KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney is the latest school to be accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
UNK’s business administration comprehensive degree with a finance emphasis was recognized for incorporating at least 70% of the CFA Program’s body of knowledge while emphasizing the institute’s code of ethics and standards of practice in its course materials. The CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals, maintains high standards for achieving this recognition.
Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers and the marketplace that UNK’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to prepare students to sit for CFA examinations. Additionally, the program positions students to obtain the chartered financial analyst designation, the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.
UNK is the fourth Nebraska institution to be affiliated with the CFA and one of only 240 institutions nationwide to be accepted. Suzanne Hayes, associate professor of finance, spearheaded the rigorous application and approval process.
“The future of finance at the College of Business and Technology is indeed very bright,” Hayes said. “Our finance program is growing and continues to attract and retain outstanding, high-quality students.”
Through its participation, UNK is eligible to receive a number of student scholarships for the CFA Program each year. The ability to offer these scholarships to UNK graduates with the finance emphasis is yet another added value to the dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities students can access in investments, corporate finance and banking. Developments over the last year, including the acquisition of Bloomberg research stations and the CFA Institute affiliation, allow the College of Business and Technology to continue to actively invest in students.
“This new ability to offer scholarships to our students means they have access to the highest professional level in finance without the barrier of a weighty exam cost,” said Tim Jares, dean of the College of Business and Technology. “By removing these barriers, we can continue our mission of producing high-quality professionals for the Nebraska workforce and beyond.”
