Collegiate Institutions Earn AACSB International Accounting and Business Accreditation http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/seal_2__100.jpg TAMPA, FL (December 22, 2008) ― Five institutions of higher learning have earned initial accreditation in business from AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Additionally, 44 institutions have maintained their accreditation in business and 14 have maintained their accreditation in accounting. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. By achieving initial accreditation in business, China Europe International Business School – CEIBS (China), Griffith University (Australia), Southeastern Oklahoma State University (USA), SUNY Institute of Technology (USA), and Yonsei University (South Korea) become part of an elite group that makes up less than 5 percent of the world’s business schools that have earned business and/or accounting accreditation. The newest accreditations raise the total number of institutions that maintain specialized AACSB accreditation for their business schools to 559, with 460 based in the United States and 99 based outside of the United States. “AACSB commends the faculty, deans, directors, and administrative staffs of each institution for their exemplary work in helping their schools earn the highest honor in business school accreditation,” said John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “We send our heartiest congratulations to our newly accredited schools, and to those that have maintained their accreditation.” Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation, and adjustment and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the 21 AACSB standards requiring a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of business. Accounting accreditation further requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. In addition, as required by AACSB standards, all accredited schools must go through a peer review every five years in order to maintain their 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.” Schools Earning Initial AACSB Business Accreditation * China Europe International Business School – CEIBS (China) * Griffith University (Australia) * Southeastern Oklahoma State University (USA) * SUNY Institute of Technology (USA) * Yonsei University (South Korea) Schools Earning Maintenance of Business Accreditation * University of Alabama in Huntsville (USA) * University of Alaska Anchorage (USA) * Baylor University (USA) * University of British Columbia (Canada) * Bryant University (USA) * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (USA) * California State University, Bakersfield (USA) * California State University, East Bay (USA) * California State University, Sacramento (USA) * Chapman University (USA) * The College of New Jersey (USA) * Concordia University (Canada) * Duke University (USA) * Duquesne University (USA) * The George Washington University (USA) * Hofstra University (USA) * University of Houston-Clear Lake (USA) * Howard University (USA) * INSEAD (France) * KAIST College of Business (South Korea) * Kansas State University (USA) * King’s College (USA) * Manhattan College (USA) * University of North Texas (USA) * Northern Arizona University (USA) * Northern Illinois University (USA) * Oakland University (USA) * Ohio University (USA) * The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg (USA) * University of Pennsylvania (USA) * Pittsburg State University (USA) * Queen’s University (Canada) * The University of Rhode Island (USA) * Salisbury University (USA) * University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) * The University of Sydney (Australia) * The University of Tampa (USA) * Tennessee State University (USA) * Tulane University (USA) * The University of Tulsa (USA) * Virginia Tech (USA) * Washington and Lee University (USA) * Weber State University (USA) * Western New England College (USA) Schools Earning Maintenance of Accounting Accreditation * University of Central Florida (USA) * The George Washington University (USA) * Hofstra University (USA) * University of Houston-Clear Lake (USA) * John Carroll University (USA) * Kansas State University (USA) * University of North Texas (USA) * University of Northern Colorado (USA) * Northern Illinois University (USA) * The University of Rhode Island (USA) * University of Richmond (USA) * The University of Sydney (Australia) * University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (USA) * Virginia Tech (USA) About AACSB International AACSB International is an association of more than 1,100 educational institutions, business and other organizations in 70 countries that are dedicated to the advancement of management education worldwide. In addition to service as the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at various location around the world. Through BestBizSchools.com, AACSB provides a global resource center for prospective business students. www.aacsb.edu