Accreditation 
Recognition by AACSB International that an institution commits to fulfill its mission, and continues to sustain and improve educational quality of its undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs according to the standards of AACSB International as interpreted by its Peer Review Team(s), accreditation committees, and Board of Directors.

Accreditation Council 
Members who have achieved AACSB accreditation.

Accreditation Data Reports 
The statistical reports by AACSB to the applicant and Peer Review Team members for use as background information in the accreditation review.  These reports are created from the data provided annually to AACSB by member schools.

Accreditation Maintenance Review
The review process followed by schools that have achieved accreditation.  Schools are reviewed on a five-year cycle.

Accreditation Recommendations - Initial
Peer Review Team recommendation can be accredit, defer decision for one year, or deny accreditation.  The appropriate accreditation committee must review all team recommendations for concurrence.  Recommendations and concurrence for accreditation and denial must be ratified by the Board of Directors.

Accreditation Recommendations - Maintenance
Peer Review Team recommendation can be extension of accreditation or sixth-year review.  Sixth-year Review Team recommendation can be extension of accreditation or continuing review.  Continuing Review Team recommendation can be extension of accreditation or suspension.  The appropriate accreditation committee must review all team recommendations for concurrence.  Immediate suspension of accreditation can result for cause at any time.  Recommendations and concurrence for extension of accreditation and suspension of accreditation must be ratified by the Board of Directors.

Action Item
The statement of high priority steps to be accomplished within a one to three-year timeframe to move the school toward greater fulfillment of the mission.

Annual Maintenance Report 
A progress report prepared by the applicant on the action items specified in the strategic plan and an explanation of new programs or objectives. The applicant provides these reports to the Peer Review Team as a part of the documentation for the five-year review.

Applicant
The department, school, or program unit that is responsible for the degree programs under review.  AACSB accreditation is achieved and awarded to the member institution for all degree programs in business or accounting that it offers (except specifically excluded programs).

Application 
The documentation required for participation in the initial accreditation or accreditation maintenance process.

Aspirant Groups
A list of schools that provides a developmental goal for the applicant represents management education programs or features that the applicant hopes to emulate, and places the vision and strategy of the applicant in context.  The list may be of any number.

Business School Questionnaire (BSQ)
Annual request for data from AACSB.  Some of these data are included in the accreditation data reports.

Comparable Peers
A list of schools considered similar in mission and assumed to be appropriate for performance comparison.  A minimum of six comparable schools must be provided.

Comparison Groups 
Schools considered by the applicant to be similar in mission and appropriate for performance comparison as either peers, aspirants, or competitors. 

Competitive Comparable Groups
A list of schools so directly competitive that conflict of interest considerations exclude their personnel from the review process of the applicant.  The list may be of any number.  Only those schools should be included where the direct competition for students, faculty, or resources is so compelling that the appearance of a conflict of interest is present.

Consultative Report
Report completed by the team and provided ONLY to the applicant.  The report consists of consultative advice that is not relevant to the maintenance of accreditation.

Continuing Review
Continuation of the review process for up to two additional years beyond the sixth year review.

Continuing Review Team
Team mutually agreed upon by applicant and appropriate committee consisting of one member from the Sixth-year or Peer Review Team, and one from (or appointed by) the relevant accreditation committee.  The Continuing Review Team evaluates progress and resolution of specific standards-related quality items.

Degree programs 
Undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded as listed in catalogues or other publications.

Executive Summary
Applicant provides background information of up to five pages in length, including a list of self-proposed effective practices.

Exclusion of Program(s)
Programs excluded from the accreditation review by approval of the Accreditation Coordinating Committee.

Institution
The member organization of AACSB.  Usually a larger academic organization than the business school or accounting unit being reviewed.

Learning Goals
Description of the desired educational accomplishments for graduates of each degree program.

Maintenance Review Visit Report
The report written by the visiting Peer Review Team for the applicant and for review by the appropriate accreditation committee.

Mission Statement
A publicly available statement of the intended goals of the school.

Participating Faculty Member
Faculty members who are engaged in an ongoing basis in the activities of the academic life of the school and who are supported in their continuing professional development (see also "supporting Faculty Member").

Peer Review Team
The team of reviewers mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the appropriate accreditation committee.  Normally chosen from the submitted comparison group, the Peer Review Team performs the accreditation  review and makes a recommendation to the appropriate accreditation committee.

Professionally Qualified
A faculty member is professionally qualified by virtue of academic preparation (normally at the master's level) and significant professional experience relevant to the teaching assignment (see also "Academically Qualified").

School
Unit offering a set of programs included in the accreditation review.

Scope of Accreditation
The degree programs that will be included in the accreditation review.

Sixth-year Review
Additional review conducted in the sixth year on those standards identified as potentially unsatisfied in the accreditation maintenance review.

Sixth-year Review Team
Team mutually agreed upon by applicant and the appropriate accreditation committee.  Team normally consists of one member from the Peer Review Team and one from (or appointed by) the relevant accreditation committee.  The team evaluates resolution of specific standards-related quality items.

Strategic plan
The report of the systematic planning and implementation for the prioritized use of resources to accomplish the stated mission.

Supporting Faculty Member
Faculty members who are ad hoc appointments to the instructional staff with little, or no, engagement in activity beyond their direct instructional function (see also "Participating Faculty Member").

Suspension of Accreditation
Loss of membership in the Accreditation Council.

Withdrawal of Application by Applicant
Action available to applicant any time prior to consideration of the committee recommendation by the Board of Directors.