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AACSB reaffirms accreditation for NIU College of Business

April 14, 2014

AACSB Accredited logoThe NIU College of Business and its Department of Accountancy have maintained business and accounting accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, earned by fewer than 5 percent of the world’s business programs.

Today, there are 694 business schools in 45 countries and territories that maintain AACSB Accreditation. Similarly, only 181 institutions maintain an additional specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

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.

The NIU College of Business has maintained its AACSB accreditation since 1969 and is nationally recognized in academic and industry circles for its teaching, research and public service. The college houses top-ranked accountancy, sales and business ethics programs, and the college’s prominent alumni include entrepreneurs and leaders in Chicago-area and global companies.

The extension of our AACSB accreditation “signifies the college’s commitment to our mission, quality and continuous improvement,” says NIU College of Business Dean Denise Schoenbachler.

“Maintaining accreditation is a team effort. Faculty and staff, alumni and our business and industry partners work every day to keep our mission of creating innovative academic and business experiences at the forefront. Ensuring the success of our students after graduation means constantly striving to improve,” Schoenbachler says.

Denise Schoenbachlerand Jim Young

Denise Schoenbachler
and Jim Young

“That is why we are always working to build a faculty that is skilled – both in the classroom and as researchers; to keep our curriculum in line with the changing needs of business; and our student’s opportunities to meet and work with business professionals,” she adds. “It is extremely gratifying that, after a thorough and rigorous review, the AACSB team has concluded that our efforts continue to meet the highest of standards for business education.”

Highly regarded in academic and industry circles, the NIU College of Business combines academic excellence with hands-on learning opportunities. The college is ranked 109th on BusinessWeek’s list of Best Undergraduate Business Programs.

The Department of Accountancy has been accredited by AACSB since 1983 and has been ranked among the best in the nation for many years by various publications. Graduates of the program boast some of the highest pass rates in the nation on the CPA exam over the last 30 years. Alumni of the program hold leadership positions in public accounting firms, corporations, non-profit organizations and government.

“AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for accounting programs and business schools worldwide and this achievement is a reflection of the outstanding programs in the NIU Department of Accountancy. Moreover, it is a tribute to the incredible commitment of our faculty and staff to ensure a world-class education for our students,” says Jim Young, NIU Accountancy Department chair and Crowe Horwath Professor.

Maintaining accreditation for more than 40 years is an impressive achievement, according to AACSB officials.

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” says Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students.”