SRU’s School of Business accredited by AACSB International

Slippery Rock University’s School of Business has earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, becoming among the 5% of the world’s schools offering business degree programs to earn AACSB accreditation.

Dec. 9, 2020

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University's School of Business has earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting students, educators and businesses worldwide.

SRU's AACSB accreditation, effective Dec. 1, holds schools accountable for improving business practice through a commitment to strategic management, learner success and impactful thought leadership. Accreditation is achieved through a multiyear focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB's accreditation standards.

"I just want to commend the faculty, staff, administration, alumni and students, as well as our external stakeholders, for the tremendous work they did for us to achieve initial AACSB accreditation," said Lawrence Shao, dean of the College of Business. "Without such an exceptional team effort, the process would have been even more difficult and taken much more time and effort. The final result of their hard work is a robust, quality business school with international recognition."

Only 5% of the world's schools offering business degree programs are accredited by AACSB International. There are currently 881 institutions across 57 countries and territories that maintain AACSB business accreditation. SRU's School of Business is one of seven schools in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education to earn this distinction.

   SHAO

"We congratulate Slippery Rock University and Dean Lawrence Shao on earning accreditation, and applaud the entire School of Business team -- including the administration, faculty, staff, and students -- for their roles in earning this respected honor," said Stephanie Bryant, AACSB executive vice president and chief accreditation officer. "SRU's commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of their dedication, not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole."

The AACSB accreditation standards are relating to areas of strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement. Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal focus, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor and peer-reviewed evaluation.

"Today's students are tomorrow's business leaders," Bryant said, "and the addition of (SRU) to the network of AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact, both locally and globally."

Established in 1980, SRU's School of Business now consists of three departments that offer eight undergraduate majors, 11 minors, an accounting certificate and three graduate degrees. In addition to AACSB, SRU's School of Business is also accredited by Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

For more information about AACSB accreditation, visit aacsb.edu/accreditation. More information about the SRU School of Business is available on the school's webpage.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854  | justin.zackal@sru.edu