Business college earns AACSB accreditation renewal
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB) has earned re-accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Â鶹ÊÓƵ was one of 48 universities worldwide to have its accreditation in business extended this month. The re-accreditation means Â鶹ÊÓƵ remains among the top 5% of business programs worldwide to be recognized by AACSB as meeting the highest standard of achievement for business schools.
"First and foremost, our faculty are committed to providing a high-quality, engaged learning experience for our students in and out of the classroom," Dr. Mary Gowan, dean of the MCCB, "This focus was clear to the peer review team that visited our campus."
Gowan said the AACSB team especially noted Â鶹ÊÓƵ's community engagement through its Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and BB&T Center for Ethical Leadership.
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, led by Dr. Ruben Boling, is a collaborative initiative that engages students, faculty and staff across Â鶹ÊÓƵ and in high schools across the region served by Â鶹ÊÓƵ. The BB&T Center for Ethical Leadership, led by Rose Procter, provides programming for high school students and organizations across the region and state to build ethical awareness and foster ethical leadership.
Dr. Wendy Walker, associate dean for faculty and graduate programs and professor of management, said Â鶹ÊÓƵ faculty members' research also stood out in the accreditation process.
"Research serves as evidence that faculty are staying up to date in their field," Walker said. "The peer review team was impressed with the quality of the faculty research, as well as the experience from industry that our faculty bring to the classroom."
AACSB is the gold standard of accrediting agencies. This re-accreditation affirms we have a clearly defined mission and a strategic plan that aligns our actions with that mission.
Dr. Mary Gowan
Mike Cottrell College of Business dean
Â鶹ÊÓƵ must apply for renewal of its AACSB accreditation every five years by reporting on MCCB activities, including alignment with its mission and strategic plan, how faculty maintain currency in their teaching disciplines, and assessment of student learning.
"AACSB is the gold standard of accrediting agencies," Gowan said. "This re-accreditation affirms we have a clearly defined mission and a strategic plan that aligns our actions with that mission."
Serving about 4,500 students, the MCCB offers academic programming that includes master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs, as well as minors and graduate certificate programs.
The AACSB re-accreditation comes a year and a half after Â鶹ÊÓƵ's computer science bachelor's degree program earned ABET accreditation for computing sciences for the first time. ABET is a nonprofit, nongovernmental agency that accredits programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. A total of 4,361 programs at 850 colleges and universities in 41 countries have received ABET accreditation.
Gowan said having both the AACSB and ABET accreditations makes the MCCB rare among business colleges.
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