KSU’s Coles College of Business earns maintenance of accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), leading global accrediting…
Georgia
(Jan 15, 2010) —
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), leading global accrediting
body for business schools, also renews accreditation of accounting program
KENNESAW, Ga. (Jan. 15, 2010) — The Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, one of the top business
schools in the South, had its accreditation reaffirmed this month by the leading global
accrediting body for business schools.
The Coles College of Business maintained its accreditation with the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), a sought-after stamp
of approval bestowed upon the best business schools in the world after a rigorous
quality review. Less than 5 percent of the world’s business schools have earned AACSB
International accreditation.
“This accreditation is a testament to the Coles College’s outstanding academic quality,”
said KSU Provost Lendley Black. “We are in the company of the best business schools
in the world.”
The reaffirmation of accreditation by AACSB International comes weeks after BusinessWeek magazine named the Coles College of Business’ part-time M.B.A. among the best in
the country. Last fall, CEO Magazine ranked KSU’s Executive M.B.A. among the best in the U.S. in its “2009 Global MBA Rankings”
edition.
To maintain its accreditation, the Coles College of Business has to undergo a rigorous
review by academic leaders of peer business schools every five years. As part of the
review, the Coles College of Business must demonstrate its commitment to 21 rigorous
standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions
of faculty and students, commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning
goals in degree programs.
“The leadership, faculty and staff of the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State
continue to fulfill the high expectations required of AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry
Trapnell, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.
“Through this, they consistently deliver outstanding academic programs to an ever
growing constituency, and we congratulate them on earning their maintenance of accreditation.”
AACSB International also renewed accreditation of the business school’s accounting
program. Only 170 business schools across the globe maintain AACSB International accreditation
for their accounting programs.
“AACSB International provides the most prestigious academic accreditation available
for business schools,” said W. Ken Harmon, dean of the Coles College of Business.
“This achievement is a reflection of the high-quality programs the Coles College offers.
Moreover, it is a tribute to the incredible efforts of our extremely talented faculty
and staff.”
The Coles College of Business has become one of the most renowned business schools
in the South, with some of its academic programs and centers –– including the Cox
Family Enterprise Center, the Corporate Governance Center and the Center for Professional
Selling –– earning national reputations. The Coles College of Business is the second-largest
business school in the state, with more than 5,000 students, and offers 12 undergraduate
and graduate degree programs.
In the past year, the Coles College of Business has added innovative graduate programs
to reflect the needs of the market. The Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.),
launched in fall 2009, is targeted to working professionals who want to pursue a doctorate.
In the past year, the Coles College of Business has added dual M.B.A./M.P.A. and M.B.A./M.S.I.S.
programs, setting it apart from other universities in Georgia.
AACSB International, founded in 1916, is the longest-serving global accrediting body
for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business
and accounting.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
