EIU Media Relations

EIU Maintains AACSB International Business and Accounting Accreditation

The School of Business at Eastern Illinois University has maintained its business and accounting accreditation by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

AACSB accreditation is the mark of quality distinction most widely sought after by business schools. 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.

Only 633 schools of business, or less than 5 percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. Only 177 of those have earned specialized accreditation for their accounting programs.

To maintain accreditation, a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, and interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.

To realize accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB International business accreditation. In addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy business quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

"It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB business and accounting accreditation," says Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.

Blair Lord, EIU provost and vice president for academic affairs, added, "While not unexpected, it is gratifying to see this recognition by the AACSB of the quality of our business programs. The School of Business has a rich history of offering excellent programs to our students, and the faculty and school leadership worked hard to display this excellence through the maintenance of accreditation review."

Mahyar Izadi , dean of the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, said, "We owe much appreciation to the AACSB for once again recognizing the exceptional quality of our faculty and the excellence these dedicated professionals bring forth to the students we serve.

"Whether in the classroom, or through independent research projects, internships, participation in recognized student organizations or study abroad programs, our students continue to avail themselves of the quality academic programs our School of Business provides."

Cheryl Noll, chair of the School of Business, realizes that the commitment to this process includes all of the faculty and staff in the school, and recognizes their significant work.

"We have excellent programs because of the dedicated faculty and staff," she said. "This designation of excellence would not be possible without their commitment to the continuous improvement process and to the AACSB standards for both business and accounting programs. As a result, we are able to recruit students with high expectations for a quality learning environment, and we graduate students who are fully prepared. "

The EIU School of Business offers six undergraduate majors, five minors and an MBA program. There are approximately 1,300 declared undergraduate business majors and 97 MBA degree candidates. Undergraduate majors offered include accountancy, finance, management, management information systems and marketing. A business administration major is also offered at an off-campus location.

Minors are offered in business administration, information systems, entrepreneurship, accounting and finance. Also offered in the School of Business are a master of business administration with research option, a master of business administration with applied management option, and a master of business administration with an accountancy concentration.

To learn more about EIU's School of Business, visit http://www.eiu.edu/business/. Or, to learn more about AACSB International accreditation, visit the accreditation section of the AACSB International Web site at http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/.