COBE receives prestigious AACSB accreditation extension

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International has extended the accreditation of Radford University’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) for its business degree programs.

COBE was among 40 business schools to receive the extension, AACSB announced Jan. 23.

“This is a significant achievement that recognizes our academic excellence and commitment to continuous improvement,” said COBE Dean George Low. “AACSB accreditation is the key to future enrollment growth of our undergraduate and graduate business programs.”

There are 799 institutions across 53 countries and territories that have earned AACSB accreditation, or less than 5 percent of business schools in the world.

AACSB-accredited institutions, the organization states, are considered to be the best business schools. Their undergraduate, master's and doctorate degree programs have passed rigorous standards for quality.

“COBE’s faculty embrace this accreditation as signal of academic quality because it has a real, concrete impact on the lives of our students and graduates,” said COBE Associate Dean Steve Beach. “Evidence that graduates of AACSB-accredited programs are viewed more favorably by recruiters and receive higher salaries ignites the passion we need to maintain this prestigious accreditation and its recognition that we deliver the highest quality business education available anywhere.”

Each AACSB-accredited school “has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development and student learning,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, AACSB executive vice president and chief accreditation officer. “The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education.”

COBE’s extension follows an extensive evaluation and subsequent recommendation from AACSB’s Peer Review Team. Its findings were endorsed by the organization’s Continuous Improvement Review Committee and its board of directors.

“Special recognition is much deserved for all COBE faculty and staff for their dedication and efforts in making this a successful five-year review, in particular, Dr. Steve Beach,” Low said.