SBA programs receive reaccreditation by elite international agency

By Claudette Zolkowski, contributing writer

Following an intensive peer review process, Oakland University’s School of Business Administration received reaccreditation for both its business and accounting programs from the world’s most widely-recognized and most-sought after organization, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International (AACSB).

With that, the SBA maintains its standing as part of an elite group of business schools that meet the AACSB’s rigorous standards. Less than one-third of U.S business school programs and only 15 percent of business programs worldwide meet these standards. The separate accounting accreditation is even rarer, with less than five percent of the world’s business schools having earned the business and/or accounting accreditation.

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculties and staffs make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver high quality education to students.”

To achieve the business accreditation and separate accounting program accreditation, the SBA’s programs must meet the 21 AACSB standards requiring a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement and curricula responsive the needs of business. The accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional 15 standards specific to the discipline and profession.

During the accreditation process, business school deans and chairmen of accounting programs with detailed knowledge of management education visited and evaluated the SBA.

“We are pleased to have both programs reaccredited by the AACSB and to continue to be recognized for the outstanding work and accomplishments of the students, faculty and staff in the SBA,” said Mohan Tanniru, SBA dean. “The reaccreditation is truly a testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication to our mission. And reinforces what we know: The SBA prepares graduates to make meaningful contributions in the business world.”

The School of Business Administration is one of 560 business schools in the world to earn AACSB accreditation. Oakland is one of 168 schools that hold the separate AACSB-International accounting accreditation.

Founded by 17 of the most prominent business schools in the U.S. – including Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College and Harvard - AACSB-International is the premier accrediting agency and service organization for business schools. As longstanding members of the AACSB, these prestigious institutions speak to a timeless tradition of exclusivity and excellence. AACSB is a nonprofit organization consisting of more than 1,100 educational organizations and corporations in 70 countries. Its mission is excellence in management education in colleges and universities.