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For immediate release
Jan. 13, 2004
Abilene Christian University has achieved the highest level of accreditation for the College of Business Administration. The Board of Directors of AACSB International -- the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business recently accredited the bachelor and master degree programs in the College of Business Administration, completing a five-year process of seeking accreditation.
"This is huge," said Dr. Rick Lytle, College of Business Administration dean. "Our program is now ranked with the best business schools in the nation. There is no higher level than this."
The AACSB International accreditation is the premier business school accreditation worldwide and places ACU among the top 17 business schools in the state, with schools such as Trinity University, Baylor University, the University of Texas, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and others. Only 466 schools in the world are AACSB accredited, and only 392 have both undergraduate and graduate accreditation.
ACU and Pepperdine University are the only Church of Christ-related schools to be accredited by AACSB, and ACU is one of only two schools in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities to receive the accreditation.
"Moving from our national ACBSP business accreditation to AACSB global accreditation is comparable to an intercollegiate athletics program moving from NCAA Division III to NCAA Divison I.," Lytle said.
The accreditation provides new opportunities for students, including the AACSB honors program, increased graduate school acceptance and engagement with other top business schools. Faculty will have the opportunity to present at AACSB national conferences and will have access to AACSB resources and research opportunities.
The process began five years ago when ACU decided to seek AACSB accreditation. ACU's College of Business completed a self-study and assessed what areas needed to be improved to meet the AACSB standards.
Since that time, the College of Business Administration has made improvements including:
Reduced student-faculty ratio from 31-1 to 17-1 (adding 15 new faculty members)
Increased competency requirements for students
More focused curriculum
Increased technology resources
Introduction of the Career Development Center to assist with advising, internships and jobs
Increased resources for faculty research, travel and professional development.
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If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Wendy Kilmer, media relations coordinator.
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