International reaccreditation affirms business college’s elite status

After rigorous review, The University of Akron’s College of Business Administration (CBA) has been reaccredited in both business and accounting by the foremost international body that evaluates business school quality.

Founded in 1916, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators and businesses worldwide.

The CBA finds itself in elite company. AACSB Accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education, and has been earned by less than 5 percent of the more than 16,000 business schools worldwide. Fewer than 2 percent earn accreditation in both business and accounting, as the CBA has.

Committed to program quality

“This recognition from AACSB, in addition to our national rankings, affirms our status as a premier business school,” said Dr. Ravi Krovi, dean of the CBA. “It’s a testament to our talented faculty and staff, who are truly committed to program quality and student success.”

Accredited schools have the highest-quality faculty, deliver relevant and challenging curricula, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools, Krovi added.

Dr. Ravi Krovi

To achieve reaccreditation, a school must meet the AACSB’s high standards every five years in the areas of teaching, scholarly research, engagement with businesses, commitment to continuous improvement and curriculum. 

Over the past five years, the CBA has, among other accomplishments, developed its core curriculum to increase students’ skills in business analytics and critical thinking, and has added a leadership institute to provide students with knowledge and practical experience in areas such as sales, global business, direct marketing and information technology. 

Business community plays a role

Krovi said the review team highly commended the college’s faculty, programs, strategic planning and engagement with the business community. The reviewers’ report noted: “The CBA also deserves accolades for impacting student success by leveraging their advisory boards, forming an Institute for Leadership Advancement, establishing a position of executive director of corporate outreach and professional development, restructuring another position as operations coordinator, and investing in faculty and professional staff to better serve its students.”

The accreditation will help CBA students stand out, Krovi continued, adding that AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates who are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than graduates from non-accredited schools.

“It means our students will be even more valuable,” Krovi said. “Many top, global corporations recruit from AACSB-accredited schools only.”

Media contact: Lisa Craig, 330-972-7429 or lmc91@uakron.edu.