The College of Business Administration has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Only 607 schools of business, less than 5 percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. To maintain accreditation, a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.

"It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation," says Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. "Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students."

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

CBA was initially accredited in 1995. Since then, the college has continued to enrich the polytechnic approach to education by promoting more hands-on learning experiences, facilitating internship opportunities and offering students a chance to network with industry professionals. The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report also have recognized the college's undergraduate and graduate business programs.

"It takes considerable effort to maintain accreditation," says Dean Richard Lapidus. "Ultimately, we have shown that we provide students a first-rate education by offering teaching excellence and an exceptional learning environment."

The college's achievement will be recognized later this month at the 2011 AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting in New York.