and obtain your degree from a higher-quality school.