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As prospective business school students weigh through their options of which school to attend, the decision-making process can be overwhelming. However, an important factor to consider can help make the decision easier and allow for an exclusive group of business schools to stand out: accreditation.

�鶹ӰԺ’s College of Business Administration has undergone the rigorous process to ensure the highest standards in business education are being met. In the end, the college has emerged in an elite group.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) has reaffirmed business and accounting accreditations for �鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration. AACSB accreditation is considered the hallmark of excellence in education. It has been earned by fewer than 5 percent of the world’s business schools.

�鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration is one of only  to earn AACSB accreditation. In addition,  hold additional specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs, placing �鶹ӰԺ State among fewer than 1 percent of schools worldwide to hold dual accreditation.

“AACSB accreditation affirms the high-quality programs and faculty we have at �鶹ӰԺ State in our College of Business Administration from bachelor’s through doctoral levels,” said Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., dean of �鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration. “This places the college in the small group of business schools worldwide that hold both business and accounting accreditation.”

AACSB accreditation standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement.

To achieve accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn AACSB Business Accreditation. Then, in addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy the business accreditation quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of standards specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. Once accreditation is achieved, each institution participates in a five-year continuous improvement peer-review to maintain high quality and extend its accreditation.

“AACSB congratulates each institution on their achievement,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development and student learning. The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education.”

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools. It also is the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide. For more information about AACSB, visit .

For more information about the �鶹ӰԺ State College of Business Administration’s accreditation and rankings, visit www.kent.edu/business/facts.

�鶹ӰԺ �鶹ӰԺ’s College of Business Administration

�鶹ӰԺ’s College of Business Administration is among fewer than 1 percent of business schools worldwide to obtain dual Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation in both business and accounting. The college enrolls more than 4,000 students and boasts 10 undergraduate majors, 13 minors and a Professional Sales Certificate program; master’s degrees in accounting, business administration (Master of Business Administration and Executive Master of Business Administration), business analytics, and economics; as well as a Ph.D. program with concentrations in accounting, finance, information systems, management and marketing.

�鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration ranks among the top 100 public business undergraduate programs in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report and 45th in 2016 by Bloomberg Businessweek based on an employer survey of how well schools prepared students for jobs. The college is ranked as one of the nation’s Best Business Schools by The Princeton Review. The college is committed to sustainability as an advanced Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) signatory and is recognized by the Sales Education Foundation as a top university for professional sales education.

For more information about �鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration, visit www.kent.edu/business.

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Photo Caption:
�鶹ӰԺ students studying in the College of Business Administration pose for a group photo outside the Business Administration Building. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) has reaffirmed business and accounting accreditations for �鶹ӰԺ State’s College of Business Administration.

Media Contacts:
Joni Bowen, jbowen1@kent.edu, 330-672-1279

Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595