AACSB International

The fundamental purpose of AACSB accreditation is to challenge business educators to pursue excellence and continuous improvement in their business programs. AACSB achieves this purpose by defining a set of rigorous criteria and standards, coordinating peer reviews and consultation, and recognizing high-quality business schools.

AACSB’s business standards have continued to be revised to ensure quality and continuous improvement in collegiate business education throughout the years. The last major revision occurred in 2013 after more than two years of study and collaboration with the global business education community and employer organizations. The 15 standards are organized into four categories: strategic management and innovation; participants—students, faculty, and professional staff; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement. The standards are built around the three themes of engagement, innovation, and impact. These themes are integrated throughout the standards to challenge and assist schools in striving for continuous quality improvement.

July 1, 2018 Updates

AACSB routinely seeks feedback from membership on ways we can improve the accreditation standards. The changes described below are based on feedback from peer review teams, accreditation committees, deans, and other representatives from the business education community. They reflect our commitment to continuous improvement in support of AACSB Business Accreditation. Key updates to the business accreditation standards made in July 2018 are summarized below.

• Added language regarding how long a school should have existed by the time it is initially accredited (Criterion D).
• Clarified the role of leadership in the school’s operations and accreditation process as well as the importance of shared governance (Criterion E).
• Added the expectation that schools will provide a copy of their strategic plan to peer review teams and accreditation committees (Standard 1).
• Added language to address expectations related to alternative instructional models (Standards 5, 6, and 15).
• In an effort to better align the business standards and new accounting standards, added a section on “Technology Agility” (Standard 9).
• Introduced enhancements to all AACSB tables (2-1, 2-2, 15-1, 15-2).
• Added Appendix III: Includes a sample of completed tables to better assist schools in understanding how data should be presented and calculated in terms of intellectual contributions, faculty sufficiency, and faculty qualifications.
• Added Appendix IV: Includes responses to some of the most frequently asked questions received by volunteers and AACSB staff.

Transition Guidelines

• Schools with initial or continuous improvement review visits January 1, 2019, and later are expected to be reviewed under these standards.
• Schools pursuing initial accreditation with reports due after January 1, 2019, should submit under this set of standards.