The initial accreditation process is a rigorous review that involves peers from business schools, committees, and AACSB staff. The initial accreditation process follows the successful completion and approval of the Eligibility Application for Business Accreditation. Initial accreditation includes a thorough review of the information submitted with the eligibility application, a mentor visit, the development and approval of an Initial Self-Evaluation Report (iSER), subsequent updates to the iSER, submission of the Final Self-Evaluation Report, and peer review team visit. Once a school achieves initial accreditation, it enters the continuous improvement review phase, undergoing a peer review every five years.
Below are resources and templates to be used throughout the initial accreditation process.
Initial Business Accreditation Resources
Handbooks and Processes Initial Business Accreditation Handbook Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Process Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Visit Roles and Responsibilities--Deferral Visit Policies and Procedures
Sample Tables - eFile or myAccreditation Sample Table 2-1 Sample Table 2-2 Sample Table 15-1 Sample Table 15-2
Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER)
Required Documentation iSER Template Business - eFile only iSER Outline Business - myAccreditation Accreditation Standards Worksheet - eFile only GAP Analysis - eFile only Profile Sheet - eFile or myAccreditation
Required Tables - eFile or myAccreditation Table 2-1 Table 2-2 Table 15-1 Table 15-2
Progress Report (iSER Update Report)
Required Documentation Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions - eFile only Progress Report Outline Business - myAccreditation Profile Sheet - eFile or myAccreditation
Initial Accreditation Application
Required Documentation Letter of Application for Initial Accreditation Template - eFile only
Final Self-Evaluation Report
Required Documentation Self-Evaluation Report—Submission Instructions - eFile only
Required Tables - eFile only Table 2-1 Table 2-2 Table 15-1 Table 15-2
eFile Documents should be completed, saved, and emailed to iac@aacsb.edu by the submission due dates for committee review. myAccreditation documents should be uploaded via myAccreditation. Schools may contact their AACSB accreditation staff liaison for assistance. Your staff liaison is listed in myAccreditation under the contacts tab.