AACSB International (AACSB) announced Monday, Nov. 26 that the University of Mary Washington has gained accreditation for its College of Business. Earned by only 5 percent of the world’s schools offering business degrees, AACSB accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education globally. UMW is one of only five U.S. schools to receive accreditation this year.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and the benchmark of quality for business education worldwide. AACSB-accredited schools are considered to be the best institutions for business education internationally. Each school has undergone a lengthy, rigorous process of assessment for the school’s ability to perform in critical areas, such as teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning.
At these schools, students will find innovative programs, outstanding faculty, fellow students with high overall GPAs, international scholars, more employers seeking to recruit students, and graduates that earn higher salaries.
The University of Mary Washington set a goal for AACSB accreditation shortly after the establishment of its College of Business on July 1, 2010. Under the leadership of its former and returning Dean Lynne Richardson, the school strategically shaped its curriculum, programs, and faculty to meet the 15 international standards required for accreditation.
“UMW takes great pride in becoming one of the nation’s elite institutions having a fully accredited College of Business,” said UMW President Troy D. Paino. “This distinction is testimony to the diligent efforts over a number of years on the part of dozens of people across campus, most especially the College of Business faculty and staff. Of course, the true beneficiaries of international accreditation are our students, alumni and the organizations that hire our graduates.”
Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International, said today, “We congratulate the University of Mary Washington and Acting Dean Kenneth Machande on earning accreditation, and applaud the entire UMW team – including the administration, visitors, faculty, staff, and students – for their roles in earning this respected honor.”
AACSB-accredited schools have successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring that they have the resources, credentials, and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education. AACSB accreditation standards ensure continuous improvement and provide focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate, and drive impact.
The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of more than 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers.
Way to go UMW!