Dr. Tim Burkink
College of Business and Technology dean, 308.865.1547
The University of Nebraska at Kearney business programs have earned a five-year extension of international accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Dr. Tim Burkink, UNK dean of the College of Business and Technology, describes the AACSB accreditation as “the gold standard of business school accreditation.
“This prestigious accreditation is earned by fewer than 5 percent of business programs worldwide,” he said. “AACSB accreditation ensures students and parents that the business school is providing a top-quality education. It also ensures employers that AACSB-accredited business school graduates are ready to perform on day one. Additionally, AACSB accreditation provides many benefits to the faculty and staff at its accredited schools by attracting higher quality students, providing greater research opportunities and allowing for global recognition.”
UNK originally earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in 2006. Since that time, there has been an increased internationalization of faculty and students through study/interning abroad, and an increase in the number of international students. In addition, an international business minor has been added.
“The quality of faculty hires has been excellent, and there have been significant curriculum enhancements in undergraduate and MBA programs,” he said. “There has also been a 22 percent increase in the publication of quality peer reviewed journal articles.”
In addition, he noted a number of advancements, including the Kay Payne Case Competition to encourage experiential learning, a Global Market Research Lab which recently opened and the Landstrom Executive-in-Residence Program that is now endowed. Further, the Center for Rural Research and Development has been redirected to focus on entrepreneurship activities.
“All in all, one could say that the College of Business and Technology continues to take pride in what they do and focuses on a quality product–graduates who will adhere to high standards and quality performance,” he concluded. UNK undergraduate business programs include accounting, agribusiness, economics, finance, marketing, management and management information systems. UNK also offers a master’s in business administration.
Only 30 percent of the business programs in the nation have earned AACSB accreditation; UNK is one of only four Nebraska universities to have earned AACSB accreditation. Internationally, universities in 38 countries are AACSB accredited.
The accreditation process at UNK included a review by members of an AACSB peer review team–deans from Eastern Washington University, University of Wisconsin — Eau Clair and Washburn University. Team members conducted a rigorous examination of the UNK self-study report and two days of on-campus interviews before recommending the five-year extension of accreditation.
