KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney College of Business and Technology has earned accounting accreditation from AACSB International.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators and businesses worldwide.
“AACSB seeks to inspire educators to think globally and demonstrate currency, relevance and continued excellence in providing business education. A fundamental purpose of AACSB’s accounting accreditation is to challenge accounting educators to pursue that next level of excellence and commitment to continuous improvement,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “We congratulate the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Dean Tim Jares and the College of Business and Technology on achieving these goals and thereby earning accounting accreditation. We also applaud the entire business school team – especially the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics – for their roles in earning this respected honor.”
Synonymous with the highest standards of quality, AACSB accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education globally. As a result, less than 6% of the world’s schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation. Through today’s ratification, a total of 935 institutions across 59 countries and territories have earned AACSB accreditation in business. Furthermore, 192 institutions maintain supplemental AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.
“This accomplishment formally recognizes the quality our stakeholders have recognized for years. I am particularly proud of the peer review team’s recognition of our career center staff and our accounting faculty for best practices in internships, experiential learning and individualized programs,” said UNK College of Business and Technology Dean Tim Jares.
UNK Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Charlie Bicak added, “AACSB accounting accreditation recognizes the high-quality foundational and technical preparation of our students by the faculty. This validates the reputation for excellence that our UNK program has long enjoyed. The direct beneficiaries, of course, are our students. That said, the positive impact is certainly greater with broad state and regional significance. I am extremely proud of our faculty and college administrative leadership. Their continued and concerted effort has led to this high level of achievement.”
AACSB accreditation ensures continuous improvement and provides focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate and drive impact. AACSB-accredited schools have successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring they have the resources, credentials and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education.
To realize accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB business accreditation. Then, in addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy the business accreditation quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of accreditation standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.
“Today’s ratification signals that the University of Nebraska at Kearney College of Business and Technology’s accounting graduates have completed a program grounded in exceptional technical and foundational skills and are prepared to assume critical responsibilities that serve the public interest with integrity and professionalism,” Bryant said.
