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 (2013 Standards) Initial Business Accreditation Handbook (2020 Standards) Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Process Roles and Responsibilities—Initial Visit Roles and Responsibilities--Deferral Visit Policies and Procedures
2013 Sample Tables—eFile or myAccreditation Sample Table 2-1 Sample Table 2-2 Sample Table 15-1 Sample Table 15-2 2020 Sample Tables Sample Table 2-1 Sample Table 3-1 Sample Table 3-2 Sample Table 5-1 Sample Table 8-1
Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER)
2013 Required Documents iSER Template Business—eFile only iSER Outline Business—myAccreditation Accreditation Standards Worksheet—eFile only GAP Analysis—eFile only Profile Sheet—eFile or myAccreditation 2020 Required Documents iSER Outline Business—myAccreditation Accreditation Standards Worksheet—myAccreditation GAP Analysis—myAccreditation Profile Sheet—myAccreditation
2013 Required Tables—eFile or myAccreditation Table 2-1 Table 2-2 Table 15-1 Table 15-2
2020 Required Tables—myAccreditation Table 2-1 Table 3-1 Table 3-2 Table 5-1 Table 8-1
Progress Report (iSER Update Report)
2013 Required Documentation Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions—eFile only Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions—myAccreditation Only Profile Sheet—eFile or myAccreditation 2020 Required Documents Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions—myAccreditation Progress Report Guidelines and Submission Instructions(initial schools transitioning to 2020 standards) Profile Sheet—myAccreditation
2013 Required Tables—eFile or myAccreditation Table 2-1 Table 2-2 Table 15-1 Table 15-2 2020 Required Tables—myAccreditation Table 2-1 Table 3-1 Table 3-2 Table 5-1 Table 8-1
Initial Accreditation Application
2013 Required Documents Letter of Application for Initial Accreditation Template—eFile only 2020 Required Documents Letter of Application for Initial Accreditation—myAccreditation
Final Self-Evaluation Report
2013 Required Documents Self-Evaluation Report Submission Instructions—eFile only 2020 Required Documents Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines
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.