Geneseo’s School of Business has received extension of its business accreditation from the AACSB International (AACSB), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Such accreditation by the AACSB International Board of Directors is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five percent of the world’s 16,000 business schools.
The school received initial AACSB accreditation in 2002 and, like all accredited schools, is subject to periodic review every five years. The recent action is an extension of the original accreditation.
The fundamental purpose of AACSB accreditation is to encourage business schools to hold themselves accountable for improving business practice through a commitment to strategic management, learner success, and impactful thought leadership.
To maintain accreditation, a business program must undergo rigorous internal review every five years. In order to earn and sustain business accreditation, an institution must align with AACSB’s business accreditation standards that focus on mission, strategic management, and innovation; support for learners, faculty, and staff; and thought leadership and societal impact. Less than 5 percent of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide granting business degrees have earned AACSB Accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates who are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than other non-accredited schools.
“I commend the School of Business faculty, staff, and students, the School’s Business Advisory Council and Alumni Connections Council members as well as Geneseo’s administration for their hard work and thoughtful planning to help attain this significant achievement,” said Mary Ellen Zuckerman, dean of the School of Business. “Holding ourselves to the highest standards in instruction and creating exceptional learning environments, as well as driving excellent research by providing the support that the researchers require, is at the core of our mission and vision. Receiving this distinguished recognition for our efforts in these areas is an honor in which our faculty, staff, students, and alumni can take pride.”
Among items cited in the peer review team report as noteworthy were:
- Business Excellence program for incoming students;
- Near 100% placement rate for the M.S. in Accounting over the five-year review period;
- The Integration of certifications (such as Salesforce.com, Bloomberg, Hootsuite) into classes;
- Use of LinkedIn Learning for the School’s Excel proficiency requirement;
- Identification of 30 existing courses with some coverage of sustainability: and
- The School is home to a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, Harry Howe.
“The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of a school’s dedication—not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s business leaders. AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact, both locally and globally.”
AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.