The College of Business at the University of West Florida is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Degree programs covered by the AACSB International accreditation include:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with majors in:
• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• General Business
• Management
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing
• Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Value of Accreditation

"AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education."

"AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders that business schools:

• Produce graduates who have achieved specific learning goals.
• Provide high-caliber teaching of quality and current curricula.
• Cultivate meaningful interaction between students and qualified faculty.
• Advance business and management knowledge through faculty scholarship.
• Manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant mission."

Source: AACSB International

The Accreditation Process

"Accreditation is a process of voluntary, non-governmental review of educational institutions and programs. Institutional accreditation reviews entire colleges and universities. Specialized agencies award accreditation for professional programs and academic units in particular fields of study. As a specialized agency, AACSB International grants accreditation for undergraduate and graduate business administration ...programs."

Programs are reviewed in relation to 20 standards grouped in three major clusters:

• Strategic Management (mission, continuous improvement, financial strategies).
• Participants (faculty, staff, students).
• Assurance of Learning (curricula, learning goals, learning levels).

Once initially accredited by AACSB International, institutions and their programs are subject to maintenance of accreditation reviews every five years. This process includes:

• Review of Annual Maintenance of Accreditation Reports focusing on continuous quality improvement progress.
• Review of Fifth-Year Maintenance of Accreditation Report focusing on current degree offerings, a situation analysis, mission, strategic management, assessment tools and procedures, financial strategies, and faculty qualifications, deployment, and intellectual contributions.
• Site visit by a Peer Review Team.

Recommendations pertaining to maintenance of AACSB International accreditation are made by AACSB International's Maintenance of Accreditation Committee based on review of these reports and the findings of the Peer Review Team. Decisions on maintenance of accreditation are made by the AACSB International Board of Directors.

Additional information pertaining to accreditation is available on the following web pages:

• Accreditation Reports
• Strategic Management
• Curriculum
• Assurance of Learning
• Faculty Resources
• Intellectual Contributions
• Governance
• Policies and Procedures