MSU earns AACSB International Accreditation

AACSB International announced April 6 that Midwestern State University has earned accreditation for its Dillard College of Business Administration. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by only 30 percent of business schools in the United States. Today there are 593 business schools in 37 countries that maintain AACSB accreditation.

Currently, more than 1,000 Midwestern State University students major in Business Administration in either an undergraduate or master's degree program.

"This accreditation gives them (students) a better understanding of the quality of the program," stated Barbara Nemecek, dean of the Dillard College of Business Administration. "Graduates will get better jobs, have better careers and get into better graduate schools. Some employers will only hire students from AACSB accredited business programs."

According to President Jesse W. Rogers, the university has been working actively on this project for nearly 10 years.

"This is a remarkable accomplishment for a university our size," stated Rogers. "I thank everyone for their encouragement and support in our reaching this important goal."

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review and evaluation. During the process, which can take several years to complete, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the 21 AACSB standards that require a high-quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of business.

 "We had to have the complete participation of the administration, faculty, students, alumni, business community, advisory boards, and others. Each one shared a part of this accomplishment," Nemecek stated.